Other Guide Sections
VA Rating for Depression and Anxiety
38 CFR 4.130
If you've been living with depression, anxiety, or both due to your time in service, you may be entitled to VA disability benefits. These conditions often develop due to the stress and trauma of military life.
The VA recognizes both depression and anxiety as compensable mental health disorders. However, that does not guarantee you a VA rating or compensation. Your VA rating for depression and anxiety is based on how well you can prove that these conditions limit your ability to function at work, at home, and in social situations. Unlike physical conditions, these conditions can't be shown with a test like an x-ray or scope. They rely on subjective measures, like your personal statement.
This guide will help you understand how the VA evaluates these conditions, what each rating level means, and how to build a claim that truly reflects the challenges you're facing so you can get an appropriate anxiety or depression VA rating.
How Does the VA Rate Depression & Anxiety?
Depression and anxiety might begin during active duty or emerge years later, triggered by long-term stress, isolation, or unresolved trauma. The average rating for these mental health conditions is 70%, so if you are rated below this, it may be time to apply for a VA rating increase.
Both depression and anxiety can disrupt your daily life in different but overlapping ways. Depression might result in a loss of interest in the activities you once enjoyed, persistent sadness, or suicidal thoughts. Anxiety may cause chronic nervousness, panic attacks, or an inability to concentrate. Even if these symptoms fluctuate, their cumulative impact can be devastating.
The VA does not rate depression and anxiety separately if they are both present. Instead, they are evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders using one combined mental health rating. Even if you have multiple diagnoses, you can't "stack" them. Rather, you'll receive one overall percentage based on the overall impact of all your mental health symptoms.
Mental health ratings range from 0% to 100% and are assigned based on the extent to which your symptoms impair your ability to function socially, occupationally, and emotionally. The more they interfere, the higher your rating may be.
Depression & Anxiety Rating Percentages
The VA uses the same general rating formula for most mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. The percentages are: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%. Each rating represents a different level of occupational and social impairment.
Here's a breakdown of what each rating means:
0% Rating
Your symptoms are officially diagnosed but do not interfere with work or social functioning and do not require medication. No compensation is awarded at this level.
It gives you a baseline rating that can be more easily evaluated later on if your conditions worsen, and allows you to claim secondary conditions if they develop.
10% Rating
You experience mild symptoms that occasionally impair performance, but you're generally able to function. Medication can manage your condition.
30% Rating
You experience symptoms that interfere with your function intermittently, but you are still generally able to perform as needed. For example, you may have occasional periods when you can't go to work because your depression is too strong, but you can still generally succeed in a work environment.
50% Rating
Your symptoms are more pronounced. You may experience frequent panic attacks, memory issues, difficulty with complex tasks, and trouble completing work or maintaining relationships.
70% Rating
You suffer from near-continuous depression or anxiety. You may experience violent outbursts and have difficulty keeping a job or completing school courses.
100% Rating
This threshold represents a significant decline in cognitive and emotional function. You are completely unable to function independently due to symptoms like delusions, disorientation, or tendencies toward self-harm. You may also experience ideations about hurting others. You may be unable to perform even simple self-care tasks like getting out of bed or taking a shower.
It's important to remember that the VA doesn't just rely on your diagnosis. They look closely at your C&P (Compensation and Pension) exam, medical records, and statements from yourself and others about how your condition affects your life. The more clearly you describe the real-world effects of your condition—especially how it affects employment and relationships—the stronger your case will be.
How to Strengthen Your Depression or Anxiety Claim
A strong VA mental health claim starts with detailed and consistent documentation. You need to clearly show how your symptoms impact your ability to live and work. Focus on how you feel and function on a daily basis.
To strengthen your claim:
- Get a Current Medical Diagnosis: It sounds obvious, but plenty of veterans overlook this one. If you don't have a diagnosis, talk to a doctor right away. And if you do have a diagnosis but you haven't been seen for your condition in the last few months, you should also talk to your doctor. This shows that you are actively being seen for your mental health condition, which strengthens your claim.
- Get a Nexus Letter if Needed: The VA needs to see a clear connection between your illness or injury and your time in service. If you received a diagnosis while in the military, this can serve as your connection. But if you did not receive a diagnosis while serving (either because you had depression/anxiety while serving but didn't get a formal diagnosis or because your depression/anxiety developed after you got out), you will need to show a service connection.
One of the best ways to show a service connection is through a nexus letter. This letter is written by a qualified medical professional (ideally a psychologist or psychiatrist) and explains that it is "at least as likely as not" that your mental health condition is tied to your military service.
Note that for PTSD, you need to point to a specific "stressor," which is an event that occurred during your military service that triggered your condition. But this is not needed for depression and anxiety. For these general mental health conditions, it could simply be the overall experience of the military that led to your condition. For example, maybe prolonged separation from your family due to deployments triggered feelings of isolation and depression. Or maybe the stress of worrying about making promotions in the rigid hierarchy of the military triggered your anxiety.
- Keep a Symptom Journal: Regularly write down how your mental health condition affects your sleep, mood, energy, ability to work, or interactions with others. For example, did you lose your cool with your kids today because your depression left you feeling irritable? Did you have to call off of work because you couldn't get up the motivation to get out of bed? Did you have trouble sleeping again because you were in panic mode? Write these things in your journal.
- Write a Personal Statement: Use VA form 21-4138 to write a short but specific statement detailing the symptoms of your mental health condition and how they affect you on a daily basis. (You can draw on your symptom journal to help you craft this letter.)
- Include Statements from Family or Friends: Others often see changes in your behavior that you might not notice. You can have friends, family members, or co-workers write accounts of your struggles with social interactions or work performance and submit these "buddy letters" with your claim. (Use VA Form 21-10210.)
- Be Honest During the C&P Exam: Veterans often understate their symptoms, but your C&P exam is the wrong setting for understatement. Explain clearly how depression or anxiety affects your job performance, family life, and overall health. Be specific and don't minimize your struggles.
How Can VA Claims Academy Help You Increase Your VA Rating for Mental Health?
If you believe you are eligible for an increased VA rating for depression and anxiety, VA Claims Academy is here to take the mystery out of the claims process. We offer personalized guidance, veteran-tested strategies, and resources like plug-and-play personal statements and nexus letters to pave your way to a rating increase.
Rather than leave your outcome to chance, you'll learn how to "speak VA," create compelling documentation, prepare for your C&P exam, and advocate for yourself with clarity and confidence. The system isn't always fair, but with VA Claims Academy, you gain the knowledge and tools to level the playing field.
Whether you're seeking your first mental health rating or fighting for an increase, VA Claims Academy will be there to help you every step of the way. Our team of veterans and VA claims experts are committed to helping you get the compensation you deserve.
FAQs: VA Rating for Depression and Anxiety
1. Can you get a VA rating for both depression and anxiety?
The VA generally evaluates mental health conditions together, using a general mental health rating formula and assigning one mental health rating. This rating is based on your overall level of impairment.
2. What is the average VA rating for depression and anxiety?
While ratings can range from 0 to 100%, 70% is often reported as the average rating. This rating reflects how much your condition affects your daily functioning.
3. How do I prove my depression or anxiety is service-connected?
You need a current diagnosis and documentation of a service connection (such as a nexus letter from a psychologist or psychiatrist showing that "it is at least as likely as not" that your condition is service-connected). You can further strengthen your case with documentation to show how your condition affects your daily life (such as a personal statement and/or buddy letters).
4. Can I get a rating if my symptoms started after I left the service?
Yes, if you can show that your condition developed as a result of your time in service. You can also file a claim if you can show that your depression or anxiety developed secondary to a primary service-connected condition. For example, if you have a VA rating for back pain that limits your mobility and causes you to feel isolated and hopeless, you may be able to file a claim for depression secondary to back pain.
5. Is therapy required for a mental health VA claim?
Therapy is not required, but it's strongly recommended. Ongoing treatment helps support your case by showing the VA that your condition is persistent.
6. How often does the VA re-evaluate mental health ratings?
If your condition is not considered permanent, the VA may schedule re-examinations every 2–5 years to determine whether your rating should be adjusted.
7. Can mental health conditions qualify for TDIU?
Yes. If your depression or anxiety prevents you from working in a capacity that generates reasonable income, you may qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
8. Do I need a nexus letter for depression or anxiety claims?
The VA will want to see a connection between your depression and anxiety and your military service. If you were not diagnosed with depression and anxiety while in the service, or if you don't have a record of this diagnosis, a nexus letter is a powerful tool to help establish a connection between your condition and your service. You can get a nexus letter from a qualified mental health provider. It should show that it is "at least as likely as not" that your condition was caused or worsened by your military service.
9. Can depression or anxiety be rated 100%?
Yes. If your symptoms are so severe that they prevent you from functioning professionally or socially, a 100% schedular rating is possible.
10. What if the VA denies my mental health claim?
You can file an appeal, submit a supplemental claim with new evidence, or request a higher-level review to challenge the decision.