VA Mental Health Rating Criteria

All service-connected mental health conditions — PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder — are rated under the same General Rating Formula. The label matters less than the documented level of occupational and social impairment.

The rating levels

Rating	Level of impairment
0%	Diagnosed, symptoms do not interfere with work or social function
10%	Mild symptoms, controlled by medication
30%	Occasional decrease in work efficiency
50%	Reduced reliability and productivity; panic attacks more than weekly; impaired judgment or memory
70%	Deficiencies in most areas: work, school, family, judgment, mood
100%	Total occupational and social impairment

What moves a rating from 30% to 70%

Documentation of missed work, conflicts with supervisors, isolation from family, neglect of hygiene, suicidal ideation, panic attacks, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. Rating decisions track those exact phrases, so your treatment notes should reflect real functional impact.

Evidence that matters

1. Consistent mental health treatment notes
2. Lay statements from a spouse, coworker or supervisor describing changes
3. Employment records showing absences, discipline or accommodations
4. A stressor statement (VA Form 21-0781) for PTSD claims

Frequently asked questions

Can I be rated for both PTSD and depression? They are rated together as one mental health disability to avoid pyramiding.

Does therapy hurt my claim? No — untreated records are the bigger risk, because VA cannot rate what is not documented.