The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) recognizes the profound impact of PTSD on a veteran’s well-being, offering disability compensation to those whose PTSD greatly interferes with their ability to function in daily life. To qualify, a veteran must be given a PTSD VA rating of 10% or above, plus prove a direct link between their disorder and military service. Read on to learn more about VA disability for PTSD, including eligibility requirements and how to enroll, and get in touch for help filing or appealing a claim for PTSD VA compensation.
Understanding PTSD in Veterans
It’s estimated that 7% of veterans will experience PTSD in their lifetime. This is especially true for deployed veterans, who are 3x as likely as non-deployed veterans to develop the disorder. Rates are also higher when broken down by military operation. For example, estimates show that veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have lifetime rates of PTSD as high as 29%.
The symptoms of PTSD can vary by individual, but may include things such as:
- Intrusive Memories: Persistent, unwanted recollections of the traumatic experience that are emotionally distressing.
- Avoidance: Avoiding places, specific environments, situations, or individuals that serve as reminders of the trauma.
- Negative Changes in Thinking and Mood: Negative thoughts about oneself or others, feelings of hopelessness, and difficulty maintaining close relationships.
- Changes in Physical and Emotional Reactions: Increased alertness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, or being easily startled.
If you or a loved one is a veteran experiencing these or other trauma-related symptoms, it’s important to seek professional care. Help for PTSD is available and can reduce the debilitating symptoms of the disorder as well as strengthen your claim for VA compensation.
Common Causes of PTSD in the Military
There are several potential causes of PTSD for members of the military, including combat exposure, the witnessing of death or injury, military sexual trauma (MST), and non-combat related accidents.
Some veterans are more at risk of PTSD than others. Studies show that PTSD rates are higher in female veterans than male, with other risk factors including genetics, a family history of mental illness, and the existence of co-occurring mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.
Eligibility Criteria for PTSD Disability Benefits Through the VA
In order to qualify for VA disability for PTSD, veterans must meet the following criteria:
- Current Diagnosis: A medical diagnosis of PTSD from a qualified healthcare professional.
- In-Service Stressor: Evidence that a traumatic event occurred during military service.
- Nexus (Link) Between Stressor and PTSD: A medical opinion linking current PTSD symptoms to the in-service stressor.
Veterans must also meet more general VA disability criteria, such as not being discharged under dishonorable circumstances.
It’s important to note that the VA recognizes certain stressors as inherently linked to service, such as combat exposure or being a prisoner of war. This may simplify the claims process, since it reduces the burden of proving a nexus between the event and subsequent trauma disorder.
Getting a VA Disability Rating for PTSD
Before a veteran can start receiving PTSD disability benefits, they need to be assigned a PTSD VA rating.
Disability ratings for PTSD are assigned at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%. These percentages represent the extent to which PTSD affects a veteran’s daily life and ability to work. The more debilitating the condition, the higher the rating – and the more disability benefits a veteran is entitled to.
- 10% Rating: Symptoms are mild and/or sporadic, with minimal impact on daily tasks and efficiency.
- 30% Rating: Occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.
- 50% Rating: Reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms like frequent panic attacks; difficulty understanding complex commands; and impaired judgment, and regularly impaired judgment.
- 70% Rating: Major deficiencies in work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and/or mood, with symptoms like suicidal ideation and near-continuous panic or depression.
- 100% Rating: Total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as persistent delusions or hallucinations, or grossly inappropriate behavior.
Ultimately, the more severe a veteran’s condition and the more of an impact it has on their daily life, the higher the rating. If you plan to apply for a PTSD VA rating, talk to your healthcare provider to assess the appropriate rating level for your condition and get an idea of what benefits may be available.
How to Apply for VA Disability for PTSD
Follow the steps below to apply for PTSD disability benefits and services.
You will need to include all necessary supporting documents with your application, including medical records, service records, discharge records, and any personal statements in support of your claim. The more support you have for the link between your military service and PTSD, the greater chance you have of getting maximum disability benefits.
1
Step
Prepare Your Claim
The first step in applying for PTSD VA compensation is filling out VA Form 21-0781: Statement in Support of Claim for Service Connection for PTSD. This form is available on the VA’s website and can be filled out online or printed and filled out by hand. Be as clear, detailed, and accurate as possible when filling out your PTSD claim application, since errors or missing information could delay your benefits or cause your claim to be denied.
2
Step
Submit Your Claim Application
You have a couple of options for submitting your claim:
- Mail your completed application along with supporting documents (copies are okay) to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Evidence Intake Center, P.O. Box 4444, Janesville, WI 53547-4444; OR
- Fill out and submit your application online through the VA’s eBenefits Portal; OR
- Submit your form in person at a VA regional office
3
Step
Attend a C&P Exam
A Compensation & Pension (C&P) Exam plays a significant role in determining your VA disability rating for PTSD. This exam is arranged by the VA and must be performed by a VA-approved physician. Be extremely detailed when discussing your symptoms during the C&P exam, and bring along any relevant documents such as treatment records or previous doctors’ notes.
4
Step
Await a Decision
The VA will review your application, supporting documents, and the findings of your C&P exam to make a determination on your claim. If you don’t agree with their final decision, you can file an appeal or request another review of the evidence.
Tips for a Successful PTSD Disability Claim
You only have so much control over the VA’s decision regarding your claim. However, there are things that you can do before and during the application process to increase your chances of success and make sure you get the PTSD disability benefits and compensation you are entitled to.
- Seek Consistent Treatment: Regular therapy sessions and medical evaluations not only help you manage the symptoms of PTSD but are crucial for creating a documented history of your condition.
- Be Honest and Thorough: Comprehensively describe all of your PTSD symptoms in medical examinations, as well as their direct impact on your daily life.
- Account for Secondary Conditions: Some conditions could be directly caused by your PTSD and, as a result, entitle you to further benefits. Common secondary conditions for PTSD include depression, substance use disorder, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, and headaches.
Finally, you may want to contact a lawyer about your PTSD disability claim. Attorneys who specialize in VA disability can help you work through the challenges of obtaining a PTSD VA rating, applying for PTSD VA compensation, and appealing a denied or insufficient claim. And because many work on a contingency fee basis, you won’t owe anything until your claim is successful.
What to Do If Your Claim Is Denied
In a perfect world, all veterans who require disability compensation would receive it. However, resources are limited, and claim denials are more common than we’d like to think. You do have options, though.
If your claim for PTSD disability benefits was denied, you can file a formal Notice of Disagreement (NOD) to request a review of the decision and hopefully have it reversed. As part of this process, read through your decision letter to determine exactly why your claim was denied, then obtain additional evidence as needed to fill in the gaps.
For the best outcome, we recommend working with a veterans’ lawyer or contacting a Veterans’ Service Organization (VSO) for assistance.
Get a Free Consultation About VA Disability Compensation for PTSD
Feeling overwhelmed by the process of applying for VA benefits? Worried about a low disability rating or insufficient compensation? Want to appeal a denied claim? We’re here to help.
Our skilled veterans’ lawyers are available to help you through every step of applying for VA disability benefits for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, including claim appeals. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and get the support you need to maximize compensation and better navigate civilian life with a PTSD diagnosis.
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