PTSD claims are rated under 38 CFR 4.130, the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which specifically looks at how symptoms affect occupational and social functioning, not just whether you can technically hold a job. Difficulty concentrating, irritability, anxiety, panic-like episodes, and conflict with coworkers are all symptoms VA raters are trained to recognize under this formula, so having a rough day at work is not disqualifying evidence, it is often exactly the kind of functional impairment the rating criteria are meant to capture.
To start a claim, file VA Form 21-526EZ (or supplement an already-open claim) and get a diagnosis and treatment record from a licensed provider, which is why the first mental health appointment matters so much: it becomes the anchor of your medical evidence. Be honest and specific with the provider about frequency, triggers, and how episodes affect work, sleep, and relationships, since vague notes make it harder for a rater to apply 4.130 accurately. If symptoms are severe enough that they're compromising your ability to sustain substantially gainful employment, not just perform it uncomfortably, it is worth discussing Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) under 38 CFR 4.16 with your provider or a Veterans Service Officer, since that is a separate benefit from the schedular PTSD rating.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
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Analyze my claim free →If you already have a PTSD claim and it gets denied or under-rated, you have appeal options: a Higher-Level Review (VA Form 20-0996), a Supplemental Claim with new evidence (VA Form 20-0995), or an appeal to the Board of Veterans Appeals (VA Form 10182). It's worth knowing that outcomes on appeal vary widely and are not guaranteed either way. For context, of the appealed VA decisions in VetAid's library involving PTSD with a recorded appellate disposition, 52% were vacated or remanded, 27% were affirmed as denied, and 6% were reversed or granted outright. That data only reflects cases that were already appealed, a self-selected group, not the odds of an initial claim being approved, so it shouldn't be read as a prediction for any specific case.
The concrete next step is to attend the scheduled mental health appointment, be candid about work-related symptoms and their impact, and start or continue documenting them in writing so that evidence exists if a claim or appeal becomes necessary.
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