Sleep Apnea Statement Logo

  • Sleep Apnea

    We're here to help you build the strongest possible claim for service-connecting your sleep apnea. Please complete this form thoroughly and truthfully to provide the evidence needed to support your VA disability case.

  • Sleep Apnea Rating

    Evaluate your current rating for sleep apnea and see if you meet the criteria for an increased rating. This ONLY applies if you are already service-connected for sleep apnea.

  • 0% Rating — No Compensation


    What it means: A sleep study confirms you have sleep apnea, but you don’t have symptoms that affect your daily life or require treatment.


    Why it matters: You get recognition of the condition, but no monthly payments. Still useful if the condition worsens later or for secondary service-connection purposes.

  • 30% Rating — Daytime Hypersomnolence


    What it means: You’re constantly tired or sleepy during the day (hypersomnolence), even if you sleep a full night. This is typically before CPAP is prescribed or if CPAP doesn’t resolve the daytime sleepiness.


    Evidence needed: Documented complaints of sleepiness, fatigue, or impaired functioning due to poor sleep.

  • 50% Rating — CPAP Requirement

    What it means: You need a CPAP or similar machine to manage your sleep apnea. This is the most common rating for veterans with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.


    Key evidence: A prescription or statement from your doctor confirming regular use of a CPAP machine.

  • 100% Rating — Severe Respiratory Complications


    What it means: Your sleep apnea is so severe that it causes:

    • Chronic respiratory failure with CO₂ retention
    • Cor pulmonale (a serious heart complication from lung issues)
    • Or you’ve had a tracheostomy (surgical opening in the neck to help you breathe)


    Very rare: Reserved for the most serious and life-threatening cases.

  • Diagnosis

    Answer these questions about your current diagnosis of sleep apnea.

  • Linking Your Sleep Apnea to Service

  • Early Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
    Here are some common early symptoms of sleep apnea that you might have experienced during service:

    • Loud or Frequent Snoring: Often noticed by fellow service members or roommates.

    • Pauses in Breathing or Gasping for Air: Observed by roommates or partners, usually described as "choking" or sudden gasps.

    • Excessive Daytime Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or drowsy during the day, even after adequate sleep.

    • Morning Headaches: Frequently waking up with headaches that diminish as the day progresses.

    • Difficulty Concentrating: Problems with focus, memory, or attention, affecting job performance.

    • Mood Changes: Increased irritability, anxiety, or signs of depression.

      Frequent Awakening During Sleep: Restless nights, waking multiple times without a clear reason.

    • Dry Mouth or Sore Throat Upon Awakening: Due to breathing through the mouth during sleep.

    • Insomnia or Difficulty Staying Asleep: Inability to get restful, continuous sleep.

    • Night Sweats: Frequent sweating episodes at night unrelated to room temperature.


    These symptoms are often overlooked or attributed to stress or rigorous training during military service. Still, they can form a critical foundation when establishing service connection for sleep apnea in a VA disability claim.

     

  • Symptoms In Service

    This section helps establish the in-service occurrence of a condition. The VA needs to see a clear timeline tying your current disability to something that began or was aggravated while you were in the military.

  • Toxic Exposures

    The VA recognizes presumptive conditions linked to specific exposures. Listing these helps build a case for presumptive service connection, which means you may not need to prove the direct link between service and condition—it’s presumed based on where and when you served. We also have medical literature to support a link between these toxic exposures and sleep apnea.
    • 🏫 Learn More About Toxic Exposures 

    • Main Toxins and Chemicals Linked to Sleep Apnea:

      Veterans may have been exposed to several key toxins and chemicals during military service known to cause or contribute to the development of sleep apnea, either directly or through secondary conditions:

      • Burn Pit Smoke
        Commonly found in deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
        Associated with chronic respiratory disorders leading to sleep apnea.

      • Agent Orange (Dioxin)
        Primarily Vietnam-era veterans.
        Linked to conditions like obesity, diabetes, respiratory issues, and hypertension—conditions known to aggravate sleep apnea

      • Jet Fuel (JP-4, JP-8)
        Exposure prevalent in aviation and airfield-related occupations.
        Known respiratory irritant potentially worsening sleep apnea.

      • Particulate Matter (Dust, Sand, Smoke)
        Significant exposure in desert environments (e.g., Gulf War, OEF/OIF).
        Can cause or aggravate chronic respiratory problems associated with sleep apnea.

      • Contaminated Water (Camp Lejeune)
        Chemicals including trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), benzene, and vinyl chloride.
        Associated with neurological and respiratory disorders potentially leading to sleep apnea.

      • Ionizing Radiation
        Nuclear testing, cleanup, or other radiation exposures.
        Linked indirectly via respiratory or neurological damage.

      • Sulfur Mine Fires and Oil Well Fires
        Gulf War-era veterans exposed to sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide.
        Contribute to chronic respiratory inflammation, potentially causing sleep apnea.

      • PFOS & PFOA (Firefighting Foam)
        Used extensively in military firefighting.
        Linked to obesity and metabolic issues, which can indirectly increase sleep apnea risk.

       

      How These Exposures Contribute to Sleep Apnea:

      • Direct respiratory damage: Causing inflammation, airway narrowing, and chronic respiratory conditions.

      • Indirect health complications: Obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, PTSD, and hypertension—all known secondary causes or aggravators of sleep apnea.


      Establishing exposure to these chemicals or toxins can greatly strengthen your claim for sleep apnea.
       
       

  • Secondary Service Connection

    This allows the VA to consider conditions that didn’t start in service but developed as a consequence of something that did. It can significantly increase your total disability rating and compensation.
    • 🏫 Learn More About Service-Connected Conditions 

    • Top 20 Conditions Linked to Sleep Apnea:

      Here are 20 of the most common service-connected conditions recognized to cause or aggravate sleep apnea, often used in VA disability claims:

      1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
        Anxiety and disturbed sleep patterns significantly contribute to sleep apnea.

      2. Depression and Anxiety Disorders
        Alters sleep architecture and breathing patterns.

      3. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
        Strongly correlated with obstructive sleep apnea.

      4. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
        Neurological changes affecting respiratory control.

      5. Chronic Sinusitis/Rhinitis
        Inflammation of nasal passages causing obstruction.

      6. Asthma
        Airway inflammation contributing to apnea episodes.

      7. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
        Breathing difficulties worsen sleep disturbances.

      8. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
        Metabolic and hormonal changes increasing risk of apnea.

      9. Obesity or Weight Gain
        Excess weight around neck obstructing airways.

      10. GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
        Acid reflux can interfere with normal breathing during sleep.

      11. Heart Disease (Cardiovascular Conditions)
        Compromised circulation and breathing abnormalities.

      12. Stroke or Cerebrovascular Disease
        Damage to brain areas controlling breathing and sleep.

      13. Musculoskeletal Conditions (e.g., back or neck injuries)
        Pain and limited mobility affecting sleep positions and breathing.

      14. Hypothyroidism
        Hormonal imbalances disrupting metabolism and breathing.

      15. Chronic Pain Disorders
        Interferes with restful sleep, increasing sleep apnea severity.

      16. Fibromyalgia
        Chronic widespread pain leading to disrupted sleep.

      17. Peripheral Neuropathy
        Nerve damage affecting breathing control and sleep quality.

      18. Allergic Conditions (Allergic Rhinitis, Environmental Allergies)
        Chronic nasal congestion obstructing airflow during sleep.

      19. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
        Frequent sleep disturbances linked with higher apnea risk.

      20. Medication Side Effects (from medications treating other service-connected conditions)
        Certain medications cause sedation or respiratory depression, increasing apnea risk.

      Documenting these connections clearly in a VA claim can help establish or strengthen service connection for sleep apnea.

  • Current Symptoms

    The VA rates disabilities based on current severity, not just past diagnosis. Without a clear picture of how your condition limits your life today, the VA can’t accurately assign a rating.
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