When was Sleep Apnea first recognized as an actual sickness or disability?

When was Sleep Apnea first recognized as an actual sickness or disability? I was in the military from '73-'77 and had all the symptoms but I was young and was never concerned with the effects. Once out of the military, symptoms persisted and was eventually told by the VA and civilian doctors tha I had OSA and have been on a CPAP for over 15 years now. Even after a LAUPP and G-BAT(VA) surgery I still have OSA and still have to use the CPAP. I am trying to service connect my OSA. Please help.

> When was Sleep Apnea first recognized as an actual sickness or disability?

It was first identified as specific clinical condition circa 1965, however the condition was at first associated specifically with a number of gross presentations involving congestive heart disease etc. It is not clear when the recognition of the condition in less severe forms became apparent, but even in 1981 when the first CPAP treatment was successfully applied, the treatment was aimed at individuals with significant co-morbidities.

Prior to CPAP, the treatment most often recommended was tracheotomy, so it was not a diagnosis which would be made lightly!

> I was in the military from '73-'77

I would think you will have extreme difficulty in establishing a link between OSA and your military service. OSA as we know it today would not have been well indentified at that time, so probably could not have been reasonably diagnosed in an otherwise fit individual. Also if you were displaying symptoms over the entire time of your military service, it is likely it was a pre-existing condition in any case.

You may find this link of interest, though it not quite your situation...

http://www.apneasupport.org/ab... Report It

Here is a link that may help....http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-diso...

It is hard to say exactly when it was recognized. Sleep and sleep disorders have been studied for decades. I think somewhere around the 1960's is when it was most officially recognized. 1968 was when we got official rules for recording polysomnography.