Be prepared to discuss your symptoms in detail, including frequency, severity, and any effect on your quality of life.Get a comprehensive evaluation from a qualified medical provider if you have not already done so.Make sure your records establish a connection between your current condition and your service or service-connected disability.Gather all relevant medical records, including documentation for diagnostic tests and treatment records.To learn more about these statements, see: Is a Buddy Letter Important? The more specific you can be, the better. Start with a clear and concise statement of the issue. Writing a personal statement-also known as a “Statement in Support of a Claim”-can sometimes provide key supporting evidence. To prove these things, you will need to provide medical evidence and, if possible, eyewitness testimony.Tips for your VA disability claim for narcolepsy To service connect narcolepsy secondary to PTSD, you will need to show that your PTSD is related to your military service and that your narcolepsy is the result of your PTSD. Yes, narcolepsy can be a secondary condition to PTSD. Secondary service connection: You will need to show that you have a service-connected condition and that this condition has caused or aggravated your narcolepsy.Direct service connection: You will need to show that your narcolepsy began during or after active duty and that it is the result of an injury or event that occurred during service.If you have a current diagnosis of narcolepsy, the next step is to show that your condition is related to your military service. This can be difficult with narcolepsy because the symptoms are similar to other conditions. The first step in service-connecting any condition is to show evidence of a current diagnosis. How can you service connect your narcolepsy? A formal diagnosis from a VA doctor may indicate whether you have either type 1 or type 2 narcolepsy. The sleep study will likely last one night and may take place at a sleep center.Īfter ruling out other potential causes of your symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you with narcolepsy. Your doctor may also order blood tests and a sleep study. To diagnose narcolepsy, your doctor will likely take a detailed medical history and do a physical examination. Narcolepsy can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other sleep disorders and medical conditions. If you think you may have narcolepsy, it is important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. The role genetics play is still unclear, but the disorder is thought to be caused by genetic and environmental factors. The exact cause of narcolepsy is not fully understood. What Are the Possible Causes of Narcolepsy? Alongside the main four most common symptoms listed above, veterans may experience other complications related to and conditions caused by the disorder. Military members who serve in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard can experience symptoms of narcolepsy due to deployment-related stress. Instead, the Narcolepsy VA disability rating is based on the impact of the condition on each individual veteran’s daily life, specifically, the frequency and severity of the symptoms the veteran experiences.Īdditional Complications Veterans Experience The VA Narcolepsy Disability Benefits Questionnaire does not ask whether you are diagnosed with type one or type two narcolepsy. Veterans with type 2 narcolepsy have EDS and may have one or more of the other symptoms. Type 2 narcolepsy, also known as narcolepsy without cataplexy, is the less severe form of the disorder. Cataplexy is often triggered by sudden, strong emotions, such as anger or laughter. It leads to weakness and a loss of voluntary muscle control. Veterans with type 1 narcolepsy exhibit all four symptoms: EDS, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations.Ĭataplexy is the sudden loss of muscle tone while a person is awake. A low amount of a brain hormone (hypocretin) can indicate Type 1. Type 1 narcolepsy, also known as narcolepsy with cataplexy, is the more severe form of the disorder. There are two types of narcolepsy, type 1 and type 2.
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