Requirements For Veterans Disability Compensation
To be eligible for VA disability benefits or compensation, you must:
- Have served on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty training and have a current illness or injury that affects your mind or body.
Additionally, at least one of the following situations must be true:
- You got sick or injured while serving in the military and can link this condition to your illness or injury
- You had an illness or injury before you joined the militaryand serving made it worse
- You have a disability related to your active-duty service that didnt appear until after you separated from the military
- You have one of the VAs presumed disabilities:
- Chronic illness that appeared within one year of your discharge
- Illness caused by contact with contaminants or other hazardous materials
- Illness caused by time spent as a prisoner of war
When deciding on a disability claim, the VA considers the above eligibility requirements, as well as how your condition affects your daily life, activities and employability.
What If The Veteran Cannot Work Due To Post
Another way to earn a 100% PTSD rating is for the veteran to receive unemployability for his PTSD. Unemployability is not on the PTSD rating schedule. IU is a way for the veteran to receive 100% without meeting all the requirements on the 100% rating.
The VA grants IU ratings when a veteran cannot work due to his service-connected disabilities. When the VA gives an Unemployability rating for PTSD, it means a veteran cannot work due to his PTSD. As a result, a veteran receives a 100% PTSD rating due to unemployability.
What Ptsd Rating Do I Need To Get Iu
For the first step, the veteran must have one service-connected disability that is rated at 60 percent or higher. Alternatively, having a combined rating of 70% or higher is also helpful, with at least one disability rated at 40% to qualify for TDIU. Note that for the combined disability calculation, certain disabilities are rated together, for example, disabilities that stem from the same accident or that are all part of the same body system. In the combined scenario, a veteran could have a PTSD rating less than 70% and receive IU. The veteran would qualify for IU if the PTSD and other ratings combine to 70%.
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% Ptsd Disability Rating
A 10 percent PTSD rating is the lowest compensable rating offered by VAs rating criteria for mental disorders. As such, the rating criteria reflects very minimal and often well-controlled symptomology. When assigning a 10 percent PTSD rating, VA will look for the following:
- 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.
In this case, a veteran may experience certain PTSD symptoms that are exacerbated during periods of stress, but ultimately do not impair their ability to work in most occupations. Furthermore, the increase in severity of PTSD symptoms during periods of stress implies that the symptoms tend to be episodic otherwise.
This means that symptoms are not always present and therefore do not significantly interfere with occupational and social functioning. Moreover, when symptoms are present, it is likely that you can control them with treatment or medication.
Military Sexual Trauma Disability Rating
VA disability ratings for PTSD range from 0% to 100%, with breaks at 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70%. These ratings are meant to capture the severity of your condition, and how much it affects your ability to work and take care of yourself.
If your MST-related PTSD makes it difficult for you to work and provide for your family, you could receive upwards of a 70% rating. A 100% PTSD rating is very rare. If your condition is so severe that you cannot work at all, you may claim Total Disability rating based upon Individual Unemployability, or TDIU, to receive maximum compensation, or the equivalent of a 100% rating.
To learn more about the rating criteria for PTSD, read our article on how the VA Determine PTSD disability ratings.
What if you have multiple disabilities, say, PTSD and cardiovascular disease? In this case the VA combines each of these ratings to determine your overall disability rating. However, the two ratings are not simply added together. Instead, your rating is calculated by consulting a combined ratings table. Youll sometimes hear this referred to as VA math. We explain how VA math works in our article on calculating your VA disability rating.
You may have heard the term VA math before. The person using the term is usually expressing confusion or frustration with the weird way the VA rates disability. Read More »
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What Can I See Once I Sign In
Youll see your VA combined disability rating and a list of your individual disability ratings. Youll also be able to see which of your individual disability ratings are service-connected. Service-connected disabilities are injuries or illnesses that were causedor made worseby your active-duty military service.
What Is A Combat Veteran
Combat Veterans are individuals who served in a conflict zone while in the military. There are certain laws and regulations set forth to provide assistance to these veterans.
Common Types of Veterans Under This Designation:
Additionally, recipients of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger pay will typically qualify for combat veteran status.
These also apply to activated Reservists and members of the National Guard.
However, recipients of dishonorable discharge remain ineligible for these benefits.
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Assistance With Your Claims And Appeals
PTSD is an all-too-common condition suffered by veterans, and no matter how mild or severe it may be, it warrants compensation from VA. Build the strongest case you can to file a claim or an appeal with us today. You can contact us at 844-VET-LAWS to ensure that you receive the appropriate compensation for your PTSD.
Compensation And Pension Examinations For Ptsd
As discussed above, veterans must show a link between their PTSD and military service in order to receive disability compensation. When it comes to establishing a medical nexus opinion, VA will likely order a Compensation and Pension examination to evaluate the veterans symptoms and the severity of their condition. The doctor will then determine whether the veterans PTSD is at least as likely as not related to their military service. During a C& P exam for PTSD, the medical examiner may complete a Disability Benefits Questionnaire .
A DBQ uses checkboxes and standardized language so that the disability evaluation can be made quickly and correctly. Specifically, healthcare providers will check a box next to a description that most accurately depicts the disability in question in this case, PTSD. However, it is important to note that a DBQ will not be used if the veteran is undergoing an initial PTSD evaluation.
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Understanding The General Rating Formula For Mental Health Conditions
Before diving into the VAs rating system for PTSD, its important to understand their general rating formula for mental disorders. Disclaimer, VA actually rates every mental health condition under the same General Rating Formula and rating criteria. The only exception being PTSD and needing to prove PTSD stressors. Symptoms are then assigned a disability rating.
PTSD disability ratings can be 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%. Transparency about your worst symptoms is vital for your rating. VA often rates veterans by the average of their symptoms. So, if a veteran has such symptoms that fall in the 30, 50, and 70% PTSD rating ranges, they will often get a 50% PTSD rating. However, this is not the correct way to rate a mental health disorder.
The basis of a rating SHOULD BE the highest level of symptoms, not an average. So, if a veteran has six symptoms at 30%, three at 50%, and two at 70%, a 70% PTSD rating is proper. Also, the VA cannot downplay symptoms and give the veteran a lower PTSD rating or whichever mental health condition is more severe.
For example, if a veteran has suicidal ideations, that is a 70% PTSD rating. However, VA doctors sometimes state that the veteran does not have intent or that the ideations are fleeting. The VA will sometimes grant a lower rating by minimizing the symptom altogether. It is, nevertheless, a 70% PTSD rating if a veteran has suicidal ideationsno matter the frequency or intent.
How Does The Va Determine My Ptsd Disability Rating
Do you need help or advice? Contact us now.
As every solider knows, you cant go into battle alone. You need a reliable and dependable support team behind you. The same is true of veterans battling with PTSD. Having a compassionate, understanding PTSD recovery team can help the healing process along. But the road to recovery is not always easy. We know of veterans whove done all the right things. Theyve reached out to their people for help. Received a PTSD diagnosis from a doctor. Applied for disability benefits, had a VA medical evaluationonly to have the VA deny them benefits, or give them a rating lower than their condition warrants.
James, a veteran of the first Gulf War, had been receiving a 30% rating for over 20 years despite not being able to work at all. James downplayed his PTSD symptoms at his initial C& P exam. And so did the VA. As a result, James was receiving far less compensation than he deserved. The medical records and buddy statements told a different story, and we were able to increase James PTSD rating to 70%, a difference of about $1,000 a month.
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How Do You Get A 70% Ptsd Va Rating
For any VA disability claim, you need to provide, to the VA, a diagnosis along with proof that the disorder is related to your time in the service. The diagnosis may be documented during a C& P exam with a VA-appointed mental health expert or your own mental health expert.
You should start by honestly relaying all your symptoms at your C& P exam. Its important to express the severity of your symptoms and not hold back on any details, even if they are embarrassing or bizarre. Some symptoms that may seem irrelevant might help your case. Please call if you would like to review the criteria of the symptoms with us.
During this evaluation, you will need to recall stressors, which are specific incidents or events from your time in service that caused to your PTSD. If you do not present evidence of a stressor, the VA will not service connect your PTSD and will most likely consider it as another mental health disorder. A veteran without an in-service stressor does not prevent future service-connection for a similar mental health condition.
You will also need to provide a medical nexus letter, which is a certified statement from your doctor that describes the connection between your condition and your military service. Your doctor must confirm that your condition was at least as likely as not caused by your military service.
How To Use The Tables To Find Your Monthly Payment
Find your basic rate
Go to the compensation rates for your disability rating. On the Basic monthly rates table, find the amount for your disability rating and dependent status. This is your basic monthly rate.
Example :If youre a Veteran with a 30% disability rating, and you have a dependent spouse , your basic monthly rate would be $568.05 each month.
Find your added amounts, if any apply
If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance benefits or you have more than one child, you may qualify for additional monthly payment amounts as listed in the Added amounts table.
First, determine your basic rate.
Example :If youre a Veteran with a 70% disability rating, and you have a spouse, plus 3 dependent children under the age of 18, you would start with the basic rate of $1,907.06 .
Next, look at the Added amounts table. Find the amount for children under age 18 .
Since your basic rate already provides payment for 1 child, you would add the rate of $70.00 for each additional child .
If your spouse receives Aid and Attendance, you would also add $130 .
In our example of a Veteran with 70% disability rating, your total monthly payment amount would be:
$1,907.06 basic rate + $70 +$70 +$130 Total $2,177.06
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Contact Us About A Proper Va Disability Rating For Ptsd
If your loved one is disabled by service-connected PTSD, we can help you ensure that he or she is paid the full government benefit promised to them. The experienced attorneys of Disability Law Group are knowledgeable about both VA and Social Security Disability benefits and how best to recover disability payments that will ensure your and your familys financial security.
Please contact us by phone or email, or fill out one of the contact forms on our website, so we can get started helping help you and your family.
How Much Va Disability Compensation Can I Receive For Ptsd
The amount you receive in monthly benefits depends on the disability rating assigned for your PTSD. Each disability rating percentage increment on VAs rating schedule corresponds to a different monthly benefit amount. The higher the disability rating, the more a veteran receives in monthly compensation.
As of December 1st, 2021 the VA disability rate benefit amounts are as follows:
- 0 percent disability rating: $0.00 per month
- 10 percent disability rating: $152.64 per month
- 30 percent disability rating: $467.39 per month
- 50 percent disability rating: $958.44 per month
- 70 percent disability rating: $1,529.95 per month
- 100 percent disability rating: $3,332.06 per month
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Ptsd Symptoms Fall Into 4 Categories
- Intrusive thoughts such as repeated, involuntarymemories, nightmares or flashbacks of the traumatic event
- Avoiding people, places, objects or activitiesthat trigger traumatic memories
- Negative thoughts and feelings toward oneself orothers and
- Arousal and reactive symptoms such as angryoutbursts, reckless or self-destructive behavior, and having problemsconcentrating or sleeping.
Va Disability Rating For Ptsd: Criteria Eligibility And Making A Strong Disability Claim
There are many different events that cause PTSD . Some examples are personal trauma, sexual trauma, combat , and reactions to training. This condition is the 6th most-rated disability among veterans. There were over 63,000 new claims in 2015, and the VA compensates more than 800,000 veterans for symptoms of PTSD at some level.
When a veteran can show that their PTSD is service connected, the VA will assign a disability rating. A disability rating is based on the earnings lost due to the PTSD. The VA will use medical evidence to determine the severity of the disability.
The VA will nearly always require a C& P exam. It is important to note that C& P examiners do not rate claims. Exam results go to a VA adjudicator to apply the rating formula and provide a rating for the veterans PTSD.
When the VA is evaluating a PTSD claim, it looks to both the rating formula and the DSM-V. In evaluating ratings, the VA can consider factors outside of the rating schedule. However, the DSM-V symptoms are not meant to replace, but supplement, the rating formula scale for PTSD. Additionally, the rating formula factors for PTSD are examples of severity of the condition, not an exhaustive list.
This guide will break down the general rating formula for mental health conditions, the rating formula for PTSD specifically, and how veterans can best make a claim for VA disability benefits.
Below is our Ultimate Video Guide for PTSD.
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Assistance With Your Va Claim
Recognizing the symptoms to a mental disorder is the first, and perhaps hardest, step toward seeking support for it. Luckily for veterans, VA is receptive to claims for service-connected mental health disorders, and should you have a condition tied to your service, you are eligible for benefits. If you need assistance building your VA benefits claim or need help with an appeal, reach out to us at 844-VET-LAWS or contact us online to get you the benefits you deserve.
How Va Assigns Ratings For Ptsd
The criteria for each VA disability rating for PTSD is listed here:
- 100% = 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
- disorientation to time or place
- memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name
- 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
- spatial disorientation
- disturbances of motivation and mood
- difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.
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What If Your Symptoms Are Consistent With More Than One Ptsd Rating
Since PTSD is a complex condition and many of the symptoms within the rating criteria overlap, you may not fall completely into one percentage category. For example, you may experience mild memory loss in addition to impaired judgment and flattened affect, meaning your symptoms are consistent with both a 30 percent and a 50 percent rating on the PTSD rating scale.
Since it is not possible to split the difference between the two ratings, VA must choose one to award. In these cases, VA should award the higher rating based on 38 CFR § 4.7. Specifically, when there is a question as to which of two evaluations should be applied, the higher evaluation will be assigned if the disability more clearly meets the criteria required for that rating.