Sleep Apnea VA Disability Rating: Criteria, Evidence & Pay

What is sleep apnea and how does it affect veterans?

Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. The most common form, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much and block the airway. Veterans experience sleep apnea at significantly higher rates than the general population, with studies showing rates two to three times higher among post-9/11 veterans.

The condition goes beyond snoring. Sleep apnea causes fragmented sleep that leaves you exhausted during the day, struggling to concentrate, and at higher risk for serious health complications including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Veterans with sleep apnea often report falling asleep at inappropriate times, difficulty staying alert while driving, and chronic fatigue that affects every part of their lives.

Military service contributes to sleep apnea through multiple pathways. Weight gain from service-connected injuries that limit physical activity, medications that cause weight gain (particularly psychiatric medications for PTSD and anxiety), and the disruption of healthy sleep patterns during service all increase risk. Exposure to burn pits, dust, and other respiratory irritants during deployment may also contribute to airway inflammation and sleep-disordered breathing.

VA diagnostic code for sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6847 per 38 CFR § 4.97, Schedule of Ratings — Respiratory System.

DC 6847 specifically covers “Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed).” The rating criteria focus on objective measures — particularly whether you require a breathing assistance device like a CPAP — rather than subjective symptom reporting.

Rating criteria for sleep apnea

The VA assigns sleep apnea ratings at four possible levels:

0% rating

Criteria: Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing.

Monthly payment: $0 (but establishes service connection for future increases and secondary claims)

What this looks like: A sleep study confirms sleep apnea, but you don’t experience significant symptoms and don’t require treatment. This is uncommon — most diagnosed cases require at least some intervention.

30% rating — $552.47/month

Criteria: Persistent daytime hypersomnolence.

What this looks like: You experience excessive daytime sleepiness that is ongoing and documented. You may have difficulty staying awake during normal activities, need frequent naps, or struggle with alertness despite getting what should be adequate sleep. You do not yet require a CPAP or other breathing assistance device, or you have mild sleep apnea managed without one.

50% rating — $1,132.90/month

Criteria: Requires use of a breathing assistance device such as a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.

What this looks like: This is the most commonly assigned rating for sleep apnea. A sleep study has confirmed moderate to severe OSA, and your doctor has prescribed a CPAP, BiPAP, or similar device. You use the device regularly to manage your condition.

Important: The key factor is that a breathing device is required — meaning medically necessary based on your sleep study results. The VA looks at whether the device has been prescribed, not whether you enjoy using it.

100% rating — $3,938.58/month

Criteria: Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or requires tracheostomy.

What this looks like: Your sleep apnea is so severe that it causes chronic respiratory failure. Carbon dioxide builds up in your blood because your breathing is inadequate, or you’ve developed cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure due to lung disease). Alternatively, you’ve required a tracheostomy to maintain your airway. This rating level is rare and represents the most extreme cases.

What evidence do you need?

Building a strong sleep apnea claim requires specific medical documentation:

Service records

• Service treatment records showing complaints of snoring, daytime fatigue, or witnessed apnea events
• Records of any in-service sleep studies
• Deployment records (relevant if claiming connection to environmental exposures)
• Documentation of weight changes during service or medication-related weight gain

Medical evidence

• Sleep study (polysomnography) — This is essentially required. The VA rarely grants sleep apnea without a formal sleep study confirming the diagnosis and its severity (measured by Apnea-Hypopnea Index or AHI)
• CPAP prescription and compliance records showing you use the device
• Treatment records documenting symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness, witnessed apnea events, and fatigue
• Records showing any cardiovascular or metabolic complications from sleep apnea

Nexus letter

A medical opinion connecting your sleep apnea to service. If claiming as a secondary condition to PTSD, the nexus letter should explain the medical pathway — for example, how PTSD medications caused weight gain that led to OSA, or how PTSD-related sleep fragmentation contributes to sleep-disordered breathing.

Buddy statements

Statements from your spouse, partner, or roommate who can describe your snoring, witnessed breathing pauses during sleep, gasping awake, and daytime fatigue. These lay statements are particularly valuable because the person sleeping next to you often notices symptoms before you do.

C&P exam tips for sleep apnea

What the examiner evaluates

• Confirmation of sleep apnea diagnosis through sleep study results
• Current severity (AHI score from your most recent sleep study)
• Whether a CPAP or other device is required
• Impact on daily functioning and occupational capacity
• If claiming secondary, the connection between your primary condition and sleep apnea

How to prepare

1. Bring your sleep study results. The C&P examiner needs to see objective data. Make sure you have copies of all polysomnography reports.
2. Know your CPAP compliance. If you use a CPAP, many modern machines track usage data. Bring compliance reports showing consistent use.
3. Describe your daytime symptoms. Talk about how daytime fatigue affects your work performance, driving safety, and daily activities. Be specific — “I fell asleep during a meeting last Tuesday” is more compelling than “I’m tired a lot.”
4. If claiming secondary to PTSD: Be ready to explain the connection. Bring documentation showing medication-related weight gain, or research supporting the PTSD-sleep apnea link.
5. Don’t skip the exam. If the VA orders a new sleep study as part of your exam, attend it. Missing any part of the evaluation can result in a denial.

Common secondary conditions linked to sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is often connected to other conditions that can increase your overall combined rating:

• PTSD — The relationship goes both directions. PTSD can cause sleep apnea (through weight gain and sleep disruption), and sleep apnea can worsen PTSD symptoms by preventing restorative sleep.
• GERD — Sleep apnea increases the risk of acid reflux. The negative pressure created by obstructed breathing can pull stomach acid into the esophagus.
• Hypertension — Sleep apnea is a well-established cause of high blood pressure. The repeated oxygen drops during apnea events stress the cardiovascular system.
• Migraines — Poor sleep quality and oxygen desaturation from sleep apnea can trigger chronic headaches and migraines.
• Depression — Chronic sleep deprivation from untreated or under-treated sleep apnea is strongly linked to depression.

How to calculate your monthly payment

Your total VA disability payment depends on your combined rating across all service-connected conditions. If you have sleep apnea at 50% combined with PTSD, tinnitus, or other conditions, your combined rating will be higher than any single condition alone.

Use our VA disability calculator to:

• Calculate your combined rating with multiple conditions
• Understand how VA math combines ratings (50% + 50% does not equal 100%)
• Estimate your monthly payment including dependents

For the full breakdown of payment amounts at every rating level, see our 2026 VA disability pay rates page.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance on your VA disability claim, consult a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent. You can find accredited representatives at VA.gov.