A DSM-5 sleep-wake disorder that does not meet full criteria for a more specific sleep disorder diagnosis. Rated by analogy under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR 4.130). Commonly service-connected as secondary to PTSD, TBI, anxiety, or chronic pain.
Total occupational and social impairment due to gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living; disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals interfering with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical; near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently; impaired impulse control; spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect; circumstantial or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory; impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily), due to symptoms such as depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks weekly or less often, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss.
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.
A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.
Medical Evidence
Current diagnosis from a qualified healthcare provider, medical records documenting symptoms and treatment history
Service Connection
Evidence linking your condition to military service (service treatment records, incident reports, or nexus letter)
Personal Statement
Your detailed account of how unspecified sleep-wake disorder affects your daily life and when symptoms began
Lay Evidence
Buddy letters from fellow service members or family who can corroborate your symptoms
During your Compensation & Pension exam for unspecified sleep-wake disorder, examiners will assess your symptoms against the rating criteria above.
Be specific: Describe your worst day, not your average day
Document everything: Bring copies of all medical records and evidence
Functional impact: Explain how symptoms affect work, sleep, and daily activities
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