I have heard people concerned because they have been told that the proposed sleep apnea rating changes take effect on 1/1/2025– this isn’t accurate.
WHEN will the proposed SLEEP APNEA RATING CHANGES happen and will they look just like what was proposed in 2022? Good question. This isn’t actually public knowledge at this point. The final rules related to sleep apnea (or the proposed mental disorders rating changes for that matter) have NOT YET been published in the Federal Register as of 12/2/2024 when I am writing this. Until then any talk about when the changes will take place is speculation (any estimates, including April 2025, are just estimates at this point). Also, any talk about whether they will look exactly like what the PROPOSED changes were is also speculation as the VA may decide to make changes based on the public comments they received. There is no guarantee the changes will look exactly like what was proposed.
There are estimated implementation dates from the government that keep changing (such as this coming April) but we can’t really know when this will actually happen. Certainly, this could also potentially be impacted by the transition to a new administration as well. When the changes actually get implemented, they will publish the final rules in the Federal Register, and they will have to document how they addressed the various public comments they received. We will get an official effective date (there will have to be some time before the changes go into effect) and the VA will also need to publish new DBQ forms for the ratings changes. So, at some point (assuming there are changes which is likely) we’ll get a true effective date, and the real sprint will be on then for sure.
Curious about the proposed ratings changes?
If you haven’t read my public comments related to the proposed sleep apnea changes from 2022 you can do that here on my website: https://nexusletters.com/2022/03/04/dr-finnertys-public-comments-on-proposed-changes-to-the-sleep-apnea-rating/
If you want to hear me talk about them on YouTube here is that video: https://youtu.be/ZiaNg1pSIsY
You can also read my last blog post from August which was essentially on this same topic: Changes may be coming April 2025 (or the can just got kicked again) – Nexus Letters from a Psychologist