Are you a member of the armed forces and need information about the VA Compensation Rates for Sleep Apnea in 2019? Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that can have life altering side effects and the most common respiratory disability among veterans.
Veterans filing for compensation in 2019 will need to provide indisputable medical evidence that they are experience problems from Sleep Apnea and need their CPAP machine on a nightly basis. A VA Rating of 50% means that a CPAP machine is required for night time sleep.
Many veterans believe they must have participated in a sleep study during their service in order to qualify for VA benefits. This is not true and recent expansions make more people eligible for sleep claims than ever!
How does the VA Rate Sleep Apnea?
The VA disability board rates sleeps sleep apnea on a 0 to 100 scale based on severity.
2019 VA Sleep Apnea Rating Chart
| VA Rating | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| 0 Percent | Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing |
| 30 Percent | Persistent day-time hypersomnolence |
| 50 Percent | Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine |
| 100 Percent | Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy |
Is My Sleep Apnea Service Connected?
If you can prove your sleep apnea is service connected you may be entitled for extra disability benefits. The most common way of proving your disorder is service connected is if it developed during your service and continued after your discharge or retirement.
Unfortunately, most people don’t see a doctor and get a medical diagnosis for their sleep deprivation while they are in the service. Many do not realize that their sleep problems are actually a medical condition! This can make proving your disability more difficult but not impossible.
Instead of relying on a past diagnosis you will have to prove your case to the VA with medical and lay evidence!
VA Disability Eligibility Criteria for Sleep Apnea
The most common rating given by the VA for sleep apnea eligibility is 50%. In order to qualify for 50% rating the VA Disability board must see that a CPAP machine is required for breathing assistance. While this may sound easy the Disability board requires a medical diagnosis!
How does the VA Check for Sleep Apnea?
The VA Disability board checks for sleep apnea by requiring a diagnosis from a medical doctor and the use of a breathing assistance device. Some VA boards may try to deny your claim if you use a device other than a CPAP machine. If so don’t be afraid to fight for your claim!
Think you may have Service Connected Sleep Apnea? Start making your VA claim by:
- Scheduling an appointment with your regular doctor
- Receiving a diagnosis and begin using a CPAP machine
- Make VA Disability Claim
- Receive a rating of 50% or higher
- Qualify for Sleep Apnea disability from the VA
Got Disapproved for Disability
Did the VA Board reject your Disability claim? Don’t give up hope – there are still plenty of things you can do to start sleeping better! In most cases you can appeal the board’s ruling (especially if you have a good lawyer). Other options like an anti snoring mouthpiece like Zyppah or ZQuiet can be lower cost alternatives.
