10% Disability Rating for PTSD
A 10 percent PTSD rating is the lowest compensable rating offered by VA’s rating criteria for mental disorders under 38 CFR § 4.130. As such, the rating criteria reflects very minimal and often well-controlled symptomology.
When assigning a 10 percent PTSD rating, VA will look for the following:
- 10 percent — “Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.”
In this case, a veteran may experience certain PTSD symptoms that are exacerbated during periods of stress, but ultimately do not impair their ability to work in most occupations.
The increase in severity of PTSD symptoms during periods of stress implies that the symptoms tend to be episodic otherwise. This means they are not always present and therefore do not significantly interfere with occupational and social functioning. When symptoms are present, you are likely able to control them with treatment or medication.
Overall, the 10 percent PTSD rating reflects a low level of disability.
Who We Are: Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick (CCK Law) has argued many of the cases that define and clarify veterans disability law. Our attorneys serve in many leadership positions and have posted more than 2,500 blogs and 1,100 videos explaining veterans benefits. With 100+ individuals accredited by VA or admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, CCK Law has recovered over $1 billion in compensation for 36,000+ clients since 1999. (Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.) Contact us to tell us about your case.
Are C&P Exams Important for PTSD Claims?
Absolutely. A Compensation & Pension (C&P) exam, is a medical examination of a veteran’s disability performed by a VA health care provider or a VA-contracted provider. VA uses C&P exams to gather more evidence on your claimed condition before issuing a decision and assigning a rating. Therefore, C&P exams are very important to your PTSD VA disability rating.
The appropriate VA doctor, typically a psychiatrist or psychologist, will use this exam to diagnose the severity of your PTSD.
When administering the exam, the VA doctor will use the PTSD rating criteria as guidelines for their evaluation of the condition. After your exam, the examiner will write up a report that includes a review of the exam findings, any clinical test results, and any relevant medical literature.
From here, VA will most often assign a disability rating consistent with the examiner’s findings. As such, it is important for you to be honest and upfront with your examiner about the frequency, duration, and severity of your PTSD symptoms. It can also be helpful to request a copy of the exam to ensure your condition was evaluated properly and reflected accurately.
Not sure if your PTSD would qualify you for a VA disability rating? Watch CCK Law Partner Emma Peterson explain how veterans can determine if it’s worth filing a claim:
Did VA Deny Your Claim for a PTSD Rating? Contact CCK for Help
If you disagree with a VA decision, consider contacting Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick. An experienced, VA-accredited law firm may offer significant tools and resources in support of your appeal.
While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, CCK Law has had favorable outcomes in 98.5% of its actions before VA and a 95% win rate before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (federal court). We have recovered over $1 billion in compensation for 36,000+ clients to date.
Contact us online or at 800-544-9144 to tell us about your case.
