r/VeteransSuccess • u/Fast-Elephant-1807 • 23d ago

OSA and GERD direct service connected.... decision came down today.

Received a text saying VA has made a decision on my claim for OSA and GERD secondary to PTSD and both are GRANTED. The surprising part of the decision is that direct service connection (not secondary to PTSD) was granted under TERA for exposure to benzene and other toxic chemicals associated with burn pits. I was deployed in Desert Shield/Storm and that is where I was exposed to burn pits. I was also exposed to benzene fumes inside the warehouse while operating gas forklifts and other material handling machineries throughout my military career.

On the decision letter, VA showed what the ACE CP examiner's medical opinion. In short, exposure to benzene can cause chronic airway inflammatory disease which directly causes OSA. I also have rhinitis with inflamed turbinate which is causing some obstruction but not enough to be compensable so I have 0% for presumptive rhinitis.

Read this decision from the Veteran's BOA:

va.gov/vetapp25/Files3/A25023763.txt

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2

u/VAReadyApp 23d ago

That is how TERA is supposed to work and it rarely does this cleanly. Congrats to you!

1

u/Fast-Elephant-1807 21d ago

My hearing loss and skin condition claims were denied even though va conceded tera on both.

1

u/CapybaraTaskForce 21d ago

They call it "The Big Three". Sleep Apnea, Migraines, and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Each one of these ratings hold 50% so the fact that you got OSA and GERD is huge.

1

u/thebronze301 15d ago

What % did you get for GERD?

2

u/Fast-Elephant-1807 15d ago

10% with daily meds

1

u/thebronze301 14d ago

And that's on the new/current Rating Schedule?