PTSD VA Disability Rating: Criteria, Evidence & Pay

What is PTSD and how does it affect veterans?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common conditions among veterans filing VA disability claims. It develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event — combat exposure, military sexual trauma (MST), training accidents, or other life-threatening situations during service.

PTSD affects veterans through a combination of intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, negative changes in thinking and mood, and heightened reactivity. These symptoms can significantly impact your ability to work, maintain relationships, and carry out daily activities.

The VA rates PTSD under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which means it shares the same rating criteria as other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. This is important to know because if you’re rated for PTSD, a separate rating for anxiety wouldn’t be added — the VA evaluates all mental health symptoms together under one rating.

VA diagnostic code for PTSD

PTSD is rated under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9411 per 38 CFR § 4.130, Schedule of Ratings — Mental Disorders.

All mental health conditions rated under 38 CFR § 4.130 use the same General Rating Formula. The VA evaluates the overall impact of your mental health symptoms on occupational and social functioning, regardless of the specific diagnosis.

Rating criteria for PTSD

The VA assigns PTSD ratings at six possible levels. Here’s what each rating requires and what it pays in 2026:

0% rating

Criteria: 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.

Monthly payment: $0 (but establishes service connection, which matters for future increases and secondary claims)

10% rating — $180.42/month

Criteria: 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.

What this looks like: You can generally function well at work and in relationships, but high-stress situations trigger noticeable symptoms. You may take medication that effectively manages your PTSD most of the time.

30% rating — $552.47/month

Criteria: 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)

What this looks like: You hold a job but have bad days or weeks where PTSD symptoms clearly affect your performance. You may avoid certain social situations. Sleep problems are common but manageable.

50% rating — $1,132.90/month

Criteria: 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

What this looks like: Your PTSD noticeably and regularly affects your job performance and personal relationships. You may struggle with concentration, have frequent panic attacks, and find it difficult to maintain friendships or work relationships.

70% rating — $1,808.45/month

Criteria: 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 work-like setting)
• Inability to establish and maintain effective relationships

What this looks like: PTSD dominates most areas of your life. You may have difficulty holding a job due to anger outbursts or inability to handle workplace stress. Relationships are severely strained. You may have suicidal thoughts, and daily functioning requires significant effort.

100% rating — $3,938.58/month

Criteria: 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

What this looks like: You cannot work in any capacity and cannot maintain meaningful social relationships. Your symptoms are so severe that you may need assistance with basic daily tasks.

What evidence do you need?

Building a strong PTSD claim requires several types of evidence:

Service records

• DD-214 showing combat service, deployment records, or MOS associated with traumatic exposure
• Service treatment records documenting any in-service mental health treatment
• Personnel records showing any behavioral changes (disciplinary actions, performance drops) that may indicate onset of PTSD

Medical evidence

• Current diagnosis of PTSD from a qualified mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker)
• Treatment records showing ongoing symptoms and their severity
• Medication records

Nexus letter

A medical opinion letter connecting your PTSD to your military service. This is especially important if you weren’t diagnosed during service. A strong nexus letter states that your PTSD is “at least as likely as not” related to your military service and explains the medical reasoning.

Buddy statements

Statements from fellow service members, family, or friends who can describe:

• Your behavior before and after service
• Specific incidents they witnessed
• How your symptoms affect your daily life

Personal statement

Your own detailed account of the stressor events and how PTSD affects your daily life, work, and relationships. Be specific — don’t just list symptoms, describe how they impact you. For example, instead of “I have sleep problems,” write “I wake up 3-4 times per night from nightmares and average 4 hours of sleep, which causes me to miss work 2-3 times per month.”

C&P exam tips for PTSD

The Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam is often the most important part of your PTSD claim. Here’s how to prepare:

What the examiner evaluates

The examiner uses the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and assesses your symptoms against the VA’s rating criteria. They’re looking at:

• Frequency and severity of symptoms
• Impact on occupational functioning (can you work?)
• Impact on social functioning (relationships, social activities)
• Whether you need continuous medication
• Your overall level of impairment

How to prepare

1. Don’t minimize your symptoms. Many veterans, especially those with military training, tend to downplay difficulties. Describe your worst days, not your best days.
2. Be specific with examples. Instead of “I get angry,” say “Last week I punched a wall because my neighbor’s car alarm went off and I couldn’t control the rage.”
3. Bring your spouse or someone close to you. They can provide a statement about how your symptoms affect daily life — things you may not notice or may minimize.
4. Describe the full picture. Talk about sleep disruption, hypervigilance, avoidance, anger, nightmares, relationship problems, work difficulties, and isolation.
5. Don’t skip the exam. A missed C&P exam will result in your claim being denied.

Common mistakes

• Telling the examiner “I’m fine” or “I’m managing” — this signals lower severity
• Not mentioning suicidal thoughts if you have them (this is critical for 70%+ ratings)
• Focusing only on the stressor event instead of current symptoms
• Being inconsistent with what’s in your medical records

Common secondary conditions linked to PTSD

PTSD frequently causes or aggravates other conditions. These can be claimed as secondary service-connected disabilities:

• Sleep apnea — Research shows a strong link between PTSD and obstructive sleep apnea. PTSD-related sleep disturbances and weight gain (from medication side effects) contribute to sleep apnea development.
• Migraines — Chronic stress and hyperarousal from PTSD can trigger frequent headaches and migraines.
• GERD — Stress-related gastrointestinal issues are common in veterans with PTSD, often worsened by medications.
• Erectile dysfunction — PTSD medications (SSRIs) commonly cause sexual dysfunction, and the psychological effects of PTSD also contribute.
• Anxiety — While anxiety symptoms are typically rated together with PTSD under the same diagnostic code, generalized anxiety can develop as a separate condition in some cases.

How to calculate your monthly payment

Your total VA disability payment depends on your combined rating across all service-connected conditions, not just PTSD alone. Use our VA disability calculator to:

• Calculate your combined rating with multiple conditions
• See how VA math combines ratings differently than simple addition
• Estimate your monthly payment including dependents

For the full breakdown of payment amounts at every rating level, see our 2026 VA disability pay rates page.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance on your VA disability claim, consult a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO), attorney, or claims agent. You can find accredited representatives at VA.gov.