Sleep apnea is one of the most-claimed VA conditions — and one of the most valuable, because a prescribed CPAP machine means a 50% rating under the rating schedule. That single rating pays $1,132.90 a month in 2026 and is a big block in VA math. Here's how the levels work, what they pay, and how these claims are actually won.
How it's rated (DC 6847)
Sleep apnea is rated under 38 CFR §4.97, Diagnostic Code 6847 (“Sleep Apnea Syndromes”). Unlike conditions rated on a sliding scale of severity, DC 6847 has just four levels, each keyed to a concrete criterion:
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Asymptomatic, but with documented sleep disorder breathing. |
| 30% | Persistent day-time hypersomnolence (excessive daytime sleepiness). |
| 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. |
Notice what's not on the list: how loudly you snore, how many times you wake up, or your AHI score by itself. The schedule turns on documented sleep disorder breathing, daytime hypersomnolence, whether a breathing device is required, and — at the top — respiratory failure. Most compensable ratings land at 30% or 50%; the 100% level describes a level of illness few claimants reach.
The sleep study requirement
For VA purposes, sleep apnea must be diagnosed by a sleep study. A doctor's note that you “probably have sleep apnea,” a spouse's account of your snoring, or years of documented fatigue won't support a rating without one. If you suspect sleep apnea and don't yet have a study, getting one — through VA or privately — is step one, because everything else in the claim builds on that diagnosis. The study also anchors the 50% level: a CPAP prescription flowing from a documented diagnosis, plus records showing you actually use the device, is the cleanest path to the rating.
What it pays in 2026
2026 rates (effective December 1, 2025) for the DC 6847 levels, veteran alone:
| Rating | Monthly (alone) | Monthly (with spouse) |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $0 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 |
The gap between 30% and 50% is $580.43 a month — $6,965.16 a year — which is why the CPAP criterion matters so much. All of it is tax-free, and dependents add more at any combined rating of 30% or higher. Full tables are on the 2026 pay chart.
How a 50% combines: worked examples
A 50% rating is one of the biggest single blocks in VA math, but combining works by efficiency, not addition. Each rating removes its percentage of what remains, and the result rounds to the nearest 10 only at the end:
- 50% sleep apnea + 50% other: 50 + (0.5 × 50) = 75 → rounds to 80% — not 100%.
- 50% sleep apnea + 70% PTSD: start with the higher rating: 70 + (0.5 × 30) = 85 → rounds to 90%.
- 50% sleep apnea + 30% other: 50 + (0.3 × 50) = 65 → rounds to 70%.
That last combination is worth pausing on: a combined 70% with one rating at 40% or higher meets the schedular threshold for TDIU — pay at the 100% rate if your conditions keep you from holding substantially gainful work. A 50% sleep apnea rating alone doesn't reach TDIU's single-disability 60% threshold, but it's a powerful building block toward the 70/40 route.
Secondary service connection
Many sleep apnea claims are granted as secondary conditions — caused or aggravated by another service-connected disability rather than by service directly. Commonly claimed theories include:
- Secondary to PTSD or another mental-health condition;
- Secondary to medications taken for a service-connected condition; and
- Through weight gain caused by a service-connected condition (for example, a knee or back disability that limits activity), with the weight gain as the intermediate step.
None of these is automatic — each depends on the medical evidence in your case. The key piece is almost always a nexus opinion: a qualified provider explaining, with reasons, that it's at least as likely as not that the service-connected condition caused or aggravated the sleep apnea. A bare conclusion carries little weight; a reasoned opinion tied to your records carries a lot.
Evidence and the C&P exam
By the time you reach a C&P exam, the strongest files already contain the essentials:
- The sleep study establishing the diagnosis;
- The CPAP prescription and records showing ongoing use, if you're pursuing the 50% level;
- A nexus opinion for secondary theories, or in-service evidence (documented symptoms, buddy statements about observed snoring or breathing pauses in service) for direct ones; and
- Consistent symptom history — treatment notes reflecting daytime sleepiness support the 30% criterion if no device has been prescribed.
At the exam, describe your actual daily experience — how the fatigue affects work, driving, and concentration — and answer questions about device use honestly. The examiner's report will track the DC 6847 criteria, so the clearer your record on each criterion, the less room there is for an unfavorable guess.
Frequently asked questions
Does using a CPAP automatically mean 50%?
If the sleep apnea is service-connected and a doctor prescribed the device, the 50% criteria are met. The two prerequisites are the sleep-study diagnosis and service connection itself — and service connection is usually where these claims are won or lost, not the percentage.
Do I need a sleep study?
Yes. For VA rating purposes the diagnosis must come from a sleep study. Without one, even severe and well-documented symptoms won't support a rating.
Can sleep apnea be secondary to PTSD?
It's commonly claimed that way — along with theories running through medications or weight gain from a service-connected condition. Whether it succeeds is case-dependent and turns on the strength of the medical nexus opinion.
Does 50% + 50% make 100%?
No. VA math combines rather than adds: 50% + 50% reaches 75, which rounds to 80%. See how VA math works for the full method.
Can sleep apnea alone be rated 100%?
Only with chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or where a tracheostomy is required. Most compensable ratings are 30% or 50%. If sleep apnea plus your other conditions keep you from working, TDIU may be the more realistic route to 100%-level pay.