What Is the VA Rating for Post-Concussion Syndrome?

You got diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Your doctor uses that term. Your medical records say it. You searched for it on VA.gov and found... nothing.

That is not a coincidence.

The VA does not recognize "post-concussion syndrome" as a separate diagnosis in its rating schedule. Instead, it evaluates every PCS symptom as residuals of traumatic brain injury under Diagnostic Code 8045 in 38 CFR § 4.124a.

This semantic gap between clinical terminology and VA terminology is one of the biggest reasons veterans with post-concussion syndrome underclaim or never file at all.

In this guide, I will break down exactly how the VA rates post-concussion syndrome, the 10-facet scoring system that determines your percentage, and why your "mild" TBI could still qualify for a 70% or even 100% rating.

Here is what you will learn:

• Why the VA calls it "TBI residuals" instead of post-concussion syndrome — and why it matters for your claim
• The 0-3 severity scale across ten facets that determines your rating
• How a single facet rated "total" gives you an automatic 100%
• The three symptom domains and how your PCS symptoms map to each one
• C&P exam strategies specific to TBI residuals

Why PCS Is Not a Separate VA Diagnosis

If you search the VA's rating schedule for "post-concussion syndrome," you will not find it. There is no Diagnostic Code for PCS.

This is a problem for veterans because it creates a semantic firewall. Your doctor calls it post-concussion syndrome. The VA calls it "residuals of traumatic brain injury." Same condition, different vocabulary.

The VA evaluates all TBI residuals — regardless of initial injury severity — under a single framework: Diagnostic Code 8045 in 38 CFR § 4.124a. This framework was established by a 2008/2009 final rule that replaced the old, less detailed system.

Here is the critical translation:

DC 8045: How the VA Actually Rates TBI Residuals

Diagnostic Code 8045 is unlike most VA rating criteria. Instead of a simple table that matches symptoms to percentages, it uses a multi-facet evaluation system across three domains.

The three domains are:

1. Cognitive — Memory, attention, concentration, executive functions, judgment
2. Emotional/Behavioral — Mood regulation, social interaction, neurobehavioral effects
3. Physical — Headaches, dizziness, vertigo, sleep disturbances, motor activity

Within these three domains, the VA evaluates ten specific facets. Each facet gets scored on a 0-3 severity scale (plus a "total" rating for complete impairment). Your highest facet score determines your overall percentage.

That last sentence is worth reading again.

Your highest single facet determines your rating. You do not need high scores across the board. One severely impaired area is enough to drive your entire percentage.

The 10 Facets and the 0-3 Severity Scale

Each facet is scored from 0 (no impairment) to 3 (severe impairment), with an additional "total" level for complete functional loss. Here are all ten:

The severity levels within each facet follow this general pattern:

• Level 0 — No impairment. Normal function.
• Level 1 — Mild impairment. Symptoms present but manageable with occasional difficulty.
• Level 2 — Moderate impairment. Regular interference with daily life and work. May need some assistance or accommodation.
• Level 3 — Severe impairment. Major interference with daily activities. May need supervision or significant accommodation.
• Total — Complete functional loss in that area.

Rating Percentages: 0%, 10%, 40%, 70%, and 100%

Once all ten facets are scored, the VA converts your highest facet level to a percentage. This conversion is published directly in the regulatory text at 38 CFR § 4.124a, in the Note following the DC 8045 rating table:

Notice something important here.

There are only five possible ratings for TBI residuals under DC 8045: 0%, 10%, 40%, 70%, or 100%. There is no 20%, 30%, 50%, or 60%. This is different from most other VA rating criteria.

And the jump between levels is significant. Going from a Level 1 (10%) to a Level 2 (40%) on any single facet quadruples your rating. That is why precise documentation of symptom severity matters enormously.

Mild TBI Can Still Get a High Rating

This is where veterans with post-concussion syndrome lose the most ground. They hear "mild TBI" or "concussion" and assume they can only get a low rating.

That is wrong.

The regulatory text at 38 CFR § 4.124a is explicit: evaluate residuals based on impairment at time of examination, not initial injury severity.

The initial injury severity — whether your Glasgow Coma Scale was 15 and your loss of consciousness lasted seconds — does not cap your rating. What matters is how your symptoms affect you right now.

A veteran who had a "mild" concussion from an IED blast, a training accident, or a fall can be rated at 70% or 100% if the residual symptoms are severe enough. Chronic debilitating headaches, significant cognitive decline, or major emotional dysfunction all qualify.

This is a critical point that most commercial guidance gets wrong. They conflate initial injury severity with rating eligibility, discouraging veterans with mild TBI from pursuing higher ratings.

The Three Symptom Domains

Understanding how the VA organizes symptoms into three domains is essential for building a strong claim. Here is how your PCS symptoms map to each domain.

Cognitive Domain

This domain covers mental processing — how well you think, remember, plan, and make decisions.

Common PCS symptoms that fall here:

• Difficulty concentrating or staying focused on tasks
• Short-term memory problems (forgetting appointments, losing track of conversations)
• Trouble planning, organizing, or completing multi-step tasks
• Slowed processing speed (taking longer to understand or respond)
• Poor judgment or impaired decision-making
• Difficulty with spatial awareness and navigation

Emotional/Behavioral Domain

This domain captures the personality and mood changes that often follow TBI.

Common PCS symptoms that fall here:

• Irritability or anger outbursts that are new since the injury
• Anxiety and depression
• Emotional lability (sudden mood swings, crying without reason)
• Social withdrawal or difficulty in social situations
• Impulsive behavior
• Apathy or lack of motivation

Physical Domain

This domain covers the bodily symptoms that persist after concussion.

Common PCS symptoms that fall here:

• Chronic headaches (migraines, tension-type, or mixed)
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia, hypersomnia, disrupted sleep-wake cycle)
• Fatigue that is not proportional to activity level
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Balance problems

C&P Exam Strategies for TBI Residuals

The TBI C&P exam is one of the most complex exams in the VA system. The examiner will use the TBI Residuals Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ), which is structured around the ten facets I described above.

Here is how to prepare:

Before the Exam

• Map your symptoms to the ten facets. Write down specific examples for each facet where you experience impairment. Concrete examples are far more powerful than general complaints.
• Document your worst days. The VA rates based on functional impairment, not average days. If your migraines are prostrating twice a week, that matters more than the five days they are manageable.
• Bring a buddy statement. A spouse, family member, or close friend who can describe changes they have observed since your TBI is powerful corroborating evidence.
• Review your medical records. Know what your treatment providers have documented. If there are gaps, get them addressed before the exam.

During the Exam

• Do not minimize. Military culture teaches you to tough it out. The C&P exam is the one place where you need to be completely honest about how bad things get.
• Be specific about frequency and duration. "I get headaches" is a 1. "I get headaches 4 days a week, lasting 6-8 hours, requiring me to lie in a dark room and miss work" is a 2 or 3.
• Describe functional impact. For every symptom, explain how it affects your ability to work, maintain relationships, and handle daily tasks.
• Mention all domains. Veterans often focus on their worst symptom and forget to mention problems in other domains. The examiner can only score what you report.

Secondary Conditions from Post-Concussion Syndrome

Beyond the DC 8045 TBI residuals rating, your post-concussion syndrome may entitle you to additional ratings for secondary conditions. These are separate conditions caused or aggravated by your TBI.

Common secondary conditions include:

Each secondary condition requires a medical nexus — a doctor's opinion stating that the condition is "at least as likely as not" caused or aggravated by your service-connected TBI.

How to File Your Claim Correctly

The single most important thing you can do is use the VA's terminology when filing.

Step 1: File Under the Right Name

File for "residuals of traumatic brain injury" — not "post-concussion syndrome." Reference Diagnostic Code 8045. Your clinical PCS diagnosis supports the claim, but the claim itself should use VA language.

Step 2: Establish Service Connection

You need three things:

1. Current diagnosis — Medical records documenting TBI residuals or PCS symptoms
2. In-service event — Documentation of the head injury during service (combat, training, accident)
3. Nexus — A medical opinion connecting your current symptoms to the in-service event

Step 3: Document All Three Domains

Make sure your medical records address cognitive, emotional/behavioral, and physical symptoms. If your records only mention headaches, the VA will only score the physical domain and miss opportunities in the cognitive and emotional facets.

Step 4: Get a Comprehensive DBQ

The TBI Residuals DBQ is designed to capture all ten facets. If your C&P examiner rushes through it or skips sections, that directly reduces your rating potential. You can also get a private DBQ completed by your own provider.

Step 5: File Secondary Conditions Separately

If you have migraines, PTSD, tinnitus, or other conditions caused by your TBI, file those as secondary service connection claims. Each gets its own rating that combines with your TBI residuals rating.