How to Write a VA Buddy Letter for Sleep Apnea (With Two Examples!)

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Fellow veterans, you may have heard about VA buddy letters (or lay statements) and how they can strengthen your VA disability claim.

These statements provide a first-hand account from someone who has observed the effects of your disability, helping to fill in gaps that medical records alone might not cover.

When it comes to VA claims for sleep apnea, buddy letters can be especially powerful.

They provide the VA with valuable context about sleep apnea, approximately when your symptoms began, and how your sleep apnea negatively impacts your work, life, and social functioning—insights that aren’t always captured in your medical records or at your C&P exam for sleep apnea.

In this blog from VA disability expert Brian Reese, we’ll explore what makes a strong buddy letter for sleep apnea, why it’s essential for your VA claim, and provide two detailed examples for download.

The first example comes from a fellow service member who witnessed your sleep issues during active duty, and the second example is from a spouse who has observed the daily impact of your sleep apnea at home.

Let’s begin!

Summary of Key Points

• Buddy Letters Enhance VA Claims: Buddy letters provide first-hand accounts from someone who has observed the veteran’s sleep apnea symptoms, filling in gaps that medical records may not cover. These letters help illustrate the real-life impact of the condition on the veteran’s daily life, work, and relationships.

• Two Most Effective Types of Buddy Letters: Statements from fellow service members and spouses are the most impactful. Fellow service members can confirm symptoms during service, such as loud snoring or gasping for air, while spouses can provide detailed observations about how the condition affects life at home.

• Critical Elements of a Buddy Letter: Effective letters should include an introduction establishing the writer’s relationship to the veteran, context on when symptoms began, examples of worsening symptoms, and specific impacts on the veteran’s daily life, such as disrupted sleep, fatigue, and emotional strain.

• VA Recognizes Buddy Letters as Credible Evidence: When combined with medical records, a DBQ, and a nexus letter, a buddy letter can strengthen the case for service connection, helping the VA understand the severity of the condition and its connection to military service.

Why a Buddy Letter for Sleep Apnea Can Be Effective

The VA encourages veterans to submit as much credible evidence as possible to support their disability claims.

While medical evidence is critical, lay evidence, such as a buddy letter, can play a key role in strengthening your claim for sleep apnea.

These statements offer firsthand accounts of your condition’s effects that medical records often fail to capture.

A buddy letter is effective because it provides the VA with a detailed, personal perspective about your sleep apnea symptoms and how those symptoms negatively affect your daily life, work, relationships, and overall well-being.

These letters can also address gaps in your medical records by offering context from people who have directly observed your struggles with sleep apnea.

Here are some reasons why a buddy letter for sleep apnea is so impactful:

• It Provides Observational Evidence: A buddy letter from a fellow service member or spouse can describe observations of your sleep apnea symptoms, such as loud snoring, choking or gasping for air during sleep, and excessive daytime fatigue. These firsthand details provide powerful evidence of how your condition manifests in daily life.

• It Fills in Gaps in Medical Records: If your medical records don’t fully document your sleep apnea symptoms or diagnosis, a buddy letter can fill in those gaps. For example, it can explain how symptoms were present during service, even if you weren’t formally diagnosed until after discharge.

• It Highlights the Impact on Relationships and Responsibilities: A buddy letter can describe how your sleep apnea affects your family life, marriage, and ability to share responsibilities, such as disrupted sleep patterns causing mood swings, irritability, or withdrawal from family activities.

• It Shows How Your Condition Affects Your Work and Social Life: A well-crafted buddy letter can detail how daytime fatigue and difficulty concentrating interfere with your ability to perform job-related tasks, attend social gatherings, or participate in hobbies and community activities.

• It Documents the Start and Progression of Your Condition: A buddy letter can show the approximate timeframe of when your sleep apnea began and how your symptoms have worsened over time. For instance, if your sleep apnea progressed from mild snoring to requiring a CPAP machine, the letter can provide a timeline of these changes.

Examples of When a Buddy Letter Is Most Effective

Buddy letters from someone you served with in the military and/or a spouse are the two most effective types of buddy letters.

• From a Fellow Service Member: A fellow service member can attest to your symptoms during service, such as hearing you snore loudly, witnessing you gasp for air while sleeping, or observing your daytime drowsiness and fatigue during military duties.

• From a Spouse: A spouse’s perspective offers insight into how your sleep apnea affects your home life. They can describe how your symptoms disrupt your sleep and theirs, leading to emotional strain, reduced productivity, and challenges in maintaining a normal family dynamic.

Does the VA Care About Buddy Letters?

Yes, the VA does care about buddy letters and VA Raters will consider them as evidence in support of your VA disability claim.

The VA considers buddy letters as credible evidence because they provide real-life observations that medical evidence might miss.

A strong buddy letter, especially when paired with medical records, a Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), and a nexus letter, can significantly increase the likelihood of winning your VA claim for sleep apnea.

When submitting a claim for sleep apnea, don’t underestimate the power of a well-written buddy letter.

It can be the critical piece of evidence that connects your condition to your military service, ensuring the VA understands the full extent of your disability.

What Should a Buddy Letter for Sleep Apnea Include?

A buddy letter for sleep apnea should be well-structured, fact-based, and include detailed observations about the veteran’s symptoms, their severity, and how the condition affects daily life.

Whether written by a fellow service member or a spouse, the letter should provide a clear and compelling narrative that supports the VA claim.

Here are the key elements that should be included in a buddy letter for sleep apnea:

Introduction

Start with a clear introduction that explains the relationship between the writer and the veteran.

For example:

• For a fellow service member: Highlight how long they served together, the type of interactions they had, and the living or working conditions where sleep apnea symptoms were observed.

• For a spouse: Describe how long they’ve been married or living together, providing context for the daily observations.

This establishes credibility and helps the VA understand why the writer’s perspective is relevant.

Context

Provide background information on the veteran’s sleep apnea and when and how it developed.

Address questions such as:

• When were the symptoms first noticed? List the approximate date.

• Did the symptoms begin during service?

• Did you directly witness the veteran’s symptoms of sleep apnea?

• Does the veteran require the use of a breathing device such as a CPAP machine?

For example, a service member might describe hearing the veteran snoring loudly or gasping for air during deployment, while a spouse could explain how the symptoms disrupted sleep at home and progressed over the years.

Worsening Symptoms Over Time

Clearly outline if and how the symptoms of sleep apnea have worsened over the years.

The letter should describe:

• Increased severity or frequency of loud snoring, choking, or gasping for air during sleep.

• New or escalating issues, such as chronic daytime fatigue, irritability, or difficulty concentrating.

• How the condition has become more debilitating over time, impacting the veteran’s ability to work, maintain relationships, or function in daily life.

Specific Examples

Use real-life examples to paint a vivid picture of how the sleep apnea symptoms affect the veteran.

For instance:

• A fellow service member could describe nights when the veteran’s loud snoring kept the entire unit awake or instances of gasping for air during sleep that concerned others.

• A spouse might describe waking up to the veteran choking in their sleep or the emotional toll of sharing disrupted nights due to restless sleep patterns.

These concrete examples make the claim more relatable and compelling.

Impact on Daily Life

Address how sleep apnea negatively impacts the veteran’s work, home life, and social functioning.

Examples include:

• Trouble sleeping including the lack of quality sleep.

• Difficulty maintaining consistent job performance due to fatigue and lack of focus.

• Struggles with family responsibilities, such as caring for children or maintaining household chores.

• Increased irritability, mood swings, or withdrawal from social gatherings due to exhaustion or embarrassment.

By showing how sleep apnea affects all aspects of life, the letter provides the VA with a fuller understanding of the condition’s severity.

Sign and Date

End the letter with a statement affirming that the observations are true and accurate to the best of the writer’s knowledge.

The letter should include:

• The writer’s full name and contact information.

• A signature and date.

This ensures the letter is credible and allows the VA to contact the writer if further clarification is needed.

VA Buddy Letter for Sleep Apnea Example #1: Written By a Fellow Service Member

Click the link or button below to download an example buddy letter for sleep apnea from someone you served with in the military.

You’ll need to edit the letter and content for your specific situation.

Note: This is a fictional example for illustration purposes only.

Subject: Buddy Letter for Sleep Apnea – [Insert Veteran’s Full Name]
Date: [Insert Date]
From: [Your Full Name]
Address: [Your Address]

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is [Your Name], and I had the privilege of serving alongside [Veteran’s Name] in the [Branch of Service, e.g., United States Army] from [Start Date] to [End Date]. We were assigned to [Unit Name/Designation, e.g., 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment] and spent significant time together during deployments and training exercises.

I am writing this statement to provide firsthand evidence of the sleep-related issues I observed in [Veteran’s Name] during our time in service. Specifically, I directly witnessed numerous symptoms consistent with sleep apnea, which were noticeable during our shared time in barracks, field exercises, and deployments.

Sleep Observations

During our time in service, I frequently noticed that [Veteran’s Name] exhibited loud, disruptive snoring at night. This was a common topic of discussion among our unit members because it was so noticeable. On multiple occasions, I observed [Veteran’s Name] stop breathing momentarily during sleep, followed by gasping or choking sounds. At the time, I didn’t realize these were signs of a medical condition, but looking back, it’s clear they were symptoms of sleep apnea.

Daytime Symptoms

In addition to the nighttime issues, I also observed that [Veteran’s Name] struggled with excessive daytime fatigue. He frequently appeared drowsy, even after what should have been a full night of rest. During training and field exercises, [Veteran’s Name] often complained about feeling tired or having trouble concentrating. On several occasions, he would nod off while sitting still or during brief periods of inactivity, which impacted his ability to stay alert during our duties.

Impact on Duties

These symptoms affected [Veteran’s Name] performance during service. While he always gave his best effort, the noticeable fatigue sometimes made it difficult for him to meet the high demands of our assignments. I recall that during [specific deployment or exercise], he expressed frustration about how his sleep issues were affecting his energy levels and focus. Despite these challenges, [Veteran’s Name] pushed through without seeking medical attention, as was common among many of us in the military.

Closing Statement

I believe the symptoms I observed during our time in service are consistent with sleep apnea, and I strongly support [Veteran’s Name] claim for VA disability benefits related to this condition. The issues he experienced in service were clearly present and have likely worsened over time. I hope this statement helps provide the VA with the information needed to understand the challenges [Veteran’s Name] faced and continues to endure.

This statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. If you have any questions or need further clarification about my observations, please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Sign Your Name]
[Type Your Full Name]
[Rank/Title at the time of service, e.g., Sergeant, US Army]
[Branch of Service] [Your Email Address]
[Your Phone Number]

Example #2: Sample Spouse Letter for Sleep Apnea

Click the link or button below to download an example buddy letter for sleep apnea from a spouse.

You’ll need to edit the letter and content for your specific situation.

Note: This is a fictional example for illustration purposes only.

Subject: Buddy Letter for Sleep Apnea – [Insert Veteran’s Full Name]
Date: [Insert Date]
From: [Your Full Name]
Address: [Your Address]

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is [Your Name], and I am the spouse of [Veteran’s Name]. We have been married since [Insert Year], and I have had the opportunity to observe [Veteran’s Name]’s sleep patterns and related symptoms for many years. I am writing this statement to provide insight into the sleep issues and other symptoms I have personally witnessed, which I believe are consistent with sleep apnea.

Sleep Observations

Since our time together, I have noticed that [Veteran’s Name] snores very loudly at night. The snoring is often disruptive and irregular, and there are times when it suddenly stops, followed by choking or gasping sounds. This pattern of breathing has occurred almost every night for as long as I can remember. There have also been instances where it seemed as though [Veteran’s Name] stopped breathing for several seconds before abruptly resuming with a gasp. These episodes have always been concerning, but at the time, we didn’t understand the seriousness of these symptoms.

Daytime Symptoms

In addition to the nighttime sleep disturbances, I’ve observed that [Veteran’s Name] frequently feels tired and drowsy during the day. He often wakes up feeling unrefreshed, no matter how many hours of sleep he gets. I’ve noticed that he struggles to stay awake while watching TV, sitting quietly, or during long car rides. He has also mentioned experiencing difficulty concentrating and feeling irritable, which I believe are related to his poor-quality sleep.

Impact on Daily Life

These sleep issues have had a significant impact on [Veteran’s Name] daily life and overall well-being. The persistent fatigue and lack of quality sleep have affected his ability to fully engage with our family and complete household responsibilities. I recall numerous instances where he was unable to participate in family activities or outings because of how exhausted he felt. Over time, these issues have not only affected his health but have also caused a great deal of stress for both of us.

Connection to Military Service

From what I understand, these symptoms began during [Veteran’s Name] military service and have progressively worsened over the years. He has often mentioned that during his time in the [Branch of Service], he experienced poor sleep conditions, stress, and long hours that likely contributed to the development of his sleep issues. While he wasn’t formally diagnosed with sleep apnea during service, I strongly believe that his time in the military played a significant role in the onset of these symptoms.

Closing Statement

I fully support [Veteran’s Name] claim for VA disability benefits related to sleep apnea. I have witnessed firsthand how these symptoms have affected him and our family, and I am hopeful that this letter provides additional evidence to support his claim. This statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

[Sign Your Name]
[Type Your Full Name] [Insert Your Email Address]
[Insert Your Phone Number]

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