Veterans suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma and sleep apnea often face challenges not only with their health but also with securing the appropriate level of VA disability compensation. Many believe that if they are service-connected for multiple respiratory conditions—say, asthma first, then later diagnosed and connected for sleep apnea—they should receive separate ratings for each condition, thereby increasing their overall combined VA disability rating. However, VA regulations take a different, more restrictive approach.
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Can You Receive Separate VA Ratings for Asthma and Sleep Apnea?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs outlines very specific rules regarding the assignment of disability ratings for respiratory conditions. According to 38 CFR § 4.96(a), veterans cannot receive separate ratings for certain respiratory diseases, including asthma (diagnostic code 6602) and sleep apnea (diagnostic code 6847). Instead, the VA assigns one disability rating based on the predominant respiratory disability.