Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
VA disability rating criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) under Diagnostic Code 9411. The VA assigns ratings of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100% based on the severity and functional impact of your condition.
Rating Criteria
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.
Note: A 0% rating requires a formal DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD. The condition is service-connected but does not warrant compensation at this time. Veterans should re-evaluate if symptoms worsen.
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.
Note: At 10%, symptoms are mild or controlled by medication. The veteran experiences reduced efficiency primarily under significant stress. Documentation of medication regimen and symptoms is critical.
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).
Note: At 30%, the veteran is generally functioning satisfactorily but has intermittent episodes of reduced function. Panic attacks occur weekly or less. This is a common initial rating that is frequently underrated.
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.
Note: At 50%, the veteran demonstrates significant impairment in reliability and productivity. Frequent panic attacks (more than weekly) are a key indicator. This rating significantly impacts combined VA disability calculations.
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.
Note: At 70%, the veteran has deficiencies in most major life areas. Suicidal ideation or near-continuous panic/depression are hallmarks. This is the second-highest rating tier for mental disorders and is associated with significant functional impairment.
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.
Note: At 100%, the veteran is totally impaired occupationally and socially. Persistent delusions, hallucinations, or danger to self/others are indicators. Veterans rated 100% for PTSD may also qualify for TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability) or P&T (Permanent and Total) designation.
Secondary Conditions
14 known secondary conditions linked to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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