C&P Exam for Sleep Apnea Syndromes (DC 6847)

For sleep apnea syndromes (DC 6847), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

• DBQ RESP Sleep Apnea (public PDF on VA.gov)

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

The counts below are aggregated from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Each row reports how often a given evidence type was discussed in the decision text, broken down by outcome. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not a prediction or recommendation about any specific claim.

• VA examination: appeared in 117 granted decisions (109 denied, 152 remanded; 378 total)
• Private medical opinion: appeared in 98 granted decisions (15 denied, 39 remanded; 152 total)
• Medical literature: appeared in 65 granted decisions (12 denied, 27 remanded; 104 total)
• Nexus letter: appeared in 52 granted decisions (5 denied, 18 remanded; 75 total)
• Buddy / lay statements: appeared in 30 granted decisions (14 denied, 30 remanded; 74 total)
• Service treatment records: appeared in 14 granted decisions (26 denied, 33 remanded; 73 total)

The themes below were extracted by clustering 500 grant-factor sentences from published Board of Veterans Appeals decisions for this diagnostic code. Frequencies indicate how often each theme appeared in the sample. This is a factual aggregate of the public record, not advice or strategy for any specific claim.

1. 31% Benefit of the doubt doctrine explained or applied
   The Board cited the legal standard requiring VA to resolve approximate balance of positive and negative evidence in the veteran's favor, or noted the doctrine's application or inapplicability to the specific claim.
   153 of 500 sample sentences
2. 15% Nexus opinions on non-OSA disabilities cited in OSA decisions
   Medical opinions addressing service connection or secondary nexus for conditions other than sleep apnea, such as PTSD, tinnitus, back disability, or hypertension, were recorded as part of the overall evidentiary analysis.
   75 of 500 sample sentences
3. 13% OSA nexus to service-connected psychiatric disorder noted
   A medical examiner or clinician opined that the veteran's sleep apnea was at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric condition such as PTSD or major depressive disorder.
   67 of 500 sample sentences
4. 9% Evidence found in equipoise on sleep apnea service connection
   The Board found the lay and medical evidence at least in relative equipoise on whether the veteran's currently diagnosed sleep apnea had its onset in or was otherwise related to active military service.
   47 of 500 sample sentences
5. 7% Favorable nexus opinion linking OSA directly to service
   A VA or private examiner opined that it was at least as likely as not that the veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during active service or was directly caused by an in-service injury, event, or disease.
   35 of 500 sample sentences
6. 6% OSA secondary to service-connected physical disability noted
   A medical examiner found that the veteran's sleep apnea was at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected physical condition such as sinusitis, rhinitis, lumbar spine disability, or hypertension.
   28 of 500 sample sentences
7. 4% Obesity or weight gain as intermediate step to OSA documented
   An examiner opined that weight gain caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability served as an intermediate step leading to the development or worsening of the veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.
   22 of 500 sample sentences
8. 4% At least as likely as not standard defined or recited
   The Board or examiner cited the legal or medical standard that 'at least as likely as not' means the likelihood is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal, equating to a 50 percent or greater probability.
   20 of 500 sample sentences
9. 4% Private medical nexus opinion favorable to OSA claim cited
   A private physician, nurse practitioner, or other non-VA clinician submitted a nexus opinion finding the veteran's sleep apnea at least as likely as not related to service or a service-connected condition.
   18 of 500 sample sentences
10. 2% Negative or unfavorable nexus opinion on OSA recorded
    A VA or private examiner concluded that the veteran's sleep apnea was not at least as likely as not related to active service or a service-connected condition, and the Board noted this opinion in its analysis.
    12 of 500 sample sentences
11. 2% Examiner remand instructions for OSA nexus opinion noted
    The Board recorded instructions directing an examiner to provide an opinion on whether the veteran's OSA was at least as likely as not related to service or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
    12 of 500 sample sentences
12. 2% Board grant of service connection for OSA concluded
    The Board stated its ultimate finding that service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was warranted, citing the weight of evidence or benefit of the doubt resolved in the veteran's favor.
    11 of 500 sample sentences