A veteran asked: "Filed sleep apnea secondary to rhinitis — C&P examiner denied it, saying no direct service connection and ignored the secondary claim. What now?" 💡 If you specifically claimed sleep apnea secondary to rhinitis, the VA must address that theory — not just direct service connection. ✅ Once you get the decision letter, file a Higher-Level Review (HLR) and state clearly: “The VA failed to consider secondary service connection as claimed.” That usually triggers a correction — they’l

A veteran asked: "What’s the average rating for obstructive sleep apnea associated with PTSD?" 💡 The average VA rating for sleep apnea is 50% — that’s the standard if you’ve been prescribed a CPAP or BiPAP machine. ⚠️ If you haven’t been prescribed one, your rating will likely be lower. However, some veterans with PTSD are prescribed a CPAP but can’t tolerate using it due to nightmares or anxiety. The key is that it’s prescribed, not necessarily that you wear it nightly. 📄 So if your doctor do