Diagnostic code
Diagnostic Code 6847: Sleep Apnea Rating Criteria
- CFR section
- 38 CFR § 4.97
- Rating range
- 0% to 100%
- Rating levels
- 4
- Body system
- Respiratory system
The VA rates Sleep Apnea under diagnostic code 6847 in 38 CFR § 4.97. The table below is the full set of rating criteria, from the schedule itself, with the evidence factors raters look for at each level.
DC 6847 rating criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Asymptomatic but with documented sleep disorder breathing What raters look fordiagnosed; no treatment needed |
| 30% | Persistent day-time hypersomnolence What raters look fordaytime sleepiness; fatigue; no breathing device |
| 50% | Requires use of breathing assistance device such as CPAP machine What raters look forCPAP prescribed; APAP or BiPAP prescribed; breathing assistance device |
| 100% | Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or requires tracheostomy What raters look forrespiratory failure; tracheostomy; cor pulmonale |
Condition guide
The rating criteria are only part of the picture for Sleep Apnea. The Sleep Apnea condition page covers service connection, common evidence problems, secondary conditions, and Board outcome patterns in depth.
What happens to Sleep Apnea appeals at the Board
Claim Raven's analysis of 1,115 decided Board of Veterans' Appeals cases with Sleep Apnea as the primary issue. The Sleep Apnea condition page has the full breakdown, including which evidence types are associated with better outcomes.
Method: outcomes are coded per case from the Board's published decisions, rolled up as granted (including partial grants), denied, or remanded, excluding dismissals. The dataset codes the condition on appeal, not the diagnostic code, so these numbers describe Sleep Apnea appeals generally rather than DC 6847 specifically. Board outcomes describe appealed claims, not initial decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What is VA diagnostic code 6847?
Diagnostic code 6847 is the VA rating schedule entry for Sleep Apnea, found in 38 CFR § 4.97. The VA assigns this code when it rates the condition and applies the criteria listed on this page.
What ratings are possible under DC 6847?
DC 6847 provides ratings of 0%, 30%, 50%, 100%. The percentage depends on which criteria your medical evidence documents, not on the diagnosis alone.
What does the highest rating under DC 6847 require?
The 100% rating for Sleep Apnea requires: Chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale, or requires tracheostomy.