RespiratoryDC 6847
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is rated under 38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6847. The rating depends primarily on what treatment you need and the severity of your symptoms.
VA Rating Levels
0%
Asymptomatic, but with documented sleep disorder.
30%
Persistent daytime hypersomnolence (you're constantly sleepy during the day despite sleeping at night).
50%
Requires use of a breathing assistance device such as a CPAP machine. This is where most veterans with sleep apnea are rated — if you use a CPAP, you get 50%.
100%
Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale (a type of heart failure), or requires a tracheostomy.
Exam Tips & Key Evidence
- →If you use a CPAP, bring your compliance data to your C&P exam — the 50% rating is essentially automatic if you need a CPAP
- →Sleep apnea is commonly claimed as secondary to PTSD, weight gain from medications, or nasal injuries
- →You need a formal sleep study (polysomnography) for diagnosis — the VA or a private lab can do this
- →Even if your sleep apnea isn't directly from service, it may be secondary to a service-connected condition
Commonly Related Conditions
PTSDObesity/Weight GainChronic FatigueHeart Conditions
38 CFR Reference
38 CFR § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6847