The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides monthly, tax-free disability compensation to veterans with a service-connected condition, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This financial benefit compensates for the reduction in earning capacity caused by the disability. The exact amount a veteran receives is tied to a percentage rating assigned by the VA, which determines the severity of the condition’s impact on their life. Higher percentage ratings reflect a greater level of functional impairment and result in a higher monthly payment.
How the VA Determines the Disability Rating
The VA rates PTSD using the general Schedule for Rating Disabilities for mental disorders (38 CFR Part 4). The evaluation focuses entirely on the level of occupational and social impairment caused by the symptoms, not the diagnosis itself. Ratings are assigned in increments of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%, corresponding to a defined degree of functional limitation.
A 50% rating is assigned when a veteran experiences occupational and social impairment resulting in reduced reliability and productivity. This impairment is characterized by symptoms like frequent panic attacks (more than once a week), impaired judgment, or difficulty maintaining work and social relationships. While the symptoms are significant, maintaining steady employment is challenging but not impossible.
A 70% rating indicates a severe level of occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies present in most areas of life, including work, family relations, and mood. Symptoms commonly include suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression affecting function, or an inability to adapt to stressful circumstances. This rating signifies a profound disruption to the veteran’s daily life and capacity for self-sufficiency.
The maximum 100% rating is reserved for cases of total occupational and social impairment. This means the veteran is completely unable to function independently and maintain employment due to their symptoms. The criteria for this rating include severe symptoms such as persistent delusions or hallucinations, grossly inappropriate behavior, and an intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living. The assigned percentage reflects the severity and persistence of the functional limitations documented in medical evidence.
Monthly Compensation Rates for Single Veterans
The percentage rating assigned by the VA translates directly into a specific base monthly dollar amount for a veteran with no dependents. For example, the 2025 compensation rate for a single veteran with a 30% rating is $537.42 per month. Veterans rated at 10% or 20% receive a fixed amount, but payments begin to vary based on the presence of dependents starting at the 30% rating level.
A higher rating yields a substantially larger monthly payment, reflecting the greater loss of earning capacity. A single veteran rated at 50% receives $1,102.04 monthly, which more than doubles the 30% payment. Increasing the rating to 70% results in a monthly payment of $1,759.19 for a veteran without dependents.
The maximum base compensation for a single veteran is paid at the 100% rating, amounting to $3,831.30 per month in 2025. These figures represent the tax-free base rate. The compensation is subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to help the benefit keep pace with inflation.
Adjusting Payments for Dependents
The base monthly compensation rate increases when a veteran has qualifying dependents, but only for disability ratings of 30% or higher. Qualifying dependents typically include a spouse, minor children, and dependent parents. The addition of dependents reflects the increased financial burden on the veteran.
For a veteran with a 70% rating, the base payment of $1,759.19 increases to $1,908.19 with the addition of a spouse, a difference of approximately $149 per month. The payment also increases for each dependent child under the age of 18. For instance, a 70% rated veteran with a spouse and one child receives a base rate of $2,018.19.
The VA uses an “added amounts” calculation for additional children and specific dependent circumstances. For a 70% rating, each additional child under 18 adds approximately $74 to the monthly payment. These adjustments ensure the compensation reflects the veteran’s entire household size when the disability rating is 30% or more.
Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows veterans to receive compensation at the 100% rate, even if their scheduled disability rating is lower. This pathway is available for veterans whose service-connected disability, such as PTSD, prevents them from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. Substantially gainful employment is defined as work providing an annual income exceeding the federal poverty threshold.
To qualify for TDIU, a veteran must meet specific schedular requirements based on their disability ratings. This often requires having one service-connected disability rated at 60% or higher. Alternatively, they must have a combined rating of 70% or higher, with at least one condition rated at 40% or higher. PTSD rated at 70% often meets the rating threshold for TDIU consideration.
The TDIU benefit recognizes that for some veterans, the functional limitations of their condition are more debilitating than the numerical rating suggests. If granted, the veteran receives the full 100% disability payment, which is $3,831.30 per month in 2025 for a single veteran, regardless of their actual combined percentage rating. This provision is an important mechanism for veterans severely affected by PTSD who cannot hold a steady job, ensuring they receive the maximum financial support.