PTSD VA Rating Criteria and How to Qualify for Benefits
By Telemedica
12/11/2025
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- PTSD Among Veterans: Prevalence and Key Symptoms
- VA Rating for PTSD
- Establishing Service Connection
- The Value of a Nexus Letter
- C&P Exam for PTSD: What to Expect
- How a PTSD DBQ Strengthens Your VA Claim
- Secondary Conditions to PTSD
- How TDIU Can Boost Your VA Benefits
- Filing a VA Claim for PTSD
- Conclusion
- Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims
- FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common service-connected VA disabilities among veterans. It can develop from exposure to trauma, combat stress, or life-threatening experiences during military service—and for many veterans, the effects last long after discharge.
The VA assigns PTSD ratings from 0% to 100% based on how severely symptoms affect work, relationships, and daily functioning.
In this guide, you’ll learn how the VA rates PTSD, how to prove service connection, and what medical evidence, secondary conditions, and benefits (including TDIU) can help maximize your VA disability benefits and compensation.
Key Takeaways
- The VA rates PTSD at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, using diagnostic code 9411.
- A current diagnosis that meets the criteria in the DSM-5, a medical nexus, and evidence of an in-service traumatic event are required to qualify for a PTSD VA rating.
- Secondary conditions caused or worsened by PTSD may increase your overall monthly benefits.
- You may qualify for TDIU and receive 100% compensation even if your combined rating isn’t 100%.
PTSD Among Veterans: Prevalence and Key Symptoms
PTSD affects veterans at slightly higher rates than civilians, about 7% of veterans overall, including 13% of female veterans and 6% of male veterans, compared to roughly 6% of adults in the general population.
However, rates are even higher among veterans who experienced intense combat or traumatic events during service, including Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Common symptoms of PTSD in veterans include:
- Reliving the traumatic event (flashbacks or intrusive memories)
- Nightmares or disturbing dreams
- Avoiding places, people, or activities that trigger memories of the trauma
- Persistent anxiety or fear
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Feeling numb or emotionally detached
- Feeling hyperaware or overly alert
Did You Know? According to official VBA data, nearly 82,000 veterans were service-connected for PTSD in 2024 alone; and 1,589,833 veterans have a PTSD VA rating. Additionally, PTSD is only mental health condition in the VA’s Top 10 most common disabilities.
VA Rating for PTSD
The VA rates PTSD under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, diagnostic code (DC) 9411, with potential ratings of 0%,10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%.
Your PTSD VA disability rating is based on the severity of your symptoms and how much they affect your ability to function at work and in daily life.
While there is no official start date, the VA has proposed updates to mental health ratings to focus on domain-based functional impairment and how your symptoms affect daily life and work, not just your current diagnosis.
Under the proposed changes, the 0% rating is being removed, meaning any DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) mental health condition will receive at least 10%, and current ratings won’t change unless you file a new or increased claim.
Learn More: Understanding the Upcoming VA Mental Health Rating Changes
PTSD VA Rating Criteria
| General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders | VA Rating |
| Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: 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 (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. | 100% |
| Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. | 70% |
| Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. | 50% |
| Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events). | 30% |
| Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication. | 10% |
| A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication. | 0% |
Establishing Service Connection
To be eligible for a PTSD VA rating, you must provide evidence of the following:
- A current medical diagnosis of PTSD that meets the criteria in the DSM-5
- An in-service event, injury, aggravation, or illness
- A medical nexus (link) between your current diagnosis and the in-service event, injury, aggravation, or illness (e.g., via a nexus letter)
Did you know? Since PTSD has strict diagnostic criteria and several conditions with overlapping symptoms (e.g., anxiety or depression), it’s essential to receive an accurate and current medical diagnosis.
The Value of a Nexus Letter
A PTSD nexus letter can be a key piece of evidence in a VA disability claim, providing a clear medical opinion linking your PTSD to your military service.
Since PTSD is frequently diagnosed long after traumatic events, a strong nexus letter can supply the critical details needed to establish service connection.
Note: You can’t request a PTSD-specific nexus letter; you must undergo a mental health evaluation, and your provider will determine the correct current diagnosis based on your symptoms.
C&P Exam for PTSD: What to Expect
A compensation & pension (C&P) exam for PTSD is one of the most important steps in your VA claims process because it determines:
- Whether you meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD
- Whether your stressor is valid
- How severely your symptoms affect your daily life and ability to work
During your exam, the provider evaluates the full picture of your mental health, including flashbacks, panic attacks, sleep problems, avoidance, mood changes, and how these symptoms disrupt your functioning.
Since the VA bases ratings on occupational and social impairment, it’s important to be open, direct, and honest about what you experience day-to-day.
You’ll be contacted by your local VA medical center or a VA contractor, by mail, phone, or email, to schedule your C&P exam and verify your identity.
How a PTSD DBQ Strengthens Your VA Claim
A PTSD Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) is a standardized form completed by a licensed mental health provider that documents your symptoms, how they affect daily life and work, and how they may relate to your military service.
A DBQ can fill gaps in medical records, strengthen service connection, and speed up the claims process.
While a DBQ alone doesn’t prove service connection, it provides key medical details that, combined with records or buddy statements, strengthen the link between your PTSD and military service.
Learn More: How a PTSD DBQ Enhances Your VA Disability Claim
Secondary Conditions to PTSD
Secondary conditions to PTSD are VA-ratable conditions that develop or worsen because of your service-connected PTSD, and they can increase your monthly benefits.
Common secondary conditions to PTSD include:
- Migraines
- Hypertension
- GERD
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Sleep Apnea
- Substance Abuse Disorders
>> View Our Main Guide on PTSD Secondary Conditions
Pro Tip: It’s highly recommended to obtain a credible Nexus Letter when pursuing secondary service connection.
How TDIU Can Boost Your VA Benefits
If you don’t qualify for a 100% VA rating for PTSD, you may still be eligible for Total Disability based on Individual Employability (TDIU).
TDIU provides 100% VA disability pay, even if your combined rating is below 100%.
To qualify for schedular TDIU, the following statement must be true:
- You can’t hold down a steady job that supports you financially (known as substantially gainful employment) because of your service-connected disability. (Odd jobs or marginal employment don’t count)
In addition, ONE of these must be true:
- You have at least 1 service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling OR
- You have 2 or more service-connected disabilities, with at least 1 rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more.
If you don’t qualify for schedular TDIU, you may be eligible for extra-schedular TDIU if your condition prevents you from working, but you don’t meet the normal percentage thresholds.
Filing a VA Claim for PTSD
You can file a VA claim for PTSD:
- By mail
- Via fax
- In person at a VA regional office
>> Download and Complete VA Form 21-526EZ
Conclusion
PTSD can have lasting effects on every part of life—work, family, sleep, and health. Knowing how the VA rates PTSD (0%–100%), what evidence is required for service connection, and how to strengthen your claim with a DBQ, nexus letter, or secondary conditions can make all the difference in your benefits outcome.
If you’re struggling to document your symptoms or need an updated medical evaluation, Telemedica’s nationwide telehealth team can help. Our licensed providers complete mental health evaluations, DBQs, and Nexus Letters that help veterans present clear, credible medical evidence for their claims.
Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims
Did you know that a lack of medical evidence is the #1 reason VA disability claims are denied?
Medical evidence is a crucial piece of the puzzle that VA raters consider when reviewing a disability claim. Telemedica provides solutions for veterans looking to bolster their claims through high-quality medical evidence (such as DBQs and nexus letters) that win claims!
Schedule your 20-minute consultation call and learn how to get the supporting medical evidence you need to strengthen your claim.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VA rating for PTSD?
VA PTSD ratings range from 0% to 100%, with breaks at 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70%.
Can the VA reduce your disability rating for PTSD?
Yes. The VA can reduce your PTSD rating if they believe your condition has improved, but reductions aren’t automatic. Under the VA disability 5-year rule, the VA can re-evaluate your rating within five years of the initial exam if they expect your condition to show real improvement.
What is the average VA rating for PTSD?
The average VA rating for PTSD is 70%.
Is PTSD an automatic 50% rating?
No. Veterans discharged due to a mental disorder from traumatic stress may receive a temporary automatic 50% PTSD rating, re-evaluated within six months. Otherwise, PTSD ratings range from 0% to 100% based on symptom severity and impact on daily life, with a 50% rating reflecting moderate to severe occupational and social impairment.
What is the PTSD MST VA rating?
A PTSD MST VA rating is a disability rating for veterans who develop PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma (MST), ranging from 0% to 100% based on symptom severity and impact on daily life.
What evidence do you need for a PTSD VA claim?
You can submit public or private mental health records that show your current diagnosis, the in-service stressor, and a medical nexus linking your PTSD to that stressor, as well as records documenting symptom severity, or how your condition has worsened over time. You can also include a personal statement or supporting statements from family, friends, or fellow service members that describe your PTSD symptoms and how the traumatic event affects your daily life.
What are common mistakes in PTSD claims?
You may face challenges in a PTSD claim if you downplay your symptoms, lack a current diagnosis, or lack strong medical evidence and fail to show a clear service connection.