Sleep Apnea (VA Rating) — OSA
Sleep apnea is rated by the VA under DC 6847. A prescribed CPAP machine usually means a 50% rating worth $1,132.90 a month in 2026.
Official source: ecfr.gov
Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. The VA rates it under Diagnostic Code 6847, and your rating depends mostly on what kind of treatment you need. If a doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine, an oral appliance, or another breathing device, you almost always qualify for the 50% rating, which pays $1,132.90 per month in 2026.
Here is how the rating tiers work. A 0% rating means you have a sleep study diagnosis but no current symptoms and no breathing device. You are still service-connected, which protects you if things get worse later. A 30% rating ($552.47 per month) applies when daytime sleepiness gets in the way of your daily life but you do not yet use a CPAP. A 50% rating ($1,132.90 per month) is the most common paid rating and applies whenever a doctor has prescribed a breathing device. A 100% rating ($3,938.58 per month) applies when sleep apnea has caused serious heart or lung problems, or you need a surgical opening in your throat (tracheostomy) to breathe.
You may qualify even without a direct service connection. Sleep apnea is often caused or made worse by PTSD, TBI, sinus conditions, weight gain from psychiatric medication, or chronic pain. If one of those is already service-connected, you can file sleep apnea as a secondary condition. A Nexus Letter from a treating provider that ties the two together carries a lot of weight at the C&P exam.
Heads up for 2026: the VA has proposed changing how sleep apnea is rated, shifting from "do you use a CPAP?" to "how well does your treatment work?" As of May 2026 that change is not final. The current CPAP-based rules still apply, so file under the current criteria.
In real life
- A veteran with PTSD develops sleep apnea, is prescribed a CPAP, and gets a 50% secondary rating worth $1,132.90 per month.
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Frequently asked questions about Sleep Apnea (VA Rating)
What VA rating do you get for sleep apnea with a CPAP?+
If a doctor has prescribed a CPAP, oral appliance, or other breathing device, you almost always qualify for a 50% rating under Diagnostic Code 6847. In 2026 that pays $1,132.90 per month for a veteran alone.
Can sleep apnea be service-connected as a secondary condition?+
Yes. Sleep apnea is frequently secondary to PTSD, TBI, sinus problems, chronic pain, or weight gain from prescribed medication. A Nexus Letter linking the two helps the VA approve the secondary claim.
Do I need a sleep study to file for VA sleep apnea benefits?+
Yes. The VA requires a sleep study (in-lab polysomnogram or an approved home sleep test) confirming obstructive sleep apnea. Self-reported snoring or tiredness is not enough on its own.
Is the VA changing the sleep apnea rating in 2026?+
A proposed rule would shift the focus from CPAP use to treatment effectiveness. As of May 2026 it has not been finalized, so the current CPAP-based 50% rating still applies.
What is the highest VA rating for sleep apnea?+
100%, worth $3,938.58 per month in 2026. It applies only when sleep apnea has caused serious heart or lung complications or you need a tracheostomy to breathe.
Source: ecfr.gov