Conditions Secondary to Sleep Apnea
Untreated sleep apnea can strain the heart and mind. These are the conditions most often claimed as secondary to it.
View the Obstructive Sleep Apnea rating pageObstructive sleep apnea can raise blood pressure and stress the cardiovascular system, so it often supports secondary claims for hypertension, heart rhythm problems, and heart disease under 38 CFR 3.310, along with mood and reflux conditions.
Because sleep apnea itself is so commonly secondary to PTSD or rhinitis, these become tertiary chains: a medical opinion connecting each link is usually what holds the claim together.
Conditions commonly claimed as secondary
Each opens its 38 CFR rating criteria. A listing here is not a promise of service connection.
Hypertension is rated under diagnostic code 7101 at 10, 20, 40, or 60 percent based on diastolic and systolic readings.
Ischemic heart disease is rated under diagnostic code 7005 at 10, 30, 60, or 100 percent based on workload tolerance and ejection fraction.
Atrial fibrillation is rated under diagnostic code 7010 at 10 or 30 percent based on episode frequency.
Supraventricular arrhythmias are rated under diagnostic code 7010 at 10 or 30 percent based on episode frequency and treatment requirements.
Major depressive disorder is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, from 0 to 100 percent.
GERD is rated under DC 7206 (rated as esophageal stricture) from 0 to 80 percent based on dysphagia, the treatment required, and any aspiration, undernutrition, or weight loss.
Erectile dysfunction is rated under diagnostic code 7522 at 20 percent when there is deformity of the penis with loss of erectile power. Additionally, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC-K), which is $139.87 per month for 2026, is awarded for loss of use of a creative organ.
Pulmonary hypertension is rated under diagnostic code 7007 at 10, 30, 60, or 100 percent based on functional limitation.
Stroke residuals are rated under diagnostic code 8008 at a minimum 10 percent, with separate ratings for each residual deficit such as hemiparesis, aphasia, or cognitive impairment.
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Open a PubMed search for the medical literature behind these secondary claims. Bring relevant studies to your treating physician or a VA accredited representative; a study supports a medical opinion, it is not the opinion itself.
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