As every solider knows, you can’t 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 who’ve done all the “right” things. They’ve reached out to their people for help. Received a PTSD diagnosis from a doctor. Applied for disability benefits, had a VA medical evaluation–only 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.

If your situation is anything like James’ was, know that you have options. You can appeal an unfavorable VA decision. If your PTSD has gotten worse over time, you can file for a higher rating. To proceed with a claim appeal, you need to understand how the VA rates PTSD and mental health conditions in general. From there, you may want to contact a VA-accredited claims agent about increasing your rating, thereby increasing your monthly compensation.

Understanding Your VA Disability Rating for PTSD

VA disability ratings range from 0% to 100%, but for PTSD claims, the standard ratings are 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%. These ratings are meant to capture the severity of your condition, and how much it affects your ability to work and take care of everyday life stuff.

• A 0% rating indicates that your PTSD doesn’t interfere with your work or school or family life. This is not a common rating, because it doesn’t make much sense for someone with a PTSD diagnosis to not experience its disabling impacts.
• A 30% rating means you have mild symptoms that may come and go, depending on your stress level. At the 30% rating medication and therapy can be effective at mitigating symptoms.
• A 50% rating applies when your PTSD causes more pronounced problems at work and in your daily life.
• A 70% rating means PTSD causes significant and frequent difficulties in your daily life, such as near continuous panic attacks. At this rating you also have trouble working and maintaining healthy relationships.
• A 100% rating is rare, and applies to people who are not able to function in the workplace, and have become socially isolated. The technical term is complete occupational and social impairment.

We often consult with veterans who received a very low rating from the VA, and we’ve had to fight to get more. The VA, unfortunately, in evaluating PTSD claims, can be dismissive. A too-low rating could also mean that the veteran downplayed their symptoms. If you’ve been through trauma or other challenges in life, it may be hard to talk about your experiences. It’s important to be forthright when discussing your mental health at your VA exam and with other medical providers. For tips on preparing for a PTSD or other psychiatric evaluation, check out this helpful article on PTSD at Real Warrior.

The VA is especially interested in whether you are able to work and support yourself. If you have panic attacks more than once a week, making it difficult to hold down a job, you could be eligible for a 50% rating. If you have near continuous panic attacks and thoughts of self-harm, a 70% rating would be more appropriate.