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Dr Finnerty is the real deal!

Is it a flat fee for this? How does it work?

The VA allowed me to get two sleep studies from outside provider. I have severe apnea. The second one was done to find the best settings for the machine. After using the machine I had to stop due to severe dry mouth. Medications are making it impossible to use. My VA Psychiatrist won't do a DBQ because she thinks it is a conflict of interest even though the head of the VA said they should be. I have PTSD depression, anxiety etc. Does not being able to use the machine but still having SA even allow me to be rated?

Thanks Dr. Todd

Ok, so how would I go about claiming insomnia or a sleep disorder secondary to my tinnitus and anxiety/panic disorder?

Can general anxiety disorder and or depression be connected to sleep apnea or is it just “PTSD”

I filed mine secondary to depression tinnitus and migraines w imo from vet lawyer / doctor. . I use a cpap. Denied !! HLR. Denied. 3 ace exams. Denied. Now lawyer sent to BVA. Smh. So frustrated. Thanks for info.

Thank you!

Do you do migranes secondary to MH. Specifically anxiety disorder/ depression?

I understand what you're saying. My BMI is 30 and I'm 63. Hard to lose weight, but even harder to get younger. Hopefully I'll have an understanding C&P examiner.

I live in NY, can I just drive to another state and do the tele-health appointment?

Need help 70% ptsd with tbi residuals need 100 diagnosed 2029

I was later diagnosed with sleep apnea. And a few years after I got out from the military I was diagnosed with PTSD. I'm only service connected for Sleep Apnea only .

I've heard being obese will hurt your claim. Is that true?

I’m down on the VA and haven’t even had my exam yet. Filed my paperwork for claim for Tinnitus insomnia and anxiety. I was in field artillery in the Marines. I’m 55. The contractor made my appointment never contacted me and then said I missed the appointment the claim would be made on evidence provided. I got it rescheduled but….. I’m less than optimistic to say the least.

Always get a diagnosis, got it!

Bloke dont

Dr. Finnerty just wrote my Nexus letter for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD. It was not only a an amazing letter but it was mentally and emotionally validating because my C&P examine blamed all my medical issues on being just being overweight. Which just makes you feel awful about yourself. Especially when you know your weight issues is a direct impact from the severe MST which is why I have PTSD. Not sure what the outcome will be, but I submitted it to the VA and I will keep you posted. Thank you Dr. Finnerty for your expertise, well written and thoughtful letter.

Hello. I am a veteran. How can i set an appointment with you doctor?

I never had issues with focusing as a kid and excelled in school. However, during my 12th year in the Air Force, I was diagnosed with ADHD as I began struggling to maintain focus and frequently forgetting things, which started to affect my career. I had to go through a medical board, and ultimately my commander had to write a letter stating I was mission critical and accepted the risk. Despite this, I continued serving for 16 more years without any issues, advancing through the ranks, winning awards, and receiving a special promotion. All my ADHD treatment and statements from my psychiatrist are documented in my medical records. With my C&P exam next week, I hope they take all this into account.

Dr. Finnerty wrote me what I thought was a very detailed Nexus letter for sleep apnea along with references. It was my third attempt as SA as secondary to my PTSD. The VA still denied me. I don't even know what to do now.

The VA needs to clean house on their own contracted DBQ examiners. I was examined via telehealth with VES.

The gray area is the VA making an opinion on someone by reviewing notes and having a short conversation. If it's good enough for them, then it should be ethical enough for a disability applicant to do the same.

I can handle fireworks when I know they're coming. I'm extremely loud noise averse with tinnitus and ptsd mst, so fireworks at other times really cause me to jump out of my skin, just like other unexpected loud noises. People who speak or laugh very loudly set me off. Construction noises. Dishes being dropped. And so on.

Yes ,awesome at nexus letters. Wrote one for me and a free rebuttal when I was denied on initial claim.

There are two days a year I hate. 4th and 1st. People do not consider those of us with severe PTSD. This is a fact! I cannot stand these days ! Dr. Todd its not just FWs its a host of things I still cannot explain. The night sweats, dreams, I buried it for over a decade. Now the VA MH is helping me long way to go

This guy is awesome at nexus letters.

Hi Doc. What type of records do you review for a records review nexus?

Honestly I don't think it matters long as the nexus is written by a "medical professional". You're certainly that in spades! :-)

This is a fascinating discussion. I'm new to all of this, but as I understand it, I'll need a Nexus letter from a professional when it comes time to file for a secondary claim for my tinnitus or PTSD, such as vertigo, gerd, or migraines, all of which I am being treated for. Thank you for these videos.

Excellent! Thank you Dr. Todd.

thank you

Do the VA and SSA update their mental disability criteria based on the most recent DSM 5? Do you find them lagging behind the APA recommendations?

I used to be an occupational therapist and now I'm on ssdi. At least when I was working, VA was worlds better. Maybe it's different today. VA provided any and all home equipment, the best therapy, and care ..

I would say no, because veterans are able to receive assistance that most American non-veterans don't have access to. Most Americans can't go to any healthcare facility and ask for help to apply for disability free of charge, but a veteran is able to do just that by simply going to any VA facility for help, and it will all be free to low cost for the veteran. So a veteran has an advantage over the typical American who's not a veteran.

Dr. Finnerty, I would greatly appreciate your medical opinion. Could receiving 18 or more injections in my knee, along with medications, lead to Sleep Apnea? Alternatively, could an assault involving someone running my forehead into a concert wall cause Sleep Apnea? Your expertise in this matter would be invaluable.

Thank you Dr. Finnerty! You rock!

I recently got a rating for 30% for asthma and 50 for flat feet so I rate VA health care and I never knew what sleep apnea was but it makes sense it’s connected to my asthma now. If I just got a rating for the asthma do you think it’s alright I go ahead and submit a claim for sleep apnea as secondary to asthma even though I don’t have I guess any medical paperwork or sleep study for the sleep apnea? Thanks

You're very difficult to understand. Marble mouth? You're a psychologist? Yikes!

I just sent you an email 👍🏼👍🏼

are you accepting new patients?

Hi, I filled my claim for insomnia secondary to tinnitus in February ‘24. Had my C&P exam March ‘24. Now it’s June, just received a 0% rating! 🤷🏾‍♂️

my wife is disabled physically, for the last year.She is bedridden. Can't focus much. In much pain, has concentration issues. SSA or DDS just sent her a letter wanting a telehealth mental exam. My question is, is it ok for her to stay in her bed during the consult? Is that ok? Its a challenge for her to sit very long upright in a chair. He ssi/ssdi claim is based on physical, not mental, but they are asking for this. She has heart issues,diabetic, gets pain management injections on various parts of her body. What should she expect? If they ask for dates and such or for her to recall things, it might be hard. I guess I just want her to get the help she needs and to win the case. She badly needs medicare benefits and she is over 50. Long work history. I just want to help her and get some insight. Thanks.

After 4 years the BVA finally granted my OSA secondary to ptsd last week. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Great information. Thank you Doctor!

VA is absolutely incorrect in these recent changes. As usual, Congress and VA are once again, trying to stab vets in the back. Regardless of medication or equipment prescribed for our injuries/illness, doesn't mean we have been miraculously cured or fixed. Let's use mental disease; meds only alleviate or mask the symptoms or injuries, we still have the disease and they will never go away.

I agree with your assessment that the failure of the VA Rating System is within its subjectivity when evaluating mental health. Reading through the context of mental health DBQs, there's clearly an objective motive behind the proper percentage for a mental health rating, however, it's subjective depending on the person's view of the veteran during the C&P exam. Based on a college course I took in abnormal psychology, there's clear evidence the psyche, the central nervous system, and the peripheral nervous system, are all impacted. Prior empirical scientific studies suggest the subjective (psyche) and the objective (peripheral nervous system) cause both mental and physical handicaps. For example, people diagnosed by the DSM 5 with PTSD, tend to have smaller hypothalamus' in the brain. This smaller hypothalamus is attributed to lower blood flow. The hypothalamus is extremely important for attaching memories to emotions. IMO, when a PTSD patient has a recurring traumatic event, it's because the hypothalamus has been affected by the event. This causes all sorts of other issues with the central and sympathetic nervous system, of which the brain controls. For example, I'm a 100% P&T disabled veteran. I also have secondary issues related to PTSD involving migraines, hyperhidrosis, Bell's palsy, and sleep apnea. The VA Rating System also does not take into account co-morbidities that come with mental health illnesss. For example, my PTSD has evolved with Bipolar Disorder 2. I now have co-morbidities in both and they're nearly indistinguishable. The anxiety over normal circumstances (such as a police siren, crying baby, other loud noises), causing our faster heart rates, uncontrollable shaking and sweating, headaches, inability to speak (i.e. panic attacks), seeing red anger, is our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response) being out of control because of the way mental health issues such as PTSD, changes the size and functions of our brain's components. The VA Rating System is antiquated, and it's why experts like Dr. Finnerty are important to glue the pieces together with a nexus showing the primary mental health disability and the secondary VA claims that come from PTSD and other primary mental health claims.

I just found your channel. Thanks for the video. I like you! I'm being treated by the VA for PTSD MST and depression. I've also just filed my claim. No medication, I'm doing they call Prolonged Exposure. Im not sure it's helping, but it's gotten me thinking a lot about how messed up my life is due to my trauma. I'm 63, this happened when I was 18. Hopefully I'll get better at some point. I'll be watching your videos.

The only VA consistency is its inconsistency and lack of transparency across the board. BTW, your no nonsense type of way to convey this information to the layman is very appreciated. thank you for all you've done helping me! You rock and I'm a huge fan!

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