VA Disability for PTSD: Ratings, Evidence & Secondary Conditions

How the VA rates PTSD

PTSD is rated under 38 CFR 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9411 (ratings of 0%–100%). Each criterion below is transcribed verbatim from the VA rating schedule and verified against the regulation (eCFR / Cornell LII) — never paraphrased.

• 0%

  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.

• 10%

  Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency only during significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.

• 30%

  Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

• 50%

  Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

• 70%

  Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas (work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood).

• 100%

  Total occupational and social impairment.

Common conditions secondary to PTSD

Veterans routinely under-claim because they don't know a secondary condition exists. These are commonly claimed as secondary to service-connected PTSD — each is a candidate to raise with your provider, not an automatic grant, and each needs a medical nexus opinion.

• Obstructive sleep apnea

  Sleep apnea is frequently claimed as secondary to PTSD — disrupted sleep, weight gain, and autonomic changes are recognized contributors. Needs a nexus opinion linking the apnea to the PTSD.

• Erectile dysfunction

  Erectile dysfunction is commonly secondary to a service-connected mental-health condition or its medications (SSRIs). May also support SMC-K (loss of use of a creative organ).

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

  GERD is often claimed secondary to a mental-health condition or its medications. Needs a nexus opinion.

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

  Chronic stress from a service-connected mental-health condition is a recognized contributor to hypertension.

• Migraine / tension headaches

  Migraines/tension headaches are one of the most commonly claimed secondaries to a service-connected mental-health condition, tinnitus, or a cervical-spine condition. Often ratable at 30-50%.

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  IBS is frequently claimed secondary to a service-connected mental-health condition (gut-brain axis) or its medications. Needs a nexus opinion.

• Substance use disorder

  A substance use disorder can be service-connected as secondary to a service-connected mental-health condition (self-medication). Sensitive but recognized; needs a nexus opinion.

Evidence the VA looks for

A strong PTSD claim ties a current diagnosis to your service with a medical nexus. The records that move a PTSD claim, in priority order:

• A current PTSD diagnosis from a qualified clinician (DSM-5 criteria)
• An in-service stressor — the event that caused the PTSD — and any documentation of it (incident reports, unit records, deployment dates, or a buddy statement)
• A nexus opinion linking the PTSD to the in-service stressor
• Treatment records, therapy notes, and prescribed medications showing severity over time
• Lay/buddy statements describing how symptoms affect your daily work and relationships

The C&P exam & the nexus

For most PTSD claims the VA schedules a Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam. The examiner measures the things the rating schedule turns on and gives a medical opinion on whether your PTSD is at least as likely as not connected to your service (the “nexus”). Knowing what the examiner will assess — and bringing the evidence above — is the single biggest thing you control. Prepare for the exam and check that your records support a nexus before you file.

PTSD VA disability: frequently asked questions

What is the average VA rating for PTSD?

PTSD is rated at 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR 4.130). The level depends entirely on how much your symptoms impair your occupational and social functioning — not on a specific symptom checklist.

Can I get 100% for PTSD?

A 100% schedular rating requires total occupational and social impairment. Many veterans who cannot maintain employment due to PTSD instead qualify for TDIU (total disability based on individual unemployability), which pays at the 100% rate without a 100% schedular evaluation.

What conditions are secondary to PTSD?

Sleep apnea, GERD, hypertension, migraines, erectile dysfunction, and IBS are among the conditions most commonly claimed as secondary to service-connected PTSD. Each needs a medical nexus opinion linking it to the PTSD.

Do I need to prove my stressor for a PTSD claim?

Usually yes, though the VA has relaxed stressor-verification rules for combat, fear of hostile activity, and military sexual trauma. A clear nexus opinion connecting a verified or conceded stressor to your diagnosis is the core of a strong claim.