2026 VA Rating Changes: Sleep Apnea, Tinnitus, and Mental Health

VA is moving to rewrite large pieces of its disability rating schedule. The proposed changes would reshape how sleep apnea, tinnitus, and mental health conditions are evaluated. Here is a plain-language summary of what is on the table, where it stands, and how to get your records ready, kept to prep only.

Current status: These are proposed updates to the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), not active law. In February 2026, VA paused implementation to review public comments. Many observers expect a decision later in 2026, but delays, changes, or cancellation are all still possible. Nothing here is final, and none of it changes your rating today.

The big idea: function over device

The common thread across these proposals is a shift away from rating a condition by the device or diagnosis and toward rating the functional impairment that remains. That sounds reasonable in principle, but the details matter a lot, and they cut differently for different conditions.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is currently rated under Diagnostic Code 6847, which assigns a 50% evaluation when a veteran requires a breathing-assistance device such as a CPAP machine. Under that structure, needing the device largely drives the rating.

The proposal would remove that automatic 50% for CPAP use and instead rate based on how much impairment remains once treatment is in place. In practice, many veterans whose symptoms are well-controlled on CPAP could see a lower evaluation under the new criteria. This is the change drawing the most concern.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is currently compensated as a standalone condition under Diagnostic Code 6260, with a maximum schedular rating of 10%. VA's proposal would eliminate that code entirely, on the rationale that tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition, such as hearing loss or a vestibular disorder, rather than a disease on its own. If finalized, tinnitus would be evaluated as part of the underlying condition instead of on its own.

Mental health

The mental-health proposal is generally viewed as more favorable to veterans. It would move away from the current symptom-list model toward a system that scores impairment across several functional domains and maps those scores to a percentage. Reporting on the proposal describes a guaranteed minimum evaluation for any service-connected mental-health diagnosis and a path that can make higher evaluations, including 70% and 100%, easier to reach for veterans with significant impairment.

The most important point: existing ratings are protected

If these changes are finalized, veterans with existing ratings are expected to be grandfathered in. The new criteria would apply to new claims filed after the effective date, not retroactively re-rate conditions you are already compensated for. You do not lose an existing rating because the schedule changed.

What to prepare now (prep only)

You cannot control VA's rulemaking timeline, but you can make sure your record reflects your real impairment. Consider:

• Documenting functional impact, not just the diagnosis. For sleep apnea, that means how fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and concentration affect work and daily life even while on CPAP.
• Connecting tinnitus to the underlying condition. Make sure hearing loss, vestibular issues, or TBI are documented and claimed where appropriate.
• Capturing mental-health impairment across domains such as work, relationships, self-care, and concentration, in your own words and in your treatment records.
• Talking with accredited help about timing. Whether to file now or wait depends on your specific conditions and current evidence. A VA-accredited VSO, attorney, or claims agent can advise on representation and strategy.

ValorAI can help you organize evidence, draft statements, and turn a confusing situation into a clear checklist before you file. It is prep software, not a VA-accredited representative, and it does not file claims for you.

Official sources

• VA News: VA proposes updates to rating schedule for respiratory, auditory and mental disorders
• Military.com: VA Is Rewriting Big Pieces of the Disability Rating Playbook
• VA.gov: Current Veterans disability compensation rates

This article is for informational purposes and is not legal advice.