{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/sleep-apnea","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:33:51.945Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Sleep apnea","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":59712,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":26.4,"denied_pct":21.8,"remanded_pct":50.3,"granted_on_merits_pct":54.7,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":2161,"granted_pct":17.3,"denied_pct":33.2,"remanded_pct":45.3},{"year":2018,"issues":4854,"granted_pct":20.6,"denied_pct":28,"remanded_pct":48.6},{"year":2019,"issues":6385,"granted_pct":21.7,"denied_pct":25.5,"remanded_pct":51.1},{"year":2020,"issues":6183,"granted_pct":21,"denied_pct":26,"remanded_pct":51.6},{"year":2021,"issues":5783,"granted_pct":21.6,"denied_pct":24.2,"remanded_pct":52.6},{"year":2022,"issues":5884,"granted_pct":22.7,"denied_pct":19.9,"remanded_pct":55.8},{"year":2023,"issues":7049,"granted_pct":25.6,"denied_pct":17.2,"remanded_pct":55.6},{"year":2024,"issues":8715,"granted_pct":32.3,"denied_pct":15.7,"remanded_pct":50.5},{"year":2025,"issues":9769,"granted_pct":33.4,"denied_pct":19.6,"remanded_pct":45.8},{"year":2026,"issues":3601,"granted_pct":36.4,"denied_pct":20.9,"remanded_pct":41.2}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":78.2,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":5993,"granted_pct_with":72.6,"granted_pct_without":51.6},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":45743,"granted_pct_with":53.1,"granted_pct_without":62.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":14738,"granted_pct_with":86.9,"granted_pct_without":33},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":37385,"granted_pct_with":54.8,"granted_pct_without":54.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":23215,"granted_pct_with":72.3,"granted_pct_without":35.7},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":2914,"granted_pct_with":73.5,"granted_pct_without":53.4},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":46265,"granted_pct_with":51.4,"granted_pct_without":70},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":5658,"granted_pct_with":76,"granted_pct_without":52},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":3332,"granted_pct_with":59.7,"granted_pct_without":54.4}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":2554},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":1150},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":1046},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":422},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":315},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":176}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":2414},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":2313},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":1790},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":1245},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":1028},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":712}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26005118","year":2026,"judge":"R. FEINBERG","rationale":"Obesity found to be a substantial factor in causing or aggravating OSA; Resolving reasonable doubt in veteran's favor; Favorable portions of private and VA opinions considered probative"},{"case_id":"26005125","year":2026,"judge":"L. B. CRYAN","rationale":"Service treatment records show complaints of sleep problems during deployment.; Fellow servicemember's statement corroborates snoring, breathing pauses, and fatigue.; Evidence found to be in approximate balance, with doubt resolved in Veteran's favor."},{"case_id":"A26040512","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL MARTIN","rationale":"Private medical opinion linked weight gain to service-connected knee/ankle conditions; Weight gain identified as intermediate step to OSA; Evidence in relative equipoise, doubt resolved in Veteran's favor"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26040473","year":2026,"judge":"M. C. WILSON","rationale":"No presumptive service connection (no in-service onset or relation to TERA); Private opinion suggesting link to COPD not considered as COPD claim denied separately; VA examiner found sleep apnea more directly attributable to anatomical factors (narrow oropharynx); VA examiner cited medical literatur… [truncated, 70 chars omitted]"},{"case_id":"A26040482","year":2026,"judge":"LESLEY A. REIN","rationale":"Sleep apnea rated under DC 6847; Criteria for >50% rating not met; No indication of chronic respiratory failure, cor pulmonale, or tracheostomy"},{"case_id":"A26040502","year":2026,"judge":"MICHAEL A. PAPPAS","rationale":"Insufficient evidence of current diagnosis of sleep apnea.; VA sleep study negative for obstructive sleep apnea.; Examiner found no current signs or symptoms attributable to sleep apnea."}]},"how_va_rates":{"citation":"38 CFR 4.97","diagnostic_code":"6847","name":"Sleep Apnea Syndromes (Obstructive, Central, Mixed)","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.97","levels":[{"criteria":"Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or; requires tracheostomy","rating":100},{"criteria":"Requires use of breathing assistance device such as continuous airway pressure (CPAP) machine","rating":50},{"criteria":"Persistent day-time hypersomnolence","rating":30},{"criteria":"Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing","rating":0}],"notes":[]},"rules":[{"citation":"38 CFR 4.97","title":"Schedule of ratings: respiratory system","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-38/section-4.97"},{"citation":"M21-1 IV.i.3.B.1.l","title":"Reviewing a sleep disorders examination","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000180516/M21-1-Part-IV-Subpart-i-Chapter-3-Section-B-Examination-Sufficiency-for-Specific-Disabilities"},{"citation":"M21-1 V.ii.2.D","title":"Secondary service connection and aggravation","url":"https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000180484/M21-1-Part-V-Subpart-ii-Chapter-2-Section-D-Secondary-Service-Connection-SC-and-Aggravation-of-Non-Service-Connected-NSC-Disabilities"}]}}