OSA as Secondary Condition | Stateside Legal

Remembering Jim

Jim Strickland was a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits who was also editor and webmaster of the popular VA Watchdog website. Jim wrote extensively about VA and Social Security disability benefits. Before his recent passing, Jim was kind enough to answer questions from visitors on StatesideLegal.org here in Jim's Mailbag. This page is dedicated to Jim and to his efforts to assist every veteran who called upon him.

About Jim's Mailbag

Jim's Mailbag is a regular column where veterans, servicemembers, and family members can find answers about their VA and Social Security disability benefits. Although we are not accepting new questions at this time, you can browse all of the previous Q&As and search Jim's Mailbag for helpful answers to your specific VA issue.

January 30, 2020

Question:

Hi Jim, Husband has a 60% VA disability. Currently diagnosed with sleep apnea with a CPAP medically necessary. My question is - could he file for sleep apnea as a secondary to TBI, PTSD & or headaches? Thank You for your time!

Jim's Reply:

He can file for OSA as secondary to any or all of those or anything else he wishes to. But then he has to prove the allegation that the OSA is secondary to (whatever) by providing substantial medical evidence that what he claims is fact. That isn't easy to do but might sometimes be accomplished by providing an Independent Medical Opinion or IMO. Click here for more information.