PTSD and VA Disability Claims

PTSD and Mental Health

PTSD Claims Are Denied More Often Than They Should Be

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is one of the most common conditions claimed by Veterans, and one of the most frequently mishandled by the VA. PTSD claims are often denied, underrated, or delayed not because the condition is unclear, but because the VA applies inconsistent standards, relies on flawed examinations, or discounts credible evidence that does not fit neatly into its internal templates.

PTSD does not present the same way in every Veteran. The law recognizes that reality. Too often, VA decisions do not.



We represent Veterans in PTSD claims and appeals nationwide. As Veteran attorneys, we understand the difference between how PTSD is lived and how it is evaluated on paper, and we build records that force the VA to confront that gap.

How the VA Evaluates PTSD

PTSD is rated under the VA’s General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. Ratings are based not on a diagnosis alone, but on the severity, frequency, and functional impact of symptoms. The VA is required to evaluate how PTSD affects a Veteran’s ability to work, maintain relationships, and function in daily life.

In practice, PTSD claims often turn on:

• The adequacy of the VA compensation and pension examination
• How symptoms are documented and characterized
• Whether occupational and social impairment is accurately assessed
• Whether the VA improperly minimizes or fragments symptoms

The VA is not permitted to deny or underrate PTSD simply because a Veteran remains employed, appears composed during an examination, or does not fit a stereotypical presentation. When that happens, it is grounds for appeal.

Common Reasons PTSD Claims Are Denied or Underrated

PTSD denials and low ratings tend to follow predictable patterns. We routinely see decisions based on:

• Examiners downplaying symptoms because the Veteran is articulate or guarded
• Failure to consider lay evidence describing real-world functional impairment
• Mischaracterization of suicidal ideation, panic, or dissociation
• Overreliance on moment-in-time examinations
• Improper separation of overlapping mental health diagnoses
• Dismissal of symptoms as “situational” or “transient”

A denial or low rating does not mean the VA rejected your experience. It often means the record did not force the VA to confront it.

PTSD Ratings and What They Actually Mean

PTSD ratings are assigned at 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100 percent. While the rating schedule lists symptoms as examples, the controlling question is the level of occupational and social impairment.

For example:

• 50 percent ratings often involve reduced reliability and productivity, difficulty with relationships, panic attacks, impaired judgment, or concentration issues.
• 70 percent ratings reflect deficiencies in most areas of life, including work, family, judgment, thinking, or mood, and frequently involve suicidal ideation, impaired impulse control, or inability to handle stress.
• 100 percent ratings reflect total occupational and social impairment, not perfection or constant crisis.

The VA frequently misapplies these standards, particularly at the 70 and 100 percent levels. Appeals are often necessary to correct that misapplication.

PTSD and TDIU

Many Veterans with PTSD are unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, even if they attempt to work intermittently or under special conditions. The VA often treats employment as proof that PTSD is less severe than claimed. The law does not support that approach.

Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability allows Veterans to be compensated at the 100 percent rate when PTSD prevents consistent, competitive employment. Properly developed PTSD appeals frequently support entitlement to TDIU, even when schedular ratings fall below 100 percent.

PTSD Examinations and the Problem with C&P Exams

C&P examinations are often the weakest link in PTSD claims. Examiners may rush interviews, omit critical history, misunderstand military context, or fail to explore the cumulative impact of symptoms over time.

Common examination problems include:

• Internal contradictions within the examiner’s report
• Failure to address lay evidence
• Minimization of suicidal ideation or functional impairment
• Use of boilerplate language unsupported by the record

An inadequate examination can and should be challenged. Appeals succeed when flawed examinations are exposed and replaced with accurate, complete evidence.

How We Build PTSD Appeals

PTSD appeals are not won by luck. They are won by advocacy.

We focus on:

• Establishing service connection through credible stressor development
• Demonstrating symptom severity through consistent, detailed evidence
• Connecting symptoms to occupational and social impairment
• Challenging inadequate examinations directly and precisely
• Aligning the evidence with the VA’s own rating criteria

We do not ask Veterans to exaggerate or perform. We document what already exists and ensure it is presented in a way the VA is legally required to address.

Veteran-Led Representation in PTSD Claims

PTSD cases require trust. Many Veterans minimize symptoms out of habit, pride, or survival instinct. Others struggle to articulate experiences that do not translate cleanly into clinical language.

As Veteran attorneys, we understand that dynamic. Our role is to bridge the gap between lived experience and legal proof without sensationalizing or diminishing what our clients live with every day.



PTSD claims are not about labels. They are about accountability and accuracy.