PTSD is the most commonly claimed mental health condition in the VA disability system, and one of the most misunderstood. Many veterans receive ratings that are too low — not because their symptoms aren't real, but because they don't know how the VA measures them or what documentation makes the difference.
This guide explains exactly how the VA rates PTSD, what each rating level means in real dollars, and what you can do to make sure your rating reflects the true severity of your condition.
The most common PTSD rating awarded is 70%. At 70%, a veteran alone receives $1,808.45/month tax-free. With a spouse and one child, that jumps to $2,074.45/month.
How the VA Rates PTSD
The VA rates all mental health conditions — including PTSD, depression, and anxiety — using the same rating scale under 38 CFR Part 4. The rating is based entirely on the degree of social and occupational impairment caused by your symptoms. The VA is not rating how bad your trauma was — it's rating how much your daily functioning is affected right now.
This is a critical distinction. A veteran who experienced severe trauma but has managed to maintain a stable work and social life may receive a lower rating than a veteran with less severe trauma whose symptoms have severely disrupted their ability to work and maintain relationships.
PTSD Rating Levels and What They Mean
| Rating | What It Means | Monthly Pay (Alone) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | Mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency only during significant stress. Otherwise able to function normally. | $180.42 |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks due to symptoms like depressed mood, anxiety, or suspiciousness. | $553.31 |
| 50% | Reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms including panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, or difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. | $1,133.68 |
| 70% | Deficiencies in most areas — work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood — due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic, impaired impulse control, or difficulty adapting to change. | $1,808.45 |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms including persistent delusions, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self/others, disorientation, or memory loss for names of close relatives. | $3,938.58 |
The GAF Score and How It Affects Your Rating
The VA uses something called the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score as one tool to help determine your rating. It's a 0–100 scale where lower numbers indicate more severe impairment. While the VA is not required to follow GAF scores mechanically, they often correspond to rating levels:
GAF Score Ranges
- 61–70: Mild symptoms → typically supports 30% rating
- 51–60: Moderate symptoms → typically supports 50% rating
- 41–50: Serious symptoms → typically supports 70% rating
- 31–40: Major impairment → may support 100% rating
What the C&P Exam Looks Like
Your Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam is the most important appointment in your PTSD claim. A VA examiner — often a psychologist or psychiatrist — will interview you about your symptoms, their frequency, and how they affect your daily life. This exam typically lasts 30–90 minutes.
Critical advice: Do not minimize your symptoms during this exam. Veterans are trained to push through and present as "fine" — this instinct actively works against your claim. Describe your worst days, not your best. Talk about nightmares, avoidance behaviors, relationship problems, work difficulties, and any suicidal ideation (past or present).
Common C&P Exam Questions
- How often do you have nightmares or flashbacks?
- Do you avoid certain places, people, or situations because of your trauma?
- How has PTSD affected your work or ability to hold a job?
- How has it affected your relationships — marriage, family, friendships?
- Do you experience panic attacks? How often and how severe?
- Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or others?
Secondary Conditions That Often Come With PTSD
PTSD rarely travels alone. Many veterans develop additional conditions that are directly caused or worsened by their PTSD. These can each be claimed as secondary conditions, each with their own rating that stacks with your PTSD rating:
- Sleep apnea — 50% if CPAP required (extremely common secondary)
- Major depressive disorder — often comorbid with PTSD
- Hypertension — stress and hyperarousal can cause or worsen high blood pressure
- GERD / acid reflux — stress-related gastrointestinal condition
- Erectile dysfunction — 0% rating but qualifies for SMC-K ($139.87/month added)
- Migraines — tension and stress headaches secondary to PTSD
- Alcohol use disorder — if caused by self-medicating PTSD symptoms
If you have a PTSD rating, review this secondary conditions list carefully. Each one you claim and win adds to your combined rating and monthly pay. Many veterans with 70% PTSD reach 90–100% combined once all secondaries are filed.
What to Do If Your Rating Is Too Low
If you received a PTSD rating that doesn't match the severity of your symptoms, you have options:
File a Supplemental Claim
If you have new evidence — a new private psychological evaluation, new treatment records, a nexus letter, or buddy statements — you can file a Supplemental Claim. The VA is required to reconsider your rating with this new evidence.
Request a Higher-Level Review (HLR)
A senior VA rater will review your existing file looking for clear errors in how the original decision was made. No new evidence is submitted — they're just looking for mistakes.
Get a Private Psychological Evaluation
A private psychologist can evaluate your symptoms independently and provide a detailed report supporting a higher rating. This is often the most effective tool for upgrading an underrated PTSD claim.
PTSD and TDIU
If your PTSD — alone or combined with other conditions — prevents you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). This pays you at the 100% rate ($3,938.58/month) even if your combined rating is below 100%.
A single PTSD rating of 70% combined with inability to work is often sufficient to qualify for TDIU. This is one of the most financially significant benefits in the VA system and one of the most underutilized.
See Your Exact Pay With Your PTSD Rating
Use our calculator to see your 2026 monthly and annual compensation based on your rating and family status.
Open Pay Calculator →Bottom Line
PTSD is a serious, service-connected condition that deserves a rating that accurately reflects its impact on your life. Don't accept a rating that feels wrong. Document your worst days, file your secondary conditions, and don't hesitate to appeal a decision you disagree with. The VA system has multiple lanes for reconsideration, and veterans who persist consistently achieve better outcomes.