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Is your sleep apnea service-connected? Learn about the sleep apnea VA rating and how to win your claim. Call Berry Law for a free consultation today.
Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder characterized by frequent episodes of a person’s breathing stopping and starting again while they sleep. Often, sufferers don’t realize they have sleep apnea despite the sleep disturbances it causes them. However, they may not wake feeling refreshed and experience excessive daytime sleepiness.
Approximately 6 million Americans have been officially diagnosed with sleep apnea, though experts estimate the condition impacts as many as 30 million people in the U.S., according to the National Council on Aging. Studies show that Veterans are four times more likely than the general population to develop sleep apnea. If left untreated, sleep apnea may lead to sleep deprivation and serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, and a shortened life span.
Veterans may be eligible to receive VA disability compensation for sleep apnea if their symptoms interfere with their ability to work. An experienced and knowledgeable VA benefits lawyer from Berry Law may be able to help you with your sleep apnea claim. Contact us today for a free consultation.
sleep apnea
At Berry Law, our experienced VA benefits attorneys represent Veterans throughout the United States. We are committed to providing quality and effective legal representation to the men and women who have served our country and sacrificed their safety in the line of duty. At the very least, our Veterans are entitled to the benefits and compensation they earned.
There are three types of sleep apnea—obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and mixed sleep apnea.
Often referred to as OSA, obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat that support the soft palate relax and block your airway. When the brain senses that you cannot breathe, it briefly wakes you so you can reopen your airway. During these awakenings (which you may not be aware of), you may snort, gasp, or choke. These episodes can occur up to 30 times an hour, interfering with your sleep cycle and hampering restful sleep.
This type of sleep apnea is less common. It occurs when the brain fails to signal the muscles in your chest that control breathing. The most common type of central sleep apnea is known as Cheyne-Stokes. It is characterized by breathing alternating between periods of not breathing and periods of hyper breathing.
Sometimes referred to as complex sleep apnea syndrome, mixed sleep apnea is when someone experiences both central and obstructive sleep apnea.
The most common symptoms of central and obstructive sleep apnea include:
Sleep apnea can be associated with excessive weight, the use of alcohol or sedatives, smoking, nasal congestion, or a medical condition. Sufferers of central sleep apnea tend to be older individuals, men, those with heart disorders, and stroke survivors. Interestingly, both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have been found to increase the chances of a Veteran developing sleep apnea or another type of sleep disorder. Therefore, it’s important for Veterans with sleep apnea—or another sleep disorder—to file a claim with the VA and receive the benefits they deserve.
When filing a sleep apnea claim for VA disability, you should provide the following:
The first step in obtaining VA disability benefits is to show the VA that your disability is related to or began during your military service. To accomplish this, a Veteran’s claim and the evidence that the VA develops must show three things:
In the case of sleep apnea, a Veteran may have started experiencing symptoms during their time in service. Some Veterans, for example, develop severe snoring during service or are told by roommates or significant others that they stop breathing in their sleep. These can be symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea that continue to progress after a Veteran’s service.
Many times, the Veteran did not seek treatment for sleep issues during service because, at the time, they didn’t realize that they had a sleep disorder. In these cases, it can be difficult to gather the evidence a Veteran needs to be service-connected for their sleep disorder.
In some cases, sleep apnea may be related to another service-connected disability, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
The experienced attorneys at Berry Law understand the requirements of VA law and regulations and know what kind of evidence the VA looks for in deciding claims for VA disability for sleep apnea. If the VA has denied your sleep apnea claim, contact us today and let us review your file.
Once a veteran proves that their sleep disorder is related to military service, the VA will determine the Veteran’s monthly compensation amount based on a complex series of rating criteria set forth in VA regulations.
The VA disability ratings for sleep apnea are assigned at 0, 30, 50, or 100 percent.
Click here to learn more about how to increase your VA disability rating.
The 2025 VA disability benefits rates went into effect on Dec. 1, 2024. For a single Veteran with an obstructive sleep apnea claim above 0 percent disability rating, the compensation is as follows:
If a Veteran has a spouse or dependents, such as children or parents, the monthly benefits for sleep apnea are increased. Additional VA disability claims could also increase your VA compensation.
Veteran sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are becoming more and more common. If you are suffering from sleep apnea or any sleep disorder and have been denied a disability claim by the VA, please call (888) 682-0786 or contact us online today for a free consultation. We proudly represent Veterans in all 50 states.
Our attorneys are ready to help with your case. Contact us for a free consultation.
Schedule a free consultation with our experienced attorneys. We will review your case and help you understand your options.
