VA Compensation for Sleep Apnea

More than 500,000 U.S.military veterans are receiving VA disability benefits for sleep apnea. It’s the most common respiratory condition people receive VA compensation. Many other veterans are believed to suffer from undiagnosed sleep apnea, which can significantly increase the risk of certain cardiac issues.

A veteran may receive VA disability benefits for this condition as either directly related to service or as a secondary to a service-connected condition.

What is Sleep Apnea?

A person suffering from sleep apnea stops breathing during sleep, often repeatedly throughout the night. There are two different types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea. It is also possible to have a combination of the two types.

Obstructive sleep apnea is by far the most common type of sleep apnea. Some of the most common symptoms of the condition include:

Temporary interruption of breathing during sleep
Loud snoring
Gasping for air during sleep
Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
Headaches
Insomnia

There are other symptoms that may be attributable to sleep apnea, so if you are being assessed for the condition be sure to tell your doctor about any unexplained symptoms, even if they don’t seem likely to be related. For example, getting up frequently to urinate during the night may be a sign of sleep apnea.

Service Connection

Currently, sleep apnea is not presumed service connected for veterans. However, many veterans have been able to establish a service connection or secondary service connection for sleep apnea. The difference is that the veteran and their VA disability benefits advocate will have to show the link between military service and the sleep apnea diagnosis.

The simplest way to achieve this is to have been diagnosed with sleep apnea during your military service. However, that won’t be the case for most veterans. That means most veterans seeking VA disability for sleep apnea will have to retroactively show that the condition started during military service, or point to an event or exposure during service that is likely to have caused it. Sleep apnea may also be secondary to certain other service-connected conditions, such as PTSD and asthma.

The evidence required to show a service connection in your case will depend heavily on when and where you served, when your sleep apnea started, whether you have other service-connected conditions that may cause sleep apnea, and other specifics of your case. An experienced VA disability benefits advocate can be your best resource as you prepare your

Call 1-888-373-4722 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form

How Much VA Compensation is Available for Sleep Apnea?

The amount of compensation and other types of veterans disability benefits available for sleep apnea depend on the disability rating assigned. The disability rating depends on the severity of symptoms and the limitations they cause.

VA Disability Ratings for Sleep Apnea

For this condition alone, the VA may assign one of four disability ratings: 0, 30, 50, and 100.

A 0% disability rating is assigned when the veteran has been diagnosed with service-connected sleep apnea but is asymptomatic. At a 0% disability rating, the veteran will not receive monthly compensation but will be entitled to healthcare in connection with the service-connected condition.

A 30% disability rating is assigned when the veteran suffers from persistent daytime hypersomnolence. At the 30% level, the veteran will receive partial compensation (In 2026, $552.47/month) and healthcare for the service-connected condition.

A 50% disability rating is assigned when the veteran requires the use of a breathing assistance device such as a CPAP machine. The veteran will receive partial monthly compensation (In 2026, $1,132.90/month) and healthcare services beyond treatment of the service-connected condition.

A 100% disability rating is assigned when the veteran suffers from chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale or requires tracheostomy. At the 100% level, the veteran receives monthly compensation (In 2026, $3,938.58/month) and healthcare. Qualifying dependents may also be entitled to medical and educational benefits.

Important Update: Possible changes to the VA disability rating formula for sleep apnea are in the works. Most experts expected these changes to be adopted during 2025. As of December, 2025 they have not yet been enacted. However, there is good reason to expect that they are coming soon.

Under the revised rating formula, a veteran would no longer automatically qualify for a 50% VA disability rating if they need a CPAP machine. The new system would add a 10% rating and eliminate the 30% rating. It would also change the criteria for a 50% disability rating, making it available only if treatment was ineffective or the veteran could not tolerate treatment due to serious effects like organ damage.

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Sleep Apnea Combined with Other Service-Connected Conditions

If sleep apnea is a secondary service-connected condition or the veteran simply has additional service-connected disabilities, the VA uses a formula to arrive at a combined disability rating. That formula is more complex than just adding the ratings together, though. For example, two 50% VA disability ratings combine to 75% (which is rounded up to 80%), not 100%.

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Get the Help You Need with Your Claim

Securing veterans disability benefits for this condition and ensuring that you receive the proper disability rating takes work. It’s your responsibility to prove that the condition is service-connected and to provide sufficient medical documentation to support the appropriate disability rating.

To give yourself the best opportunity for a fair disability rating for sleep apnea, you should act quickly. Once the rating formula changes, it will be much more difficult to secure a 50% rating and the 30% rating won’t be an option. However, those who already have a rating may be able to retain those ratings. Whether you’re just preparing a claim or want to appeal a denial or a disability rating you believe is too low, Disabled Vets is here for you. To learn more about how our experienced advocates can help, call (888) 373-4722 or fill out our contact form right now.

FAQs: VA Compensation for Sleep Apnea

1. Can I get VA disability benefits for sleep apnea?
Yes. Veterans may be eligible for VA disability compensation if a doctor diagnoses them with sleep apnea and it is service-connected, meaning it was caused or aggravated by military service.

2. What rating can I receive for sleep apnea?
The VA typically assigns disability ratings based on the severity of the condition. Ratings often range from 0 to 50 percent, with higher ratings given if a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine or other treatment is required.

3. How do I prove my sleep apnea is service-connected?
You need medical evidence linking this condition to your military service, such as service treatment records, a doctor’s opinion, or evidence of related conditions like PTSD, obesity, or exposure to hazardous environments during service.