According to the Daily Caller, the Department of Veterans Affairs is reportedly spending over $1.2 billion per year to treat sleep apnea. The news outlet said that the number of “veterans and military retirees receiving disability compensation from the VA for sleep apnea has skyrocketed in recent years.”
The Caller reported that in 2012, the number of veterans and retirees drawing payments for sleep apnea was 114,103, almost double the number the VA reported in 2009. The news outlet reported that the “number of veterans added to the rolls from 2001 to 2012 increased by a factor of 25. [983] veterans began to draw disability compensation for sleep apnea in 2001, and in 2012, 24,791 were added to the rolls to treat the condition.”
According to a report in Stars and Stripes, it is estimated that VA compensation for sleep apnea costs more than $1.2 billion annually. We should point out that the Daily Caller is a conservative media outlet, founded by political pundits Tucker Carlson and Neil Patel.
Veterans or civilians suffering from sleep apnea should be aware that they might qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. To be honest, it may be hard to prove that you are disabled because of your sleep apnea, but if you can prove that your condition disrupts your alertness, physical abilities, memory and mood, you may be able to prove that you are not able to work. In order to qualify for benefits, an assessment of your residual functional capacity (RFC) would need to be prepared showing that you are no capable of working because of sleep apnea.
If you have questions about applying for disability benefits and you suffer from sleep apnea, contact a Tulsa Social Security disability attorney. We offer free evaluations of your case, and you may reach us by phone at (918) 265-1404. Contact us today to learn more about your rights.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security disability attorneys
Troutman Touts: Sleep apnea has been linked to poor impulse control and emotional instability.
