Is insomnia common in the military?

Insomnia is a widespread problem in the U.S. military and the most commonly reported symptom following deployment. A new study published online in the journal Sleep found that cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia , a form of talk therapy, was highly effective with an active duty population.

Do sleep disorders disqualify you from the military?

Current sleep disturbances (780.5), including, but not limited to sleep apneas, is disqualifying.

Can you get disability for insomnia in the military?

A veteran whose psychiatric condition causes insomnia can qualify for insomnia as a secondary service-connected condition. If a veteran is service-connected for insomnia and then develops depression related to their lack of sleep, they may be eligible for VA disability benefits for depression on a secondary basis.

Why is sleep apnea so common in military?

All forms of sleep apnea can be problematic for veterans. Many cases are not related to obesity, poor health, or aging. Instead, they are related to neurological or physical damage suffered during service. They could also be the result of substance abuse.

Can you be discharged for insomnia?

If you were diagnosed with insomnia prior to military service, you may still be able to file a disability claim. To do so, you will need to show that your time in the service aggravated your symptoms and made the condition worse.

What happens if you have insomnia in the Army?

Short sleep is the strongest predictor of PTSD, with soldiers who sleep less being significantly more likely to develop PTSD. Insomnia frequently co-occurs with PTSD13. Nightmares are another common symptom. At least 90% of Vietnam veterans with PTSD also suffer from insomnia.

Can you get medically discharged for insomnia?

Is sleep apnea a disability in the military?

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.

How do I prove my sleep apnea is service connected?

Veterans can also prove service connection for sleep apnea by showing that their sleep apnea began in service using service medical records, or by providing a nexus opinion from a medical professional that links their current diagnosis of sleep apnea to signs or symptoms they experienced in service.

Is insomnia considered a disability?

Social Security Administration does not list insomnia itself as a disability. However, insomnia often occurs with another condition. This means that, while it can be difficult to get disability benefits, it is not impossible.

How much does the VA rate insomnia?

VA Disability Ratings for Insomnia Disorder So this means, insomnia could be rated like mental disorders which range from 0% to a 100% disability rating, per the Schedule of Ratings for Mental Disorders (38 CFR § 4.130) meaning it is possible to receive over $3,000 from the VA for service connected insomnia issues.

Can you get a waiver for anxiety in the military?

Army standards continue to stipulate that applicants who test positive for marijuana require a waiver to be eligible for enlistment, and applicants with a history of ADHD, depression, or anxiety will not meet enlistment standards and might not even qualify for a waiver, depending on their specific case.

Can you join the military with anxiety?

Anxiety issues, either current or historical, or panic, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, other acute reactions to stress, and post-traumatic stress are disqualifying for entry into the service.

How do I prove VA insomnia?

Getting VA Disability for Insomnia For primary insomnia, the Veteran must have: A current medical diagnosis of insomnia. An in-service event or occurrence that caused the disability. A nexus or medical opinion linking insomnia to the in-service event.

What is the VA rating for insomnia?

Yes, insomnia is considered a VA Disability and it can get a disability rating anywhere from 0% to 100%. This is according to the Schedule of Ratings for Mental Disorders (38 CFR § 4.130). How high your VA rating is depends on the severity of the symptoms and how well you can prove that they are service-connected.

How do you prove your sleep apnea is service-connected?

In order to establish direct service connection for sleep apnea, a claimant must show that they have a current, diagnosis of sleep apnea, an in-service event or illness/injury, and a medical nexus or link that shows the veteran’s sleep apnea is related to their in-service event, injury/illness.

Is sleep apnea disqualifying for military service?

OSA is a disqualifying medical condition that requires a waiver to continue flying. To be considered for a waiver, a crewmember must be successfully treated with any of the above methods and have a repeat sleep study showing an AHI of 5 or less.

What percent disability is insomnia?

Therefore, the disability will be rated by analogy to mental health disorders. 38 C.F.R. § 4.20 (2013). In an October 2012 rating decision, the RO granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for insomnia, effective July 9, 2012.

What are the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorders in the military?

Consistent with the civilian population, the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorders among servicemembers seeking evaluation include insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; Capaldi, Guerrero, and Killgore, 2011; Collen et al., 2012; McLay, Klam, and Volkert, 2010; Mysliwiec, Gill, et al., 2013; Mysliwiec, McGraw, et al., 2013).

What causes sleep deprivation in the military?

Chronic sleep deprivation, a component of the military culture, is exacerbated by the physical and emotional stressors of deployment; this results in sleep fragmentation and insomnia. Mission requirements foster maladaptive sleep practices such as excess caffeine intake and the use of sedative hypnotics.

Does the military have a policy on sleep management?

In general, medical policies related to sleep were included in military programs on resiliency and stress management rather than explicitly addressing sleep management. An advantage of this approach is that sleep-related policies and programs are directed at the whole individual from a broader wellness perspective.

Do soldiers who have been deployed get different amounts of sleep?

In the Army sample—in which we were able to compare soldiers who had never deployed, those who were currently deployed, and those who had previously deployed—we found no significant differences among the three subgroups on any sleep measure.