Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD at the Board
This page reads the current 2025 Board of Veterans' Appeals record for sleep apnea under Diagnostic Code 6847 where PTSD was recorded as a secondary condition. It is a picture of appeals that reached the Board, not a prediction about any one claim.
What the record shows
There were 49 grants, 14 denials, 59 remands, 2 dismissals, and 0 mixed outcomes. A remand is not a denial. It means the Board did not have what it needed to decide the issue and returned it for additional work.
Outcome breakdown
| Outcome | Count | Of all substantive outcomes | Of merits decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granted | 49 | 40% | 78% |
| Denied | 14 | 11% | 22% |
| Mixed | 0 | 0% | 0% |
| Remanded | 59 | 48% | Excluded |
| Dismissed | 2 | 2% | Excluded |
| Total | 124 | 100% | 63 |
"Of merits decisions" uses only grants, denials, and mixed outcomes. It excludes remands and dismissals because the Board did not resolve the issue on the merits in those decisions.
PTSD in the record
Every row on this page names PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, or an equivalent normalized spelling in the recorded secondary condition. Some rows name PTSD together with other conditions.
| Recorded connection | Outcomes | Grants | Merits grant rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary to a recorded condition | 124 | 49 | 78% |
How the secondary condition was recorded
- posttraumatic stress disorder28 cases
- posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)27 cases
- PTSD23 cases
- post-traumatic stress disorder4 cases
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)2 cases
- posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder2 cases
DC 6847 rating criteria
Service connection and rating are separate questions. If sleep apnea is service connected, VA rates it under 38 C.F.R. § 4.97, Diagnostic Code 6847.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or a tracheostomy is required. |
| 50% | Requires use of a breathing-assistance device such as continuous airway pressure, or CPAP, machine. |
| 30% | Persistent daytime hypersomnolence. |
| 0% | Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing. |
Where exams and opinions broke down
In 59 remands, the following themes appeared in rows identified as involving an inadequate examination or medical opinion. These are patterns in Board appeals, not a checklist that decides whether any individual examination is adequate.
- Obesity as an intermediate step not analyzed9 of 59 remands
- Lay statement or testimony not addressed3 of 59 remands
- Opinion lacked a supporting rationale3 of 59 remands
- Other examination or opinion problem3 of 59 remands
- Secondary service connection nexus not addressed3 of 59 remands
- Wrong causation standard applied3 of 59 remands
M21-1 context
VA's procedures manual lists issues such as unanswered required questions, missing requested opinions, incomplete review when applicable, and opinions without a valid rationale as reasons an examination report can be insufficient for rating purposes. This is M21-1, internal guidance for VA staff, not law. It does not decide a veteran's claim by itself.
What the Board cited
These counts are citation mentions in 49 grants and 14 denials. One decision can cite more than one kind of evidence. A citation pattern is not proof that an item will work in another claim.
| Evidence cited | Grant citations | Denial citations |
|---|---|---|
| VA examination | 33 | 7 |
| Lay statement or testimony | 18 | 6 |
| Medical literature | 18 | 5 |
| Service treatment records | 14 | 7 |
| Private medical opinion | 10 | 2 |
| Sleep study | 7 | 3 |
Read this in context
Every decision here is an appeal. Veterans whose claims were granted before reaching the Board are not included. The data cannot tell you whether your sleep apnea is caused or aggravated by PTSD, whether a particular medical opinion is persuasive, or how VA will decide your claim. An accredited VSO can help you review the record and your next step. Find VA's accredited representative directory.
Live data from 2025 Board of Veterans' Appeals decision records. Cached for up to one hour.
Also in the record: Migraines at the Board · PTSD at the Board · Medical opinions.