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VA Rating for PTSD: How It Works

By the VetClaimsGuide Editorial Team · Educational guide · Updated June 2026

PTSD is the most common mental health claim, and mental health is the fastest-growing category in the VA system. Here is how VA rates PTSD, what a claim needs, and how to make sure your rating reflects how the condition actually affects you.

Before you file, appeal, or request an increase: use the free Claim Readiness Checker to identify possible evidence gaps. It is an educational starting point, not claim filing or representation.

How VA rates PTSD

PTSD is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders at 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100 percent. The key thing to understand: VA does not rate PTSD by counting symptoms off a list. It rates the overall level of occupational and social impairment, in other words, how much the condition affects your ability to work and maintain relationships. Two veterans with the same diagnosis can receive different ratings based on how severely it disrupts their daily life.

Roughly, higher levels reflect more impairment: 30 percent for occasional decreases in work efficiency, 50 percent for reduced reliability and productivity, 70 percent for deficiencies in most areas such as work, family, and mood, and 100 percent for total occupational and social impairment.

Who this helps

Veterans dealing with the aftermath of combat, military sexual trauma, or other service stressors who are preparing to file. Veterans who feel their current rating does not match how much they struggle. Anyone heading into a C&P exam who wants to present an accurate picture.

The three things a PTSD claim needs

A current PTSD diagnosis from a qualified provider (using the DSM-5 criteria).
An in-service stressor, the event or events that caused the PTSD. For combat and certain stressors, VA has relaxed the documentation rules.
A nexus linking the diagnosis to the stressor.

A C&P exam is usually part of the process. Check how ready your overall claim is with the free Claim Readiness Checker and gauge a rating range with the VA Rating Estimator (PTSD is built in).

The C&P exam: document your worst days

Because PTSD is rated on impairment, the C&P exam is critical. The most common mistake veterans make is under-reporting because they are having a good day or feel uncomfortable opening up. Be honest and specific about how symptoms affect your work, sleep, relationships, and daily functioning on a typical bad stretch, not just your best day. A personal statement that describes concrete examples often helps the examiner see the full picture.

Common secondary conditions

PTSD frequently leads to other service-connectable conditions. Common ones include sleep apnea, depression, GERD, IBS, and hypertension. Claiming these as secondary can meaningfully raise your combined rating. Explore the links with the Secondary Conditions Mapper.

Get organized: use the free Evidence Builder to organize records, statements, and questions to discuss with an accredited representative or provider. You can email yourself your results so you can come back later and keep preparing.

Common mistakes and misunderstandings

Under-reporting at the C&P exam. Describe your worst days honestly; the rating depends on it.
Counting symptoms instead of impairment. What matters is how much PTSD disrupts work and relationships.
Forgetting secondaries. Sleep apnea and depression secondary to PTSD are commonly left unclaimed.
No nexus. The diagnosis must be linked to an in-service stressor.

Prepare for your PTSD claim

Check readiness with the free Claim Readiness Checker, estimate a range with the VA Rating Estimator, and map secondary conditions with the Secondary Conditions Mapper. More in the Claim Preparation hub.

Use these tools as an educational starting point before speaking with a VSO, accredited representative, attorney, or medical provider. VetClaimsGuide helps you organize your information, understand possible evidence gaps, and prepare better questions. It does not file claims, represent veterans, or guarantee outcomes.

Organize it in one place: Premium members use the Secondary Conditions Blueprint to organize possible secondaries, the educational rating impact, and the questions to discuss with a provider or accredited representative, then export a preparation packet. Educational preparation only.

Frequently asked questions

How does VA rate PTSD?
PTSD is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders at 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100 percent, based on your overall level of occupational and social impairment, not on a simple count of symptoms.

What does a PTSD claim need?
Three things: a current PTSD diagnosis, an in-service stressor (the event that caused it), and a medical nexus linking the two. A C&P exam is usually part of the process.

What is the most common PTSD rating?
Ratings commonly fall in the 30 to 70 percent range, depending on how much the condition affects work and relationships. The exact level depends on your documented symptoms and impairment.

Is this an official VA decision?
No. This is free educational information, not a diagnosis or a VA decision. Confirm everything at VA.gov or with an accredited representative, and seek medical care for symptoms.

VetClaimsGuide is an independent educational platform and self-help resource. It is not a law firm, not a VSO, not VA-accredited representation, and is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. It does not file or prepare claims for veterans, represent veterans, or provide legal or medical advice, and it does not diagnose conditions or guarantee any rating, payment, or outcome. It helps veterans organize information, understand possible evidence gaps, and prepare questions to discuss with a VSO, accredited representative, attorney, or medical provider. If you are struggling, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 by dialing 988 then pressing 1. Confirm everything at VA.gov or with an accredited professional.