Quick Answer: PTSD is rated under 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9411, based on occupational and social impairment — not on the severity of individual symptoms alone. The key to a higher rating is describing how your symptoms prevent you from functioning at work, in relationships, and in daily life — not just listing diagnoses.
PTSD Rating Scale and What Each Level Means
| Rating | Level of Impairment |
|---|---|
| 10% | Mild or transient symptoms; no more than slight impairment in social and occupational functioning |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency; difficulty with occupational and social functioning during periods of significant stress |
| 50% | Reduced reliability and productivity; occupational and social impairment with reduced occupational reliability |
| 70% | Deficiencies in most areas — work, school, family, judgment, thinking, or mood; unable to establish and maintain effective relationships |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, or persistent danger of hurting self or others |
How to Document Your Symptoms for Maximum Accuracy
Before your C&P exam, write down specific examples for each impairment domain the VA measures:
- Work/employment: Job losses, demotions, disciplinary actions, inability to maintain employment, conflicts with coworkers or supervisors
- Relationships: Divorce or separation, estrangement from children or family, inability to maintain friendships, avoidance of social activities
- Daily living: Inability to complete normal tasks, leaving the house, driving, shopping, or managing finances
- Mood and cognition: Memory problems, concentration difficulties, decision-making impairment, persistent irritability or anger
- Nightmares and sleep: Frequency, what they contain, how they affect the next day
The Buddy Statement: Your Most Underused Tool
Buddy statements from spouses, family members, coworkers, and fellow veterans carry significant weight in PTSD claims. A spouse who can describe nightmares, anger outbursts, emotional withdrawal, and how the veteran’s PTSD has affected family life provides powerful corroborating evidence that the VA must consider.
Work with an accredited VSO to gather and organize supporting evidence for your PTSD claim — at no cost under federal law and California SB 694.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be rated for PTSD without a combat stressor?
Yes. PTSD claims based on non-combat stressors — including Military Sexual Trauma (MST), training accidents, and other traumatic events — are valid. MST-based PTSD claims have specialized evidentiary standards that do not require corroboration of the underlying event.
If I’m currently managing my PTSD well with treatment, will that lower my rating?
Not necessarily. The VA rates PTSD based on the overall picture — including the severity of symptoms, their history, and their impact when not optimally managed. If you have a history of severe impairment that required treatment, that history is part of the rating picture even if you are currently managing better.