PTSD VA Rating 2026 — 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% Criteria Explained

PTSD is one of the most significant VA disability claims, both in terms of how many veterans it affects and how much compensation it can provide. The VA rates PTSD under Diagnostic Code 9411, and the rating levels range from 0% to 100% based on how severely the condition impairs your ability to work and function in daily life. The difference between rating levels is substantial: a 30% rating pays $552.47 per month in 2026, while a 70% rating pays $1,808.45. Getting the right rating matters enormously.

The challenge with PTSD claims is that the rating criteria are based on subjective assessments of occupational and social impairment. Unlike a broken bone that shows up on an X-ray or sleep apnea confirmed by a sleep study, PTSD evaluation depends heavily on how you describe your symptoms and how the C&P examiner interprets them. Understanding the exact criteria for each rating level gives you a significant advantage.

Diagnostic Code 9411: PTSD Rating Criteria

PTSD is evaluated under 38 CFR 4.130, the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The same criteria apply to all mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Here's what each level requires:

0% — Diagnosed but Controlled

A 0% rating means you have a diagnosis of PTSD that is service-connected, but your symptoms are either not severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning, or they're controlled by continuous medication. This establishes service connection and gives you VA healthcare access but no monthly compensation.

10% — Mild Impairment

A 10% rating recognizes occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency and ability to perform tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by medication. This pays $180.42 per month in 2026.

30% — Occasional Decrease in Work Efficiency

At 30%, the VA recognizes occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. Typical symptoms at this level include depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, and mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, or recent events). This pays $552.47 per month.

50% — Reduced Reliability and Productivity

The 50% level is where the VA recognizes more consistent impairment. The criteria include occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial or stereotyped speech, panic attacks more than once per week, difficulty in understanding complex commands, impairment of short-term and long-term memory (for example, retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks), impaired judgment, impaired abstract thinking, disturbances of motivation and mood, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. This pays $1,132.90 per month.

70% — Deficiencies in Most Areas

At 70%, the VA finds occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. Symptoms at this level include suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals that interfere with routine activities, speech that is intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant, near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence), spatial disorientation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work-like setting), and inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. This pays $1,808.45 per month.

100% — Total Occupational and Social Impairment

The 100% rating requires total occupational and social impairment, including symptoms like 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 (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene), disorientation to time or place, and memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. This pays $3,938.58 per month.

2026 PTSD Compensation Rates

Rating	Level of Impairment	2026 Monthly Pay (Veteran Alone)
0%	Diagnosed, controlled by medication	$0.00
10%	Mild or transient symptoms	$180.42
30%	Occasional decrease in work efficiency	$552.47
50%	Reduced reliability and productivity	$1,132.90
70%	Deficiencies in most areas	$1,808.45
100%	Total occupational and social impairment	$3,938.58

When PTSD is combined with other service-connected conditions, the total combined rating increases. Here are all 2026 rates by combined rating level:

Combined Rating	2026 Monthly Pay (Veteran Alone)
10%	$180.42
20%	$356.66
30%	$552.47
40%	$795.84
50%	$1,132.90
60%	$1,435.02
70%	$1,808.45
80%	$2,102.15
90%	$2,362.30
100%	$3,938.58

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) Claims

PTSD resulting from Military Sexual Trauma deserves special attention because the VA applies different evidence standards to these claims. If you experienced sexual assault or repeated sexual harassment during military service, you can file for PTSD based on MST even if the event was never reported.

The VA recognizes that MST often goes unreported during service for entirely valid reasons: fear of retaliation, distrust in the reporting process, shame, or the perpetrator being in the chain of command. Because of this, the VA accepts alternative forms of evidence called "markers" that can corroborate the stressor event.

Accepted markers include behavioral changes noted in service records (sudden drop in performance, disciplinary issues that started around the time of the event), requests for transfer or change of duty assignment, increased use of leave without clear reason, substance abuse beginning during or after service, pregnancy tests or STD testing during service, statements from friends, family members, clergy, or counselors, and personal journals or letters from the time period.

Every VA medical center has a designated MST coordinator who can help you navigate the claims process. You do not need to have used VA MST services during service to file a claim now.

C&P Exam Strategy for PTSD

The Compensation and Pension exam is where your PTSD rating is largely determined. The examiner will conduct a clinical interview, review your medical records, and form an opinion about the severity of your condition. Here's how to prepare:

Describe your worst days, not your best. Many veterans unconsciously minimize their symptoms during the exam. The military trained you to push through, to downplay pain, to function no matter what. That instinct will cost you in a C&P exam. The examiner needs to understand what your life actually looks like when PTSD is at its worst. If you have days where you can't get out of bed, say so. If you've had thoughts of harming yourself, say so. If you've lost friends or relationships because of your behavior, say so.

Be specific about occupational impact. The rating criteria hinge on occupational and social impairment. Telling the examiner "I have nightmares" is important, but telling them "I have nightmares three to four nights per week, which causes me to arrive at work exhausted, and I've been written up twice for falling asleep at my desk" paints a much clearer picture of occupational impact.

Document social impairment. Have you lost friendships? Do you avoid social situations? Have family members told you that you've changed? Do you isolate yourself? Does your spouse sleep in a separate room because of your nightmares or outbursts? These are all relevant to the social impairment portion of the rating criteria.

Bring buddy statements. Written statements from your spouse, family members, friends, or coworkers who have witnessed your PTSD symptoms are powerful corroborating evidence. A spouse's detailed account of how your behavior has changed since service is often more compelling to an examiner than anything you say about yourself.

Secondary Conditions to File with PTSD

PTSD frequently causes or aggravates other medical conditions. Filing these secondary conditions can significantly increase your overall combined rating. The most well-established secondary connections include:

Sleep Apnea (DC 6847)

PTSD disrupts sleep architecture and the medications prescribed for PTSD often cause weight gain, both of which contribute to obstructive sleep apnea. A sleep apnea secondary claim can add 50% if you require a CPAP machine. See our sleep apnea VA rating guide for details on how to file this claim.

GERD / Acid Reflux (DC 7346)

Gastrointestinal issues are strongly correlated with PTSD. The stress response associated with PTSD increases stomach acid production and disrupts digestive function. GERD is rated at 10%, 30%, or 60% depending on severity. Many veterans with PTSD also take medications that worsen GERD as a side effect.

Hypertension (DC 7101)

Chronic stress from PTSD elevates blood pressure over time. The connection between PTSD and hypertension is well-supported in medical literature. Hypertension is typically rated at 10% unless diastolic pressure is consistently 110 or higher, which triggers higher ratings.

Migraines (DC 8100)

Stress-related migraines are common among veterans with PTSD. Migraine ratings range from 0% to 50%, with 50% requiring very frequent completely prostrating attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

Erectile Dysfunction

Both PTSD itself and the medications used to treat it (particularly SSRIs) can cause erectile dysfunction. This is typically rated at 0% with special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ, which adds additional compensation on top of your regular disability pay.

Combining PTSD with Other Conditions

PTSD at 70% combined with sleep apnea at 50% gives a combined rating of 85%, which rounds to 90% and pays $2,362.30 per month. Add tinnitus at 10% and the combined rating reaches approximately 87%, still rounding to 90%. Add GERD at 10% and you might push over the threshold to a combined 90% before rounding, still landing at 90% but with more conditions service-connected for healthcare purposes.

The VA combines ratings using a formula that's frequently misunderstood. Rather than adding percentages together, each rating takes a percentage of your remaining healthy body. Learn how it works in our guide on how VA disability ratings are combined, or use the calculator below to model your specific situation.