How Mental Health Conditions Are Rated By The VA
Posted by Gregory M. Rada | December 05, 2025 | Firm News
Mental health conditions are among the most common service-connected disabilities for veterans today. The VA uses a specific framework to evaluate these conditions. Understanding how this system works can make a real difference when you’re filing or appealing a claim.
The General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders
Here’s something that surprises many veterans: the VA doesn’t create separate rating criteria for each mental health condition. Instead, almost all psychiatric disabilities follow the same General Rating Formula found in 38 CFR § 4.130.
PTSD gets rated the same way as major depressive disorder. Anxiety disorders follow the same formula as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. What matters isn’t the diagnosis itself but how severely your symptoms affect your ability to work and function day to day.
What The VA Actually Looks At
When VA examiners determine your disability percentage, they’re focused on specific areas of your life:
- How well you can maintain employment
- Your ability to keep up relationships with family and friends
- Whether you can take care of basic self-care needs
- Any suicidal thoughts or attempts
- How often do you experience panic attacks, and how severe are they
- Obsessive behaviors or rituals that disrupt your daily routine
- Your ability to handle stressful situations
Your rating reflects how much these symptoms impair your everyday functioning. A Virginia veterans disability lawyer can help you gather and present evidence that shows the full extent of your limitations.
What Each Rating Percentage Means
At 0%, you’ve got a diagnosed condition that’s connected to your service. But your symptoms don’t cause problems at work or in social situations. A 10% rating means you’re dealing with mild symptoms. They decrease your work efficiency, but only when you’re under significant stress. When you reach 30%, you’re seeing an occasional decrease in how well you can work. Sometimes you can’t perform certain job tasks, though overall you’re still functioning satisfactorily.
A 50% rating indicates more serious symptoms. You might have difficulty understanding complex commands. Your memory’s impaired. Maybe you show reduced emotional responses that hurt your reliability and productivity. The 70% level shows problems in most areas of life. Think mood disturbances, trouble maintaining work and social relationships, neglecting personal hygiene, or speech difficulties.
A 100% rating is reserved for total occupational and social impairment. We’re talking about severe impairment in thought processes, persistent delusions or hallucinations, behavior that’s grossly inappropriate, ongoing risk of hurting yourself or others, or an inability to maintain even basic personal hygiene.
Why Your Rating Affects More Than Just Your Monthly Check
Your mental health rating percentage determines your monthly compensation. That’s obvious. But it also affects what other benefits you’re eligible for. Higher ratings can open doors to additional healthcare services, vocational rehabilitation programs, or benefits for your dependents. If your mental health conditions prevent you from holding down a job, you might qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability even with a combined rating below 100%. TDIU lets you receive compensation at the 100% rate when your service-connected disabilities make substantial employment impossible.
Common Problems With Mental Health Ratings
Too many veterans end up with ratings that don’t match the severity of their actual symptoms. Why does this happen? Often, it’s because VA examiners base their opinions on brief snapshots during compensation and pension exams. They’re not reviewing your complete medical record or considering lay evidence from people who see you every day.
The examiner spends maybe an hour with you. They don’t see how your symptoms affect you at home, at work, or in social settings. Your spouse notices things. So do your kids, your parents, your close friends. Their written statements carry real weight, especially for mental health claims where symptoms come and go. At Gregory M. Rada, Attorney at Law, we’ve seen countless cases where proper evidence development leads to increased ratings. Your treating psychiatrist or psychologist sees you regularly. They know your history. Their documentation usually provides more accurate insight than a single VA examination ever could.
Mental health ratings require careful attention to how your symptoms actually limit your life. It’s not about the diagnosis on paper. It’s about the real impact on your ability to work, maintain relationships, and take care of yourself. Working with a Virginia veterans disability lawyer who understands these rating criteria and knows how to present evidence effectively can strengthen your position. The right representation helps demonstrate the full impact of your service-connected mental health conditions so you receive the compensation you’ve earned through your service.
