Originally Posted by
53WireWizard
Does anyone know how long it may take to be cleared for Depression, Anxiety, and Sleep Apnea? I never received an official diagnoses for the depression or anxiety but I have done counseling in the past and haven't taken any medication for either. I've been using a CPaP machine for a little over a year now with no other sleep related issues and was cleared by my Flight Surgeon for flight duties before I left the military. I have a current 1st Class Medical from the FAA, and I'm waiting for the VA to assign me my disability rating which is why I held off on reporting these 3 things specifically. I assume once I hear back from the VA on everything I will need to redo my medical or can I wait until my next required exam next year?
Please take a good look here as this is from the AMAS or aviationmedicine.com.
https://www.aviationmedicine.com/art...gical-support/. I'm NOT so sure that if you hadn't been officially diagnosed with any kind of depression you'd even have to report it on Form 8500-8 for the FAA airmen's medical certification. However, ensure you read on that form the explanation in big caps AND selections in item #18, please. You'll recognize the applicable ones. That said, UNLESS if you can honestly answer that and IF IS NOT officially diagnosed I wouldn't think you'd have to necessarily report that to the FAA. In any event, hang in there as the good news is having or having had it isn't necessarily a disqualifying condition for a 1st class medical. I also believe that certain milder anti-depression meds maybe allowed to take. Check the AMAS site though. Hope that this also helped!
Sleep Apnea (OSA) that is being successfully treated with the APAP/CPAP machine shouldn't take long for FAA 1st class "special issuance" approval. Especially if you've already had a sleep study and MWT (maintenance wakefulness test) prescribed by a physician. And, you have a physician's letter OR statement you have NO daytime sleepiness.
Certainly you can wait to report the OSA Sleep Apnea on your next FAA medical and continue to operate legally.