Is sleep apnea a disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not recognize sleep apnea as a disability. However, if you suffer from severe enough sleep apnea, you may meet eligibility standards with the other symptoms resulting from your sleep apnea. To qualify for benefits, you must meet SSD's definition of disabled.

How much disability will I get for sleep apnea?

Disability ratings for sleep apnea are assigned at 0, 30, 50, or 100 percent. If sleep apnea causes disordered breathing but no other symptoms, the veteran will be assigned a 0 percent rating, meaning the veteran will not receive any monthly payment amount for sleep apnea.

Why is sleep apnea a disability?

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), sleep apnea is not considered a disability. However, when it causes heart disorders and breathing problems, the SSA may consider the condition disabling.

Can you get disability for sleep disorder?

If someone is diagnosed with a sleep disorder that affects their ability to work, they may be eligible for disability benefits if their condition cannot be effectively treated. Complaints about being tired or fatigued would not be enough to qualify for disability benefits.

Is sleep apnea considered a serious illness?

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. Complications of OSA can include: Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea make typical, restorative sleep impossible, in turn making severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability likely.

Sleep Apnea and Social Security Disability

What is the newest treatment for sleep apnea?

For years, the most common treatment for millions of people with sleep apnea involved wearing a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask. That is, until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new, maskless treatment option -- the Inspire upper airway stimulation device.

What is the most serious sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is classified by severity: Severe obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is greater than 30 (more than 30 episodes per hour) Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15.

Can you work having sleep apnea?

In the absence of treatment, sleep apnea can lead to poor work performance, lowered alertness, and increased risk of injury on the job. That's why certain positions may require testing for the condition.

Are you allowed to drive if you have sleep apnea?

Your doctor will suggest you stop driving if you're so drowsy that it's likely to have an adverse effect on your driving – whatever the reason. If your job means you have to drive, you might be able to get assessed for OSA and treated more quickly.

How do you prove sleep disorders?

Home sleep testing also might be an option. Tests to detect sleep apnea include: Nocturnal polysomnography. During this test, you're hooked up to equipment that monitors your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.

What is Level 3 sleep apnea?

A level 3 sleep study—often referred to as a home sleep apnea test (HSAT)—is done from the comfort of your own home—not at a sleep lab or hospital. With a level 3 sleep study, you use a sleep study kit at home that records your breathing activity, oxygen levels, and heart rate throughout the course of the night.

Is sleep apnea physical or mental?

Not only does sleep apnea affect your physical health and wellbeing, it also affects your mental health.

Does sleep apnea qualify for FMLA?

Can You Get FMLA for Sleep Apnea? Yes! If you are facing work related issues due to your sleep apnea, Singular Sleep can help you.

Does sleep apnea cause weight gain?

Obstructive sleep apnea can also contribute to weight gain and obesity. Research has shown that approximately 40 percent of the people living with obesity also have obstructive sleep apnea, and 70 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea are obese.

How many CPAP events per hour is normal?

CPAP, oral appliances and other sleep apnea treatment options are designed to reduce your AHI, but not necessarily eliminate them. That's because it's considered normal for everyone to have up to four apneas an hour. It's also common if your AHIs vary from night to night.

Can severe sleep apnea cause brain damage?

These breathing pauses can prevent your body from supplying enough oxygen to the brain. In severe cases this lack of oxygen can lead to brain damage. Signs of this damage include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and moodiness.

Do you have to inform car insurance of sleep apnea?

In the small print of any car insurance policy, there will be a statement that you must inform the company of any circumstances that might alter the terms of the insurance, often specifically stating health related issues. A diagnosis of sleep apnoea syndrome counts as such a circumstance.

What should you not do if you have sleep apnea?

Avoiding alcohol, losing weight (if you are overweight/obese), and stopping smoking may alleviate your OSA symptoms. Mild-to-moderate OSA may be reversed by a weight loss of at least 15%. Some people also find that avoiding back sleeping is helpful.

What happens if diagnosed with sleep apnea?

When you find out you have sleep apnea, your doctor will review your treatment options with you. Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes, devices that open up your blocked airway, or surgery. Your doctor will base their recommendations on how mild or severe your sleep apnea is. Together, you'll decide what to try.

What are the 3 types of sleep apnea?

There are three forms of sleep apnea: central, obstructive, and complex. The most common of these is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What does sleep apnea fatigue feel like?

You wake up enough to take a few breaths, but not enough to remember it the next morning. This cycle repeats itself many times each night, making you feel tired or exhausted in the morning. When you have OSA the apnea is caused by an obstruction or blockage.

Can you live a long life with sleep apnea?

The impact on life expectancy with untreated severe sleep apnea is even more profound: It roughly doubles your risk of death. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, studies have established that sleep apnea typically decreases life expectancy by several years.

Does sleep apnea happen every night?

What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder. People who have sleep apnea stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping. These short stops in breathing can happen up to 400 times every night.

What can I use instead of CPAP machine?

What is the new alternative to a CPAP machine?

Inspire is an alternative to CPAP that works inside your body while you sleep. It's a small device placed during a same-day, outpatient procedure. When you're ready for bed, simply click the remote to turn Inspire on. While you sleep, Inspire opens your airway, allowing you to breathe normally and sleep peacefully.