VA Disability for Sleep Apnea
Rating criteria and secondary connections
Sleep apnea is rated at 0%, 30%, 50%, or 100% under Diagnostic Code 6847. The key rating thresholds:
0%: Asymptomatic but with documented diagnosis. 30%: Persistent daytime hypersomnolence (excessive daytime sleepiness). 50%: Requires use of a breathing assistance device such as CPAP. 100%: Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention, cor pulmonale, or requires tracheostomy.
Most veterans with diagnosed sleep apnea who use a CPAP receive 50%. The CPAP is the key — if you have a prescription for a CPAP machine, the rating is almost always 50%.
Secondary connection: sleep apnea is frequently secondary to PTSD, obesity related to limited mobility from orthopedic injuries, or medications that cause weight gain. If you developed sleep apnea after service and have a service-connected condition that contributed, file it as a secondary claim with a nexus letter.