To get a 70% PTSD VA disability rating, you must show severe occupational and social impairment from PTSD symptoms, like suicidal thoughts, major emotional outbursts, inability to maintain hygiene, obsessive rituals, or near-constant panic/depression, significantly impacting work, family, and daily life, using detailed medical records and evidence of the severity and frequency of these symptoms to the VA Disability Group. You need to demonstrate that your symptoms consistently hinder most areas of your functioning, not just a few.
What do you say to get 70% PTSD? If you are a disabled veteran who is already service-connected for PTSD, then you'll want to focus on showing how your symptoms have worsened in severity. The 70% rating criteria for PTSD include occupational and social impairment and deficiencies.
A 70% PTSD VA rating—which is the second highest PTSD VA rating under the regulation—requires occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with ...
A 70% disability rating for PTSD from the VA signifies a severe level of impairment in a veteran's functioning, heavily influencing their daily life, work efficiency, and social relationships.
70% VA Disability and Extraschedular TDIU
To qualify directly, veterans must have one condition rated 60% or more, or multiple conditions with one at least 40% and a combined rating of 70% or more.
The primary difference between a 50 and 70 percent VA PTSD rating is the capacity of the veteran to maintain employment. At 50 percent, it can be difficult to work efficiently; however, at 70 percent it can be extremely challenging to maintain long-term employment.
Hearing loss is the #1 heartbreaker because VA rates strict audiogram numbers (not real-life struggle), and many other claims (aggravation of pre-service conditions, sleep apnea, chronic pain post-Saunders, PTSD/MST, Gulf War MUCMI, mild TBI, non-presumptive toxic exposures, dental compensation, and substance abuse ...
Evidence includes hospital records, psychiatric evaluations, or therapy or counseling notes showing documented PTSD symptoms. VA Disability Benefits Questionnaires or private psychological assessments specifically diagnosing PTSD are also strong support.
To receive a diagnosis of PTSD, a person must have at least one re-experiencing symptom, at least three avoidance symptoms, at least two negative alterations in mood and cognition, and at least two hyperarousal symptoms for a minimum of one month.
Increasing a VA disability rating from 70% to 100% involves a process of demonstrating to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that the veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened or that new disabilities have developed, resulting in a higher level of impairment.
Failing to describe the full extent of your condition prevents the C&P examiner from understanding the challenges you face in your work, life, and relationships. Example to Avoid: Describing severe PTSD symptoms as “not too bad” or brushing off chronic pain as “normal for my age.”
Some of the criteria evaluated include:
Examination Day
Some of the most common hurdles in the VA claims process include: Lack of medical evidence: The absence of a diagnosis or insufficient documentation linking the condition to service can lead to denial. Missing service records: Lost or incomplete service records can weaken a claim.
“Permanent” means that the VA does not expect the condition to improve. “Total” means that the person is considered completely disabled, either with a 100% VA disability rating or a TDIU designation. Either can be assigned without the other. For example, a veteran may have a permanent disability (such as PTSD) at 70%.
High-functioning PTSD looks like someone who meets their daily responsibilities while battling symptoms that others don't see. They may excel at work, maintain relationships, and appear successful, but internally they're managing distressing memories and avoiding reminders of traumatic events.
Symptoms may include:
PTSD claims are among the most frequently denied VA disability claims — often due to lack of evidence, missing nexus opinions, or unverified stressors. If your claim was denied, you still have options: File a Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence.
A mental health professional—such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker—can determine whether symptoms meet the criteria for PTSD. To be diagnosed with PTSD, an adult must have all of the following for at least 1 month: At least one re-experiencing symptom. At least one avoidance symptom.
To win a VA disability claim for PTSD you must prove the following:
Q: What Is the Most Hidden Disability? A: Professionals regard mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD as the most hidden kinds of disabilities. People typically miss these conditions because they show no physical signs, and individuals hide them during social or work interactions.
Tinnitus, mental health conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, scars, and presumptive disorders are frequently approved VA disability claims.
Arthritis and other musculoskeletal disabilities are the most commonly approved conditions for disability benefits. If you are unable to walk due to arthritis, or unable to perform dexterous movements like typing or writing, you will qualify.