If you’ve been thinking about filing a VA disability claim for sleep apnea, now is the time to act. The VA is getting ready to change the way it rates sleep apnea, and this could mean reduced benefits for veterans who wait too long to file. We don’t know exactly when the change will take effect, but the writing is on the wall—and that window to file under the current rules is closing fast.
Why Sleep Apnea Matters for Veterans
Sleep apnea isn’t just a snoring issue—it’s a serious medical condition that affects how your body functions and how your brain rests. For veterans, it’s often linked to a variety of service-connected conditions like:
- PTSD – It’s more than a mental health challenge; PTSD can wreak havoc on your sleep cycle, breathing patterns, and overall health.
- Obesity – What constitutes obesity? Sometimes caused or worsened by limited physical activity due to injuries or medications prescribed during or after service.
- Asthma and other respiratory issues – All too common among those exposed to burn pits, desert dust, or chemical agents.
And here’s something most veterans don’t know: You didn’t need to be diagnosed with sleep apnea while you were in the service to get a VA rating for it. If there’s a legitimate connection to your military service or a service-connected condition, you may still qualify for compensation, even years later.
What the VA Currently Offers for Sleep Apnea
Under the current rating schedule, if you’re prescribed a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, you’re automatically rated at 50%. That’s a significant benefit—not just financially, but in terms of access to additional VA care and priority group upgrades.
But that 50% rating may not be around much longer. The VA is looking to tighten up its criteria. That could mean lower ratings, more complicated approval processes, or the removal of automatic ratings based solely on CPAP use.
Translation? If you’re diagnosed and using a CPAP but haven’t filed a claim yet, you could lose out if you wait.
How Parmele Disability Advocates Can Help
Let’s be honest: the VA claims process can be a bureaucratic maze. That’s where Parmele Disability Advocates come in. Our team knows how to navigate these changes, connect the dots between your service and your sleep apnea diagnosis, and fight to get you the benefits you’ve earned.
We’re not here to sugarcoat anything—we’re here to guide you through the process, submit the right evidence, and push back when the VA pushes back harder.
Bottom Line for Sleep Apnea
If you’re a veteran dealing with sleep apnea and using a CPAP, now is the time to act. Don’t wait for the VA to change the rules and leave you holding the bag. File your claim while the current 50% rating is still in place.
Let Parmele Disability Advocates stand with you. Contact our VA team at 866-889-2570 to schedule your no-cost consultation, and together we will determine your next best steps. We are standing with you and fighting for you.
Parmele Disability Advocates. Disability advocacy for all.