The Playbook › Condition guides
Sleep apnea is one of the higher-value single ratings in the VA system, because needing a CPAP machine is rated at 50%. The rating itself is simple. The difficult part is proving the condition is connected to service, since most veterans are not diagnosed until years after they leave.
The short version
- Sleep apnea is rated under Diagnostic Code 6847 at 0%, 30%, 50%, or 100%.
- A CPAP or other breathing assistance device that is medically required means 50%.
- You must have a diagnosis confirmed by a sleep study.
- Most successful claims are secondary claims, or rely on evidence of symptoms in service.
- VA has proposed changing these criteria. As of this writing the change is not final.
On this page
The rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Asymptomatic, but with documented sleep disorder breathing |
| 30% | Persistent daytime hypersomnolence, meaning excessive sleepiness during the day |
| 50% | Requires use of a breathing assistance device such as a CPAP machine |
| 100% | Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or requires a tracheostomy |
What “requires” means
The 50% rating depends on the device being medically necessary, as shown by a prescription following a sleep study. If you have been diagnosed and prescribed a CPAP, you meet the criteria. If you are rated 30% and have since been prescribed one, file for an increase with the prescription and sleep study.
Getting service connected
You need a current diagnosis from a sleep study, plus one of the following.
Route 1: Direct, with symptoms in service
If you were diagnosed on active duty, this is straightforward. If not, you need evidence that symptoms began in service:
- Service treatment records mentioning snoring, fatigue, or sleep complaints
- Buddy statements from people who shared quarters with you and saw you stop breathing, gasp, or snore heavily. A spouse who observed the same thing during your service is equally valuable. See buddy statements.
- A medical opinion that the sleep apnea diagnosed later is at least as likely as not the same condition that began in service
A witness can describe what they saw and heard. They cannot diagnose sleep apnea. The medical opinion connects the two.
Route 2: Secondary to another service-connected condition
This is the more common successful route. Sleep apnea is frequently claimed as secondary to:
| Primary condition | The medical theory |
|---|---|
| PTSD and other mental health conditions | Research shows a strong association; disturbed sleep architecture and arousal |
| Rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum | Nasal obstruction contributes to airway collapse |
| Conditions causing weight gain | A service-connected condition limits activity or requires medication that causes weight gain, and the weight gain is a substantial factor in the sleep apnea |
| Asthma and other respiratory conditions | Airway inflammation |
Every one of these needs a nexus letter with real reasoning. VA examiners often give negative opinions on secondary sleep apnea claims, citing other risk factors such as age and weight. A strong opinion addresses those directly. See secondary conditions.
Route 3: Presumptive
Sleep apnea is not on VA’s presumptive lists. However, burn pit veterans who have a presumptive condition such as rhinitis or sinusitis under the PACT Act may be able to claim sleep apnea as secondary to it.
The most common reasons for denial
- No sleep study. A diagnosis by questionnaire or by a doctor’s impression is not enough.
- No evidence of symptoms in service and no medical opinion.
- A negative C&P opinion blaming weight or age, with no private opinion to answer it.
- A long gap between service and diagnosis with nothing in between.
If you were denied, read the examiner’s reasoning and answer it specifically. See what to do after a denial.
What to submit
- The sleep study report and the CPAP prescription
- CPAP usage data if you have it, showing you use the machine
- Buddy or spouse statements about symptoms in service or over the years
- A nexus opinion, for direct or secondary connection
- Your own statement about daytime fatigue, concentration, and how it affects work and driving
Proposed changes to the rating criteria
In 2022 VA proposed rewriting the sleep apnea criteria so that ratings would depend on how well treatment works. Under the proposal, a veteran whose symptoms are fully controlled by CPAP would be rated 0%, with higher ratings only when treatment is ineffective or cannot be used.
As of this writing the proposal has not been finalized, and the criteria in the table above are still the law. Two practical points:
- If you have a claim to file, there is no advantage in waiting.
- When VA changes the rating schedule, veterans already rated are generally protected. A rating is not reduced only because the criteria changed, unless the condition itself has improved.
Check the regulation linked below for the current text before relying on any figure.
Sleep apnea and your combined rating
A 50% rating has a large effect when combined with others. Try it in the calculator.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.