YOUR CONDITION, EXPLAINED
Sleep Apnea Syndromes VA disability rating & claim guide
The VA rates Sleep Apnea Syndromes under diagnostic code 6847, in 38 CFR § 4.97 (respiratory system), and the schedule provides four evaluation levels for it: 100%, 50%, 30% and 0%.
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A CLEARER PATH FORWARD
Make sense of your next step.
01Understand the rating02Know what to gather03Prepare for your examTHE ESSENTIALS
How the VA rates Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep, fragmenting rest and often leading to loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Left untreated, it's also linked to higher blood pressure and heart strain, which is part of why the VA rates it based on treatment need rather than just the diagnosis.
The schedule rates sleep apnea on what it requires or causes: 100% for chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or when a tracheostomy is required; 50% when you need a breathing assistance device such as a CPAP machine; 30% for persistent daytime hypersomnolence; and 0% when you have no symptoms but sleep-disordered breathing is documented.
- Diagnostic code
- 6847
- Rating schedule
- 38 CFR § 4.97
- Schedule levels
- 100%, 50%, 30% and 0%
How does the VA choose a rating level?
Which level applies is set by the criteria the evidence meets, not by the diagnosis. Where there is a question as to which of two evaluations applies, 38 CFR § 4.7 assigns the higher one if the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for that rating.
EXPLORE THE PERCENTAGES
Sleep Apnea Syndromes VA rating criteria (DC 6847)
Choose a percentage to see what that level means. Open the full comparison to read all the criteria in one place.
These are published rating criteria. Selecting a level does not predict your VA decision.
BUILD YOUR EVIDENCE, ONE PIECE AT A TIME
Evidence for your Sleep Apnea Syndromes claim
A long list feels easier when you have a place to start. Use this checklist to see what you have and what still needs gathering.
Check off what you’ve gathered. Progress stays on this page until you leave or refresh.
A LITTLE PREPARATION HELPS
What the C&P examiner will ask about Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Think through your own experience before exam day. Open a question to see what the examiner is assessing and which details are useful to describe accurately.
SeverityDo you experience excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue despite treatment?
Evaluating persistent symptoms which may indicate inadequate treatment response.
- Track your energy levels and sleepiness throughout typical days
- Note specific times when you feel most tired
- Describe any incidents of falling asleep inappropriately
- Mention impact on driving safety and work performance
- Not reporting persistent fatigue because you think treatment should fix everything
- Failing to describe specific functional limitations from sleepiness
- Not mentioning safety concerns like drowsy driving
SeverityHow often do you still wake up during the night or have poor sleep quality?
Assessing sleep fragmentation and quality despite treatment efforts.
- Keep a sleep diary for several weeks noting wake-ups and sleep quality
- Describe morning symptoms: headaches, grogginess, dry mouth
- Note your partner's observations about snoring or breathing pauses
- Mention sleep position requirements or comfort issues
- Not tracking actual sleep patterns and wake-ups
- Failing to describe morning symptoms that indicate poor sleep quality
- Not mentioning partner observations of continued breathing problems
TreatmentDo you use a CPAP machine or other breathing device for your sleep apnea?
Determining treatment status, which is primary factor in sleep apnea rating levels.
- Bring documentation of your sleep study results
- Describe compliance with CPAP usage (hours per night)
- Mention any side effects or problems with CPAP treatment
- Describe symptoms before and after treatment
- Not mentioning that you have been prescribed CPAP but don't use it
- Not bringing sleep study documentation
- Not describing daytime fatigue despite treatment
THE EXAM FORM
Which DBQ is used for Sleep Apnea Syndromes?
VA's page says: “You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers.”
Source: VA: Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), read September 18, 2026.
SMALL DETAILS. BETTER PREPARATION.
Preparing your Sleep Apnea Syndromes claim
Start with the practical tips, then explore the common oversights. You don’t need to work through everything at once.
Practical tips for your claim3 tips
- 01
Submit a formal, VA-recognized sleep study (polysomnogram) - this is the specific evidence the diagnostic code is built around, and without it, the claim generally can't be rated as sleep apnea at all.
- 02
Clearly describe daytime fatigue and drowsiness in your own statement, since these functional effects give context to why the diagnosis matters for daily life.
- 03
Include CPAP compliance data if your device tracks it - consistent use is itself evidence the condition is being actively managed.
C&P exam pitfalls to keep in mind2 tips
- 01
Relying on a home sleep test that hasn't been reviewed and confirmed by a sleep physician - the VA generally expects a clinically interpreted, official sleep study.
- 02
Not having documentation of a prescribed breathing device on file, which leaves the claim rated on symptoms alone: 30% for persistent daytime sleepiness, or 0% if there are none.
Common filing mistakes2 tips
- 01
Submitting only an unofficial home test result instead of a full clinical sleep study, which examiners may not treat as sufficient to confirm the diagnosis.
- 02
Not documenting an active treatment plan or CPAP compliance, since the higher rating specifically requires evidence that a breathing device is prescribed and in use.
When symptoms may first appear2 tips
- 01
Sleep apnea frequently develops or first gets diagnosed during or shortly after active duty, and tends to worsen gradually without treatment.
- 02
It can also develop secondary to weight gain or to another service-connected condition such as PTSD, where disrupted sleep architecture and medication side effects contribute to apnea - that secondary pathway can support service connection even without a direct in-service diagnosis.
SECONDARY TO SOMETHING ELSE
Conditions that can lead to Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Each links to a page on claiming Sleep Apnea Syndromes as secondary to that condition.
YOUR SERVICE STORY
Military jobs associated with Sleep Apnea Syndromes
More by branch: Army · Marines · Air Force · Navy · Coast Guard · Space Force
THE BROADER PICTURE
Sleep Apnea Syndromes by the numbers
- Approval outlook
- High – easy to prove with sleep study and equipment prescription.
- Service-connected disabilities (VBA count)
- 763,763 disabilities
- Typical rating awarded
- ~50%
Count of service-connected disabilities from the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), as of September 30, 2025; the report counts disabilities, not veterans. Approval outlook and typical rating are Vetrify editorial estimates, not official VA statistics.
LET’S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
Common questions about Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Is Sleep Apnea a VA-rated disability?
Yes. The VA rates Sleep Apnea Syndromes under VASRD diagnostic code 6847 (Respiratory System). Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep, fragmenting rest and often leading to loud snoring, daytime fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Left untreated, it's also linked to higher blood pressure and heart strain, which is part of why the VA rates it based on treatment need rather than just the diagnosis.
What VA disability rating can I get for Sleep Apnea?
Possible VA ratings for Sleep Apnea Syndromes are 100%, 50%, 30%, 0%. Examples: 100%: Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy; 50%: Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine; 30%: Persistent day-time hypersomnolence.
What's the typical VA rating awarded for Sleep Apnea?
Vetrify estimates the typical rating awarded for Sleep Apnea Syndromes at around 50%, based on VA claims data and the rating schedule. Per the VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), veterans receiving VA compensation as of September 30, 2025 had 763,763 service-connected disabilities rated as Sleep Apnea Syndromes. The report counts disabilities, not veterans. Estimated approval outlook: High – easy to prove with sleep study and equipment prescription.
What evidence helps prove Sleep Apnea for VA disability?
Strong evidence for a Sleep Apnea Syndromes claim includes: A polysomnography (sleep study) confirming the diagnosis - this is the evidence the rating schedule specifically requires; A CPAP prescription along with compliance or usage reports, since device use is what supports the 50% tier; Medical notes describing sleep-related symptoms like loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, or excessive daytime sleepiness.
Which DBQ is used for Sleep Apnea?
VA's Sleep Apnea Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is on its public list of DBQs. VA's page says: "You can use these forms to submit medical evidence from your health care providers."
What mistakes should veterans avoid when claiming Sleep Apnea?
Common pitfalls when filing for Sleep Apnea Syndromes: Submitting only an unofficial home test result instead of a full clinical sleep study, which examiners may not treat as sufficient to confirm the diagnosis; Not documenting an active treatment plan or CPAP compliance, since the higher rating specifically requires evidence that a breathing device is prescribed and in use.
What conditions can be secondary to Sleep Apnea?
Conditions that can be service-connected as secondary to Sleep Apnea Syndromes, when a medical opinion links them, include: Hypertension. A secondary condition gets its own rating, which VA combines with the veteran's other ratings under 38 CFR 4.25.
Official sources
- 38 CFR § 4.97, Schedule of ratings, respiratory system (Diagnostic Code 6847)
- 38 CFR § 4.7, higher of two evaluations
- VBA Annual Benefits Report (FY2025), service-connected disabilities count, as of September 30, 2025
Criteria in quotation marks are the regulation’s own words; everything else on this page is Vetrify’s summary of it. The eCFR text is authoritative. See how Vetrify derives its numbers.
How these figures are checked: our methodology and the open dataset.
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