VA Rating for PTSD

If you're dealing with the lasting effects of trauma from your military service, you're not alone. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most frequently claimed service-connected conditions in the VA disability system. Understanding how the VA rating for PTSD works is crucial if you're looking to receive the compensation you deserve. Whether you're filing your first claim or appealing a decision, knowing what the VA looks for can significantly improve your chances.

The VA evaluates PTSD using a mental health rating formula based on how your symptoms affect your daily functioning. Ratings range from 0% to 100%, with higher ratings assigned to those who experience severe impairment in work, relationships, and self-care. This guide breaks down the criteria for a PTSD VA rating. It explains what kind of evidence helps your case and gives you a realistic path to achieving the highest possible rating.

PTSD can develop after exposure to traumatic events such as combat, military sexual trauma (MST), or life-threatening experiences during service. It can impact your life in countless ways—emotionally, physically, and socially. Unfortunately, many veterans struggle for years without realizing they qualify for benefits, while others try to file a claim but find the process confusing and frustrating.

The VA recognizes PTSD as a valid, service-connected mental health condition, but they require very specific documentation to approve and rate your claim. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines PTSD symptoms in clusters—re-experiencing trauma, avoiding trauma triggers, having negative thoughts or moods, and being easily aroused to panic or anger. However, when it comes to disability ratings, the VA isn't diagnosing you all over again. They're looking at your diagnosis from a qualified medical provider and determining how your PTSD affects your ability to function in daily life—especially in a work environment.

Your rating depends largely on the severity and frequency of your symptoms—and how well you can prove these factors to the VA. Two veterans might both have a PTSD diagnosis, but one could receive a 30% rating while the other qualifies for 100%. The difference is in how well they function day-to-day and how their symptoms are documented.

To determine your PTSD rating, the VA relies on a general rating formula for mental disorders. It's based on how much your condition impairs your occupational and social functioning. The available percentages are 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%.

Here's a simplified breakdown of each level:

Yes. This is called non-combat PTSD. There is a higher burden of proof for non-combat PTSD than for combat-related PTSD, but it is still possible to get rated for it. You will need to present evidence linking your PTSD to a "stressor." A stressor is an in-service event, or series of events, that triggered your PTSD.

Stressors for non-combat-PTSD may include:

• Vehicle accidents (either experiencing or witnessing accidents involving automobiles, planes, helicopters, ships, submarines, etc.)
• Accidents during military training exercises
• Sexual or physical assault
• Harassment
• Survivor's guilt
• Ongoing stress from the fear of impending death and violence

To strengthen your case for a PTSD VA rating (or rating increase), you should submit the following:

• A Current Diagnosis: If you don't yet have a diagnosis, make an appointment to see a mental health specialist. And if you have a diagnosis but haven't been seen for your PTSD in the last few months, you should also see a provider. A record of recent medical care shows that you are actively seeking help for your PTSD, which strengthens your claim.
• Evidence of a Stressor: For a PTSD diagnosis, you will need to connect your PTSD to the stressor event (or events) that triggered your disorder. Your stressor event could be combat-related or non-combat-related (though a combat-related stressor will usually require less evidence and be easier to prove).
• Nexus Letter: If you were diagnosed with PTSD while in the military, you may not need a nexus letter. But if you weren't, you will likely need to get one of these letters from a mental health provider to show a link between your PTSD and your in-service stressor. The one exception is if your PTSD is combat-related (vs non-combat-related). You usually do not need a nexus letter to prove a service-connection with combat-related PTSD.
• Detailed Medical Records: Include treatment notes from therapists, psychiatrists, and primary care physicians. Make sure they describe how your PTSD affects your day-to-day activities.
• Personal Statement: This is a big one! Your personal statement is your chance to show the VA how your PTSD affects your life, which is critical to your claim. The doctor can't see how your PTSD makes you fly into a rage or pace the floor at night out of hypervigilance. Only you can tell this story. Use VA Form 21-4138 to briefly describe your stressor event, the symptoms of your PTSD, how your symptoms affect your work, and how your symptoms affect your relationships.
• Buddy Statements: Statements from family, friends, or coworkers can provide valuable insight into how your PTSD affects your work and social life. Use VA Form 21-4138 for buddy letters.

It's also important to prepare for your C&P exam. At this exam, a VA provider (or contracted provider) will assess your PTSD and its relation to your military service. They will fill out your DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire), which will be used by the VA to determine your rating and benefits.

Don't show up as though you're having your best day. You want to show the provider the struggle you're living with. Be honest, and don't downplay your symptoms.

The VA physician may or may not be able to access your medical records, so it's a good idea to bring a copy with you. You should also bring your personal statement to help you "stick to the script" in describing your PTSD. When your doctor asks about your condition, let them know that you'd like to read your statement. This ensures that you share the most important details in support of your claim.

If you want to know how to get a 100% VA disability for PTSD, the easiest way is to show how your PTSD is combat-related (if it indeed is). This means that your PTSD was triggered by being engaged in armed conflict, a hazardous duty (like parachuting or flying), participating in war simulation activities, being exposed to instruments of war (like weapons or chemical agents), or engaging in an activity that earned you a Purple Heart.

If you can connect your PTSD to a combat-related event, you simply need to identify the event and don't usually need to provide extensive evidence of your "stressor." This will save you time and hassle.

Also, if your PTSD is combat-related, you won't likely need a nexus letter either since the military usually understands that combat events can easily lead to PTSD. You can simply say something like this: "I was taking incoming fire at Bagram on [date] and was in constant fear of my life."

You have several options for recourse. You can file for a higher-level review, where a more experienced VA adjudicator will review your claim. You can also file for an appeal, but be aware that this route starts your claim all over again, and resolution may take several years. Often, the most direct route is to file a supplemental claim where you submit new evidence to an existing claim and ask the VA to examine your case again in light of the new information.

We have helped many veterans get a 100 percent PTSD VA rating, and we can show you the most direct path to this outcome. Filing a VA claim is more than just paperwork—it's about translating your lived experience into evidence the VA will understand. That's where we shine. With deep expertise in VA disability claims and a proven track record of helping veterans secure the ratings they deserve, VA Claims Academy equips you with the tools and training to approach your PTSD claim strategically.

Through self-paced courses, one-on-one coaching, and real-world claim insights, you'll learn how to present your evidence, prepare for exams, and apply for an increase with confidence. We provide you with drag-and-drop templates for writing nexus letters and personal statements that get results.

Armed with these tools, you don't have to face the fight alone. VA Claims Academy is committed to helping you take control of your PTSD claim, maximize your rating, and finally get the benefits you deserve.