Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition some veterans develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event during military service. When the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) confirms this condition is connected to service, it becomes a service-connected disability eligible for monthly compensation. The amount a veteran receives is not a fixed sum but a variable payment determined by assessing the severity of the condition’s impact on their life. Understanding the VA’s rating approach is the first step in knowing how monthly payments are calculated, as this process translates the mental health condition into a specific percentage that governs the financial benefits.
How the VA Rates PTSD Severity
The VA uses the Schedule for Rating Disabilities to assign a percentage from 0% to 100% for PTSD, increasing in 10% increments. This percentage is based not on the diagnosis itself, but on the documented frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms and their resulting impact on occupational and social functioning. The evaluation requires a Compensation and Pension (C&P) exam, where a VA clinician reviews the medical evidence and assesses the veteran’s level of impairment. The rating criteria are highly specific, linking symptom clusters to functional limitations to determine the final percentage.
A 30% rating signifies occupational and social impairment with occasional decreases in work efficiency and intermittent inability to perform occupational tasks. Symptoms at this level might include mild memory loss, chronic sleep impairment, or depressed mood, though the veteran can generally function satisfactorily in routine, low-stress settings. A 50% rating reflects more pronounced occupational and social impairment, resulting in reduced reliability and productivity. Veterans at this level often experience symptoms such as panic attacks occurring more than once a week, impaired judgment, or difficulty maintaining effective work and social relationships.
The 70% rating indicates severe occupational and social impairment that makes maintaining employment and relationships difficult. This level may involve frequent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression, and ritualistic behavior that interferes with routine activities. The highest rating, 100%, is reserved for total occupational and social impairment. This total disability is assigned when symptoms are so severe they result in gross impairment in thought processes, persistent delusions or hallucinations, or the inability to perform daily living activities.
VA Disability Compensation Rates
The percentage rating assigned by the VA directly determines the amount of tax-free monthly compensation a veteran receives. These rates are subject to an annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to account for inflation, with new rates typically taking effect on December 1st of each year. For a single veteran with no dependents, the monthly payment increases significantly as the rating moves up the scale, reflecting the greater severity of the disability. The 2024 rates for a single veteran provide a clear picture of the financial benefit at various levels of impairment.
A veteran with a 30% PTSD disability rating receives a monthly payment of $524.31. At the 50% rating level, which indicates a more substantial reduction in occupational function, compensation increases to $1,075.16 per month. The financial difference becomes more pronounced at the 70% rating, which pays $1,716.28 monthly.
For those rated at 90%, the monthly compensation for a single veteran is $2,241.91. The maximum schedular payment is for a 100% rating, resulting in a monthly payment of $3,737.85. These figures are the base rates for a veteran without dependents and are based on the 2024 compensation tables. Veterans should check the official VA schedule for the most current figures following the annual COLA announcement.
Additional Factors Affecting Monthly Payments
While the base disability rating establishes the core compensation, several other factors can significantly increase the final monthly payment. One common adjustment is for dependents, which applies to veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher. The VA provides additional compensation for a veteran’s spouse, dependent children under the age of 18, or dependent parents. This increase recognizes the added financial responsibilities of supporting a family while living with a service-connected disability.
A separate benefit is Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU), which allows veterans who are unable to work due to their service-connected condition to be paid at the 100% rate, even if their schedular rating is lower. A veteran is eligible for TDIU if they have one service-connected disability rated at 60% or higher, or if they have multiple service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70% or more, with at least one rated at 40%. This benefit is particularly relevant for veterans with PTSD, as the condition frequently causes severe occupational impairment that prevents substantially gainful employment.
In complex and severe circumstances, veterans may also be eligible for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), which is an additional tax-free benefit paid to veterans with certain severe disabilities or combinations of disabilities. While SMC is less common for PTSD alone, it can apply if the condition is combined with other severe service-connected issues resulting in the need for Aid and Attendance from another person. These additive factors ensure the VA compensation system accounts for the broader financial and personal impact of a veteran’s disability beyond the base rating.