Nightmares

The VA’s Three Categories of Sleep Disorders

Sleep problems are common among veterans. Thankfully, many sleep disorders can qualify for VA disability.

Maybe you find that, no matter how much coffee you drink, you just can’t stay awake during the day. Or your sleep is regularly delayed and interrupted by ruthless nightmares.

The VA offers disability compensation for three basic classes of sleep disorders: sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy. These three conditions encompass a wide variety of specific sleep problems.

If your daily life is affected by your inability to stay awake or fall asleep, you may be living with a sleep disorder. Learn how to get the right VA disability rating for service-connected sleep disturbances and start getting the compensation you deserve.

VA ratings for sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition in which your soft palate blocks your airways while you sleep. This can cause several issues while sleeping like snoring, choked breathing, and long pauses between breaths. This often results in waking up to continue breathing, which does not lead to a restful night’s sleep.

Over time, sleep apnea can cause severe sleep deprivation. This results in feeling constantly exhausted. Some people who suffer from sleep apnea will fall asleep involuntarily throughout the day. This can make activities like driving dangerous endeavors. Lack of sleep can lead to a number of other issues as well, all of which can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to work or to simply enjoy daily life.

The VA rates sleep apnea under diagnostic code 6847 as follows:

Description

VA Rating
Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale (heart failure in the right ventricle of the heart) or Requires tracheostomy
100%
Requires use of breathing assistance device such as CPAP machine
50%
Persistent day-time hypersomnolence (signficant sleepiness)
30%
Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing
0%

VA ratings for insomnia

Insomnia involves either having trouble falling asleep or having difficulty remaining asleep. There are a number of things that can prevent getting a healthy amount of sleep per night, starting with simply being unable to fall asleep for seemingly no reason. Nightmares or sleep terrors can also cause insomnia, as can a variety of other factors. Most people have experienced it at some point in their lives. However, chronic insomnia can have a significant effect on your well-being.

Long-term sleep deprivation can cause you to have trouble keeping up at your job and impact how you treat your loved ones. Driving may become dangerous, and you could be at a higher risk of developing mental disorders like depression and anxiety.

Since the VA doesn’t have a specific rating for insomnia, it assigns a closely-related diagnostic code (called an analogous rating). Typically, this means insomnia is rated using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

VA ratings for narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to stay awake during the day. You might nod off during work or even during conversations, and you may have trouble focusing when you manage to stay awake. It can also cause you to lose muscle strength during periods of strong emotion. Those with the disorder can even experience sleep paralysis or have hallucinations when falling asleep or waking up.

The VA rates narcolepsy under diagnostic code 8108 and uses the same criteria it does for minor seizures as follows:

Description

VA Rating
Averaging at least 1 major seizure per month over the last year
100%
Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 3 months over the last year; or more than 10 minor seizures weekly
80%
Averaging at least 1 major seizure in 4 months over the last year; or 9–10 minor seizures per week
60%
At least 1 major seizure in the last 6 months or 2 in the last year; or averaging at least 5 to 8 minor seizures weekly
40%
At least 1 major seizure in the last 2 years; or at least 2 minor seizures in the last 6 months
20%
A confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy with a history of seizures
10%

Service-connected sleep disabilities

First, you will have to prove that you have a sleep disorder. It is best to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to discuss your concerns. It’s also a good idea to write down your symptoms and how often they occur. If you have a partner, ask them to make some notes about any sleep disturbances they notice, including snoring or breathing problems.

Sometimes your sleep will need to be professionally evaluated. This is often done through a sleep study. Your sleep will be monitored at a VA sleep clinic or you will be given equipment to monitor your sleep at home. There is no specific way to pass or fail a VA sleep study. It is merely a way to assess your sleep habits, to properly understand your condition’s severity.

Once you have received a formal diagnosis, you will need to prove service connection. This requires sending in copies of relevant military records to support your claim. Depending on the situation, you may be required to point to the specific incident that caused your condition.

Go to your Login.gov or ID.me account to request copies of your records. If you can’t get the records you need there, you can always visit your local VA office for help.

Gulf War burn pit exposure and breast cancer

The PACT Act assumes many cancers are presumptive conditions for veterans exposed to burn pit toxins. The PACT Act added many presumptive conditions for burn pits, including breast cancer.

Additionally, in 2024, the VA added male breast cancer as a presumptive condition for eligible Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans who deployed to the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

Secondary service connections for sleep disorders

You may qualify for a secondary service connection if your sleep disorder is caused by a different service-connected condition.

There are a number of conditions that can get you a secondary service connection for a sleep disorder. PTSD, anxiety, and depression can all cause insomnia. Parkinson’s Disease and many other service-connected conditions can also cause sleep apnea and other sleep disorders.

You may get a presumptive service connection for your sleep disorder. Having a presumptive condition means you don’t need to prove a specific service connection to receive compensation for your disorder.

If you served in the Gulf War any time after Aug. 2, 1990, you may be able to get a presumptive service connection for your sleep disorder. A number of Gulf War veterans have come home with conditions doctors can’t diagnose. If you have a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, the VA might presume service connection.

TDIU for sleep disorders

Veterans with severe sleep disorders may not meet the VA’s criteria for a 100% rating but are unable to work because of their condition. Under those circumstances, they might qualify for the same monthly compensation as a 100% rating–a benefit called total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU). To be eligible for TDIU, a veteran must be unable to maintain substantially gainful employment and have at least a 60% rating for a single condition or at least a 70% combined rating including one single disability rated at least 40%.

Get your VA disability rating for sleep disturbances

Sleep disturbances can have a serious impact on every area of your life, from your relationships to your career. Getting the right VA disability rating for sleep disabilities can help get you the compensation you deserve. Talk to your doctor about getting a diagnosis and start the process of applying for VA disability.

If you’d like help submitting or appealing a VA disability claim, get in touch with us at VA Benefits. You don’t pay unless we win. Contact us today to start getting the compensation you deserve.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes. Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is a type of arteriosclerotic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease is a presumptive of Agent Orange exposure for qualifying veterans.

Those two conditions have different rating codes, so while technically possible, your VA doctor will probably only give you a rating for one.

Those two conditions could be independently direct-connected. However, insomnia is often a secondary condition to PTSD. You will likely need to speak to professionals to determine if there is a connection, or if they are separate issues.