VA Disability Rating for PTSD: How It Works and How to Qualify
PTSD Is One of the Most Common VA Disability Claims
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is among the most frequently claimed and approved VA disabilities. The VA rates PTSD under Diagnostic Code 9411 using a general rating formula for mental disorders. Understanding how the VA evaluates PTSD — and what level of functional impairment corresponds to each rating — is essential for ensuring you receive the compensation you have earned.
PTSD Rating Levels and What They Mean
The VA rates PTSD at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%. The rating is based on the severity of your symptoms and the degree to which they interfere with work and social functioning — not simply on the diagnosis itself.
0% Rating
A diagnosis of PTSD has been established, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning. You receive no monthly compensation but are eligible for VA health care related to PTSD.
10% Rating
Occupational and social impairment is mild or transient — symptoms decrease when stressors are removed, or controlled by continuous medication. Monthly compensation: approximately $175.
30% Rating
Occasional decrease in efficiency and intermittent inability to perform occupational tasks. Symptoms may include depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss. Monthly compensation: approximately $537 with no dependents.
50% Rating
Reduced reliability and productivity. Symptoms include flattened affect, circumstantial speech, panic attacks more than once per week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. Monthly compensation: approximately $1,102 with no dependents.
70% Rating
Deficiencies in most areas including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. Symptoms include suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression, impaired impulse control, spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance, inability to perform activities of daily living, and intermittent inability to perform occupational tasks. Monthly compensation: approximately $1,759 with no dependents.
100% Rating
Total occupational and social impairment. Gross impairment in thought processes, persistent danger of self-harm, intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, disorientation to time and place, and memory loss for names of close relatives. Monthly compensation: approximately $3,831 with no dependents.
How to File a PTSD Claim
Filing a PTSD claim requires three core elements:
- A current diagnosis of PTSD from a licensed mental health professional, preferably a VA examiner or a private provider whose records are submitted to the VA.
- An in-service stressor — the traumatic event or events that occurred during your military service. For combat veterans, this is often easier to establish. For non-combat veterans, the VA may require corroborating evidence such as buddy statements, service records, or military police reports.
- A nexus between your in-service stressor and your current PTSD diagnosis — a medical opinion connecting what happened in service to your current condition.
Submit your claim at va.gov or through a VSO. Include any private mental health treatment records, personal statements describing your symptoms and how they affect your daily life, and buddy statements from fellow service members or family members who can describe changes in your behavior.
The MST Stressor Exception
Veterans who developed PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST) do not need to provide the same level of corroborating evidence as other stressor types. A statement from the veteran, supported by markers such as performance evaluations, requests for transfer, or behavioral changes documented in service records, may be sufficient to establish the in-service stressor.
Secondary Conditions That Can Increase Your Rating
PTSD frequently causes or aggravates other conditions. These secondary conditions can be claimed separately, increasing your overall combined disability rating:
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Substance use disorder (secondary to self-medication for PTSD)
- Sleep apnea (sleep disturbance is a core PTSD symptom)
- Hypertension (chronic stress-related)
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Erectile dysfunction
- Migraines
Secondary claims require a medical nexus opinion connecting the secondary condition to your already service-connected PTSD. A private nexus letter from your treating physician is often the most effective way to establish this connection.
If Your PTSD Claim Was Denied or Underrated
Denial and underrating are common. If you disagree with the VA’s decision, you have three appeal options under the Appeals Modernization Act:
- Supplemental Claim Lane: Submit new and relevant evidence not previously considered.
- Higher-Level Review Lane: Request a senior VA reviewer to look at the same evidence with fresh eyes — no new evidence allowed.
- Board of Veterans Appeals: Appeal directly to a Veterans Law Judge, with or without a hearing.
Work with a VSO or accredited VA claims agent at no cost, or hire a VA-accredited attorney (who can only charge a fee if you win on appeal).
Bottom Line
PTSD is a legitimate, compensable service-connected disability — and the VA rating system specifically accounts for how significantly it impairs your ability to work and maintain relationships. If you have PTSD from military service and are not currently receiving VA compensation, file a claim. If you are rated but believe the rating does not reflect your actual level of impairment, pursue an appeal. You earned this benefit.