Tips for Successful Sleep Apnea VA Rating

If you are a veteran experiencing excessive tiredness during the day despite spending sufficient time trying to sleep, you could suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is basically when you awaken multiple times throughout the night due to airway issues that decrease the flow of oxygen to your brain. The VA defines sleep apnea simply as “a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing, or shallow breaths while you sleep.” Sleep apnea results in low-quality sleep and an inability to achieve deep and renewing rest. The resulting tiredness, irritability, and inability to concentrate can impact your ability to socialize and work normally. 

Given the negative impact on your life, a diagnosis of service-connected sleep apnea can entitle a veteran to VA disability benefits. If you have filed a claim for sleep apnea and been denied, connect with one of the VA disability lawyers from our VA benefits law firm. 

Document Your Symptoms 

While there are some “presumptive” conditions that you can collect VA disability benefits for without proving a nexus, that is not the case for sleep apnea. After proving you are eligible, you’ll need to submit evidence that documents and demonstrates your current condition and its symptoms. 

To collect VA disability benefits for sleep apnea, you must prove the following 3 elements with evidence: 

1. You have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea, demonstrated through evidence, including a sleep study.
2. Your current diagnosis of sleep apnea is linked to an event, illness, or injury that you experienced during qualifying active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
3. You have medical evidence, generally a medical opinion communicated through a nexus letter, that links your current diagnosis of sleep apnea with your active service or an existing service-connected condition.

A sleep journal that documents your symptoms and levels of tiredness and difficulty concentrating can be provided to your medical professional to help in their diagnosis. 

Maintain Regular Medical Treatment 

Sleep apnea is rated under Diagnostic Code 6847, and when it is asymptomatic but comes with a documented sleep disorder with breathing issues is a non-compensable VA disability rating, meaning you are not eligible for tax-free payments. When sleep apnea hits a 30 percent disability rating, you are eligible for disability compensation. Given this, it is important to seek out regular medical treatment for your condition, both to help alleviate the symptoms and for documentation concerning the ongoing condition for use with your disability application. 

Obtain Supportive Medical Opinions 

A nexus letter is often one of the most important pieces of evidence in your VA disability application. This is a medical opinion that links your current condition to your active duty, and this is essential for your VA benefits eligibility. 

Connect with a VA Disability Lawyer for Help With Your Claim

To learn how we can help you appeal your sleep apnea VA disability denial, call toll-free at 888-915-3843 or visit our site to schedule a free case evaluation.