Daniel Gade said a presidential panel he served on made inconsequential changes to the disability benefits systems. (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post) Over decades, the government has spent billions ondisability payments for veterans with sleep apnea, a common condition that interrupts breathing during sleep and causesfatigue. In early 2022, officials were determined to pare that back. Medical advances mean most apneasufferers now have few or no symptoms and can hold jobs.