Can I Get Va Disability For Migraines Secondary To Ptsd
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If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, to speak with a VA claim expert for free.
Brian Reese here with VA Claims Insider, and in this expert-level post, Im going to reveal and explain how to service connect your Migraines Secondary to PTSD for VA disability.
Well also explore the 3 Magic Pillars of VA secondary service connection to include mission critical medical evidence requirements.
Lastly, together well uncover secret tips to getting a VA Nexus Letter for Secondary Conditions to help you prove secondary service connection under the law.
Okay, lets go!
How Much Does The Va Pay For Erectile Dysfunction
Veterans having erectile dysfunction directly qualify to get monthly compensation given out by VA. The VA hands out these compensations even to individuals with a 0% rating on the VA disability chart.
This is done as erectile dysfunction is equivalent to the loss of an organ. As of Dec017, the monthly compensation for patients with erectile dysfunction is 111.74$ a month. The VA classifies erectile dysfunction as the loss of a creative organ.
How To Apply For Disability Based On Ptsd
You can apply online, by using the Application for Veterans Compensation and/or Pension, by visiting your local VA office, or by phoning 800-827-1000. For more information on applying, see our article on applying for VA disability benefits.
Survivors of military sexual trauma can check with their VA regional office to see if there is an MST specialist who can assist with the application.
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Sleep Apnea Secondary To Ptsd Service Connection Va Disability Benefits
VA may give you secondary service connection disability compensation if you can prove your secondary condition is caused by another primary condition that was service-connected. In other words, prove that your sleep apnea is secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder .
But keep in mind, the first condition needs to be service-connected as the primary disability before VA can consider it as a cause for your sleep apnea. Secondary conditions are a great way to prove service connection and get the proper VA disability rating.
To qualify for secondary service connection, you have to show that:
What Are The Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea
When you hear the word sleep apnea you probably think of someone who snores loudly in their sleep, not someone who experiences chronic heart failure. But complications from sleep apnea can be that dire. Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep
- Waking up gasping for breath
- Morning headaches
- Waking from a full nights sleep feeling unrested
Two quick notes on these symptoms. 1) Not all people with sleep apnea snore, and not all people who snore have sleep apnea. 2) Many people who have sleep apnea dont know it. Unless you wake up gasping for breath, you might not be aware that you stop breathing during your sleep.
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Gerd And Ptsd: Is There A Connection
Yes, there is a strong connection between GERD and PTSD.
GERD can develop when the symptoms of PTSD, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, lead to an overproduction of stomach acid.
In some veterans, medications taken to treat PTSD can also lead to GERD as a side effect.
In astudy where information about GI symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and gastroesophageal reflux disease were extracted from the clinic notes to determine if there is a relationship between PTSD and depression screenings and GI symptoms.
Results state that 28% of the participants had GERD and a positive screening of PTSD was significantly associated with these GI symptoms.
Other medical research studies support a connection between GERD and PTSD.
For example, both veteran and non-veteran studies have reported high rates of comorbidity between PTSD, Depression, and Gastrointestinal symptoms.
A 2013 study of veterans who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan found that nearly 45% of patients screened positive for PTSD and 23% screened positive for depression symptoms.
While only 11% of patients reported GI symptoms, 73.4% of these patients had a positive screen for PTSD, indicative of a significant relationship.
Many veterans with GERD or acid reflux, especially those who were diagnosed long after leaving the military are eligible under the law for GERD secondary to PTSD.
Get Help With Your Sleep Apnea Claim
Need a little help understanding how to service-connect your sleep apnea? Weve helped countless veterans across the United States navigate the claims process and get the benefits they deserve. To schedule a free consultation, give us a call at , or fill out a quick form to get started. We look forward to learning about your unique situation and helping out in any way we can.
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How To Establish Service Connection For Va Sleep Apnea Secondary To Ptsd
In accordance with 38 CFR § 3.310 disabilities that are proximately due to, or aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disease or injury shall be service connected.
When service connection is thus established for a secondary condition, the secondary condition shall be considered a part of the original condition.
Service connection on a secondary basis requires a showing of causation.
A showing of causation requires that the secondary disability claim be shown to be proximately due to or aggravated by another service-connected disability.
There are three evidentiary elements that must be satisfied for secondary conditions to PTSD to prove service connection under the law:
- A medical diagnosis of the secondary disability condition youre attempting to link to PTSD AND
- A current service-connected primary disability AND
- Medical nexus evidence establishing a connection between the service-connected PTSD and Sleep Apnea
The FIRST part can be satisfied with any existing medical evidence in service treatment records, VA medical records, or any private medical records.
The SECOND part can be satisfied with a veterans existing service-connected disability rated at 0 percent or higher, which in this case, is PTSD.
The THIRD part, and often the missing link needed to establish secondary service connection, can be satisfied with a credible Medical Nexus Letter from a qualified medical provider.
MUST READ: Do I Need a Nexus Letter?
Am I Eligible For Disability Benefits From Va
You may be eligible for disability benefits if you have symptoms related to a traumatic event or your experience with the stressor is related to the PTSD symptoms, and you meet all of these requirements.
All of these must be true:
- The stressor happened during your service, and
- You cant function as well as you once could because of your symptoms, and
- A doctor has diagnosed you with PTSD
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Ptsd And Migraines Veterans: Can Ptsd Cause Migraines
Yes, PTSD can cause Migraines, especially in U.S. military veterans who suffer from severe symptoms of PTSD.
One study found that 32% of OEF/OIF veterans with PTSD say that they have problems with headaches.
A growing body of epidemiological literature supports an association between migraines and PTSD.
PTSD prevalence rates have been demonstrated to be increased in those with migraine in multiple different cohorts, including tertiary pain and headache clinics, veteran cohorts, and general population surveys.
In the tertiary clinic-based studies, approximately 22-30% of headache sufferers fulfilled PTSD criteria.
In a veteran cohort survey, the prevalence of PTSD was even greater than found in the tertiary care clinics, with almost 50% of those with migraine fulfilling criteria for PTSD.
Thus, migraine headaches are one of the most common secondary conditions to PTSD.
There is some medical etiology to suggest that Migraines, and many different types of Headaches, can be proximately due to or aggravated by PTSD.
Finally, Migraines are a common side effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors such as Citalopram , Escitalopram , Fluoxetine , Paroxetine , and Sertraline .
If youre taking medications to try to manage your PTSD symptoms, but those medications cause side effects, you might be able to get service-connected secondary to PTSD due to the side effects of medications and how they cause or aggravate your headaches.
Risk Factors For Gerd
What leads to the LES failing to function properly? Scientists arent exactly sure. What they do know is that there are some risk factors correlated with GERD in adults.
Hiatal hernias are the top risk factor for GERD. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach gets displaced into the diaphragm.
Not all hiatal hernias lead to GERD, though, and not all people with GERD have hiatal hernias. Risk factors for developing a hiatal hernia include age, obesity, and the use of tobacco products.
Aside from hiatal hernias, the risk factors for GERD include:
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
- Drinking caffeinated beverages
Using certain medications may also make you more likely to develop GERD. For example, aspirin can cause acid reflux and GERD.
Here are some tips on your C& P exam from one of our VA disability lawyers.
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Migraines Secondary To Ptsd
MigrainesMigraines are a form of headache that can last for many hours and can bring pain, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, lightheadedness, and blurred vision.
Migraines can also create a throbbing sensation on either side of the head. Sometimes an aura, which is categized by visual disturbances such as flashes of light, may come before a migraine.
There is no singular, definitive cause of migraines, but triggers are thought to include hormonal imbalance, alcohol, stress, sensory stimulation, certain foods, and changes in environment. As stress can trigger migraines, veterans with PTSD often suffer from migraines as well.
Migraines are rated under 38 C.F.R. 4.124a, Diagnostic Code 8100. Veterans can receive ratings for migraines from 0 to 50 percent, with criteria based on severity and frequency of the migraines. Below are the criteria for each rating:
- 50% with very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability
- 30% with characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average of once a month over the last several months
- 10% with characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months over the last several months
- 0% with less frequent attacks
Va Disability For Secondary Hypertension
A secondary service-connected condition is when an established medical condition that was either caused or aggravated by an incident or event during a persons time in the military leads to a new and separate condition.
You will need to demonstrate two things to the VA in order to be granted secondary service connection for hypertension:
- A diagnosis for hypertension and
- Medical evidence showing the link between your service-connected PTSD and your hypertension.
This link is known as the nexus. Your private doctor or VA doctor will need to provide the VA with a nexus letter which is a medical opinion linking your hypertension to your already service-connected disability. Any medical records that support a connection between those conditions are also worth submitting to the VA. The nexus between your primary condition and secondary condition must be clearly established in order to be granted service connection on a secondary basis.
To receive a disability rating for PTSD secondary hypertension, your doctor needs to document your diagnosis of high blood pressure. Additionally, to file your claim, your doctor needs to fill out the Hypertension Disability Benefits Questionnaire. Its important to note that you cant fill out this form yourselfthe VA wont accept the form submitted by a veteran. It must come from a licensed physician.
When filling out the form, your doctor needs to include two important pieces of information:
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Service Connection For Ptsd: What Va Requirements Do Veterans Need To Satisfy
For the VA to grant service connection for PTSD, a veteran must demonstrate that he or she has been diagnosed with PTSD under the DSM 5, his or her PTSD is a result of an in-service stressor that meets the DSM 5s A criterion, and his or her in-service stressor at least as likely as not occurred. Lets break down each of these three criteria in detail.
Pursuant to 38 CFR 3.304, service connection for PTSD requires medical evidence diagnosing the condition in accordance with 38 CFR 4.125, which calls for a diagnosis that conforms to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition . Under the DSM 5, a veterans mental health symptomatology must meet all of the following criteria in order for a clinician to diagnose him or her with PTSD:
- Criterion A : The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way:
- Direct exposure
- Witnessing the trauma
- Learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma
- Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in the course of professional duties
How To Prove Secondary Service Connection
You must first prove your primary service-connected disability to prove a secondary service connection. Proving a service connection relies on evidence such as medical treatment, diagnosis, opinions of medical and psychological professionals, and statements from friends, family, and veterans who served with you.
To obtain secondary service connection, you need to file a VA application claiming service connection for these health issues. You must be able to prove these issues are caused by or made worse by a service connected health condition through medical evidence.
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Va Treatment For Ptsd
The VA recognizes how widespread post-traumatic stress disorder is among veterans and provides counseling services for veterans suffering from PTSD. You can learn about PTSD counseling programs at the VA website. The VA also has specialized counseling programs for survivors of military sexual trauma.
For more information on getting help with PTSD, see Nolo’s section on help for veterans with PTSD.
How Much Does The Va Rate Ed Secondary To Ptsd
The VA rates the disabilities based on their severity and impact on your life. These ratings will also decide the compensation amount you are going to get. The VA ratings can range from 0% and go to as high as 100%. 0% indicates no disability, whereas 100% indicates total disability.
Erectile dysfunction is different from other disabilities it is not given a rating schedule. But instead, there are other methods to determine the compensation for it. These methods are:-
- The diagnostic code 7521 means removals of the glans. This disability will get you a rating of 20%.
- Diagnostic Code 7522 means that the patient has erectile dysfunction due to physical deformity. It will get you a disability rating of 20%.
- A diagnostic code 7523 means atrophy of the testicles due to a lack of testosterone. The patient will get a disability rating of 20% if this condition affects both testicles and a rating of 0% if it only affects one testicle.
- Code 7524 indicates the removal of testicles from the body. The victim of this condition will get a 20% disability rating if both testicles are removed and will get a rating of 0% if only one of them is removed.
If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction due to any other condition other than the ones given above, you can still be eligible for disability benefits by the VA.
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Common Symptoms Of Ptsd Include:
- Reoccurring nightmares about the traumatic event that you experienced or witnessed
- Avoidance of situations and people that remind you of what happened and/or
- Feelings of intense anger, guilt, or shame.
PTSD symptom severity is key in qualifying for specific VA disability ratings. They can have a serious impact on your quality of life and can make it difficult to do the things you used to enjoy.
Ptsd Myths Veterans Shouldn’t Believe When Applying For Disability Benefits
Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder related to their military service are eligible for VA disability benefits, but the process of being approved for a service connection and disability rating is often misunderstood. If you believe you are entitled to disability benefits for PTSD, its important to separate the myths from the facts.
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Hypertension And Ptsd: Is There A Connection
Medical research indicates a strong connection between various cardiovascular risk factors, to include cardiovascular disease and Hypertension, and individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder .
Depression, and other mental health symptoms, also pose a risk for CVD and/or Hypertension as comorbidities can be present.
One study stated that PTSD is a disabling condition that develops consequent to trauma exposure such as natural disasters, sexual assault, automobile accidents, and combat that independently increases risk for early incident cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality by over 50% and incident hypertension risk by over 30%.
According to the American College of Cardiology, PTSD may have long-term effects on heart health, based on a recent study that links PTSD to increased risk for high blood pressure in injured soldiers.
The goal was to see whether PTSD is associated with high blood pressurea common condition that increases risk for life-threatening heart events.
The researchers discovered that soldiers with PTSD were 7785% more likely to develop hypertension than those without the disorder.
Researchers also found that the more severe the injury, the more likely participants were to develop high blood pressure.