If you choose to file for benefits based on a secondary service connection, you’ll need to gather similar evidence as a standard service connection claim. Veterans who were physically injured during military service and later developed insomnia can also file for a secondary service connection.įor example, if you developed chronic back pain in the service and can no longer sleep through the night as a result, then insomnia would be the secondary condition. If you can show that the condition of insomnia and your diagnosed PTSD are directly related, then you can claim PTSD as the primary condition and insomnia as the secondary. Many veterans will benefit from seeking a VA disability rating for secondary insomnia.įor example, if you were officially diagnosed with PTSD while you were in the service, you may have developed insomnia due to the disorder. These secondary connections can be applied to both mental and physical conditions. Secondary Service Connection for InsomniaĪ secondary service connection is a byproduct of a different condition than was already determined to be service-connected. If a medical exam determines that a veteran has insomnia that is caused by another service-connected disability, then he or she may be able to obtain a service connection for insomnia through a secondary service connection. Insomnia seems to develop years later, usually in response to some other service-connected disability for example, chronic pain from a back condition or some other orthopedic condition, or, due to a psychiatric condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In my experience, most veterans who suffer from insomnia did not have this condition during their military days. If you get an unfavorable exam result in which the doctor disagrees with your assessment, you are allowed to challenge their conclusion either through a private doctor or with the help of a healthcare advisor. If your insomnia is caused by a physical condition, they may complete a standard physical examination during the exam as well.Īfter your appointment, the doctor will write a report and send it to the VA Regional Office (RO) for further review. The doctor may ask specific questions to understand more about the connection between your time in the service and your disability. They will conduct a routine examination, which may include psychological testing. These exams generally take place at a designated VA clinic or hospital.ĭuring the exam, the doctor is not there to treat your condition or provide any type of medication. While it’s usually more beneficial to the claim if the veteran already has a diagnosis on file, a C&P exam can gather medical evidence to support a claim or provide a second opinion. If a veteran does not have an official diagnosis of insomnia, then depending on the existing evidence, the VA may order a Compensation and Pension (C&P) examination. In other words, the VA does not consider whether you were on base or not when rating your disability.Įvents that result in insomnia can be difficult to pinpoint, especially because years have often passed before the veteran experiences symptoms.Ī veteran may have discussed their sleep issues with a doctor for an extended period of time before discovering the root cause of the problem. Please note that the in-service occurrence or incident does not necessarily need to have taken place while the veteran is officially on active duty. There are a number of events that can lead to insomnia, including the loss of a fellow service member during combat or a sudden attack during a standard convoy mission. An official letter (medical nexus) from the diagnosing medical professional that states your disability was caused by the in-service occurrence.The description of the in-service occurrence that resulted in the diagnosis.A current diagnosis of insomnia from an authorized medical professional.To successfully establish a service connection, you’ll need to include the following three elements in your claim: If you’re interested in filing a VA disability claim, you will need to prove that your condition is connected to your time in military service. When seeking service connection for insomnia, veterans should know that there must be an actual diagnosis of insomnia in the first place (as outlined by the current disability requirement). Social Security Disability Benefits Guide.List of Blue Water Navy Ships Exposed to Agent Orange (Interactive Vietnam Map).Individual Unemployability Rating Calculator.A 2023 Guide to VA Disability Rates & Pay Schedules.
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