VA Disability Rating for PTSD: 2026 Complete Guide

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most commonly service-connected mental health condition among veterans. Over 1.7 million veterans receive VA compensation for PTSD. Understanding how the VA rates it can be the difference between a 30% and a 70% rating worth hundreds of dollars per month.

The VA PTSD Rating Scale

The VA rates PTSD under Diagnostic Code 9411, using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. There are five possible rating levels tied to how severely your symptoms affect your ability to work and function socially.

0% — Diagnosis but no compensable impairment

Your PTSD is service-connected but symptoms do not reduce your earning ability enough to warrant compensation. This establishes service connection and makes you eligible for VA healthcare.

30% — Occasional decrease in work efficiency

Symptoms include depressed mood, anxiety, panic attacks less than once a week, chronic sleep impairment, or mild memory loss. You can still work but performance is occasionally affected. 2026 monthly pay: $552.47 (veteran alone).

50% — Reduced reliability and productivity

Symptoms include flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, impaired memory, impaired judgment, or difficulty establishing effective work and social relationships. 2026 monthly pay: $1,075.16 (veteran alone).

70% — Deficiencies in most areas of life

The most commonly awarded PTSD rating. Warranted when there are deficiencies in work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. Symptoms include suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression, impaired impulse control, or inability to maintain relationships. 2026 monthly pay: $1,716.28 (veteran alone).

100% — Total occupational and social impairment

Awarded for gross impairment in thought processes, persistent delusions, grossly inappropriate behavior, persistent danger of hurting self or others, or memory loss for names of close relatives. 2026 monthly pay: $3,938.58 (veteran alone).

2026 PTSD Monthly Pay by Rating

Rating	Veteran Alone	With Spouse	With Spouse + 1 Child
30%	$552.47	$617.47	$659.47
50%	$1,075.16	$1,175.16	$1,233.16
70%	$1,716.28	$1,868.28	$1,942.28
100%	$3,938.58	$4,158.17	$4,334.41

2026 VA disability rates (2.8% COLA). Use the VA Disability Calculator to add PTSD with other conditions.

What Evidence Do You Need?

To win a PTSD claim, you generally need three things: a current PTSD diagnosis, a stressor (a specific traumatic event from your service), and a nexus linking the stressor to your diagnosis.

Current diagnosis: Must come from a licensed mental health provider using DSM-5 criteria. The VA C&P exam includes a mental health evaluation, but having your own private evaluation strengthens your claim.

Stressor statement: You write a personal statement (VA Form 21-0781) describing the traumatic event. Combat veterans with a Combat Action Ribbon or CIB get a "combat presumption" — the VA accepts the stressor without requiring corroborating evidence.

Nexus letter: A statement from a medical professional that your PTSD is "at least as likely as not" related to your service. Not required but dramatically increases approval rates on appealed claims.

MST-Related PTSD

Military Sexual Trauma (MST) is a common stressor for both female and male veterans. Because MST is often unreported during service, the VA accepts circumstantial "markers" as evidence — duty transfer requests, leaves of absence, performance changes, or medical records from around the time of the trauma. No criminal conviction or official report is required.

Common Secondary Conditions

PTSD frequently causes secondary conditions that can be separately rated and add to your monthly pay:

• Sleep apnea — PTSD disrupts sleep and can cause or aggravate sleep apnea. A separate 50% rating if you need a CPAP adds $1,075.16/month.
• Hypertension — Chronic PTSD stress elevates blood pressure. A 10% secondary rating is commonly awarded.
• Migraines — Stress-induced headaches rated at 0–50%.
• GERD — Stress and anxiety aggravate acid reflux, ratable at 10%.
• Erectile dysfunction — Ratable under SMC-K on top of your other ratings.

TDIU and PTSD

If your PTSD prevents you from working but your rating is below 100%, you may qualify for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which pays at the 100% rate ($3,938.58/month). You generally need at least one condition rated 60%+ or multiple conditions totaling 70%+ with one at 40%+.

C&P Exam Tips

Describe your worst days, not your best. Veterans commonly minimize symptoms during exams, leading to lower ratings. Be specific about how PTSD affects your ability to work — have you been fired, left jobs, or had performance issues? Describe your panic attacks, avoidance behaviors, and relationship problems honestly. A buddy statement from someone who knows you can corroborate your account.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the VA PTSD rating levels?

The VA rates PTSD at 0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%. The 70% rating is most common for veterans who cannot maintain effective social and occupational functioning.

How much does the VA pay for 70% PTSD in 2026?

$1,716.28 per month (veteran alone) or $1,868.28 with a spouse. Use the disability calculator to combine PTSD with other conditions.

Can I get 100% disability for PTSD?

Yes — when symptoms cause total occupational and social impairment. TDIU can also pay at the 100% rate even if your rating is lower.

What evidence does the VA need for PTSD?

A current diagnosis, a stressor statement, and a nexus to service. Buddy statements, private medical records, and a nexus letter strengthen your claim.