Depression VA Rating: How to Get the Benefits You Deserve

If you are a veteran struggling with depression, you know the daily battle is real. It’s a fight against crushing fatigue, a lack of motivation, and persistent feelings of hopelessness. When you decide to file a VA mental health claim, understanding the depression VA rating system is the most crucial step you can take toward securing your benefits.

The VA recognizes that depression is a serious, service-connected condition. However, their rating process can feel confusing and cold. At VMHA, we cut through that confusion. We will walk you through exactly what the VA looks for, how they assign a rating, and how you can use the right medical evidence to ensure your claim accurately reflects your suffering.

1. How the VA Rates Mental Health Conditions

The VA uses one set of rules, the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, to rate all mental health conditions. This means your rating for depression is judged by the same standards as claims for PTSD or anxiety.

The VA does not rate your diagnosis; they rate your functional impairment. This is simply how much your symptoms affect your ability to live a normal life, specifically your work life and your social life.

The ratings are assigned on a scale from 0% to 100%, typically 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%. The higher the percentage, the more severe the impact of your depression on your daily life, and the greater the monthly compensation you receive.

2. The VA’s Rating Scale for Depression: Symptoms and Impairment

To get an accurate rating, you must provide proof that shows which level of impairment you meet. Here is a simple breakdown of the specific symptoms the VA looks for at each level for a depression VA rating:

• 100% Rating: This is for a veteran with total occupational and social impairment. Symptoms are so severe they make it impossible to work or have a social life. 
• 70% Rating: This is for a veteran with significant deficiencies in occupational and social functioning.
• 50% Rating: This is for a veteran with reduced reliability and productivity at work and in their relationships. 
• 30% Rating: This is for a veteran who experiences occasional work and social impairment. The veteran is generally able to function but has periods of reduced efficiency due to their symptoms.
• 10% Rating: This is for a veteran who has a diagnosis but whose symptoms are so mild they only interfere with work or social life during periods of significant stress. The symptoms may be managed with continuous medication.
• 0% Rating: This is for a veteran with a diagnosed condition, but the symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with work or social functioning or require continuous medication.

3. How Do I Prove the Severity of My Depression for a Higher Rating?

Getting the depression VA rating you deserve requires more than just telling your story; it requires proof that meets the VA’s standards. Many veterans are underrated because they don’t fully communicate the severity of their symptoms.

• Be Specific About Functional Impact: Instead of saying, “I feel tired,” tell the VA, “I have difficulty getting out of bed and often miss work due to overwhelming fatigue, which has led to two job losses in the last year.” The VA rates loss of function, not just feeling bad.
• Use Buddy Statements: Your testimony is crucial, but outside proof is even better. Ask family, friends, or former co-workers to write statements describing the changes they have seen in your behavior, social withdrawal, or inability to focus. This objective evidence supports your story.
• Document the Full Spectrum of Symptoms: Make sure you document all symptoms, including those that are common with depression, such as irritability, loss of interest (anhedonia), and suicidal thoughts (ideation). The more evidence you provide, the better your chances are of securing the rating you deserve.

4. How Does the VA Rate My Depression If I Also Have PTSD or Anxiety?

This is one of the most important things to know: the VA will not give you a separate rating for each mental health condition.

If you have diagnoses for depression, PTSD, and anxiety, the VA will combine all your symptoms into a single evaluation of your functioning. They will then give you one single rating that reflects the total, overall impact of all your mental health conditions on your life.

For example, if your depression causes social isolation and your PTSD causes panic attacks, the VA considers both symptoms together when assigning your percentage. Your goal is to show the total impairment caused by all of your mental health issues.

5. Can My Depression Be a Secondary Condition to a Physical Injury?

Yes, absolutely. Many veterans qualify for a depression rating by proving that the depression is a secondary condition. If you have a service-connected physical injury (like a back injury, chronic pain, or TBI), and living with that injury has caused you to develop depression or anxiety, you can file a claim for secondary service connection.

To win this, you need a medical opinion that clearly states your depression is “at least as likely as not” caused or aggravated by your primary, service-connected physical condition. This is a common and often successful pathway to increasing your overall benefit rating.

6. What if I Am Rated at 70%—Is it Safe to Seek 100%?

The jump from a 70% rating to 100% is substantial, and it often requires symptoms that demonstrate near-total occupational and social impairment. If you are already rated at 70% and believe your condition has worsened, you should absolutely pursue an increase.

The key to safely pursuing a higher rating is evidence. You must provide new and relevant evidence that proves your condition has progressed to a point where it meets the 100% criteria. Do not rely on your symptoms alone. A high-quality Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) can provide the necessary documentation to justify that significant jump in rating.

7. The Role of an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) in Your Rating

The most effective way to secure the highest possible depression VA rating is by submitting a comprehensive Independent Medical Opinion (IMO).

• An IMO is a Rebuttal: It can directly counter a rushed or inaccurate VA C&P exam. If the VA’s examiner misses a key symptom, your IMO ensures that the decision-maker sees the complete truth.
• It Aligns with Rating Criteria: VMHA’s  licensed psychologists specialize in writing IMOs that use the exact language the VA uses to determine ratings for veterans. We focus on documenting the severity and frequency of symptoms like suicidal ideation, inability to maintain employment, and relationship failure—all key markers an accurate rating.
• It Provides the Nexus: The IMO includes the crucial medical link that connects your diagnosis to your service, which is the foundation of any successful claim.

8. What If My Depression Claim is Denied?

A denial for your depression VA rating is a setback, not a final defeat. If this happens, you have a roadmap for appeal:

• Review the Denial: Read your denial letter. It should tell you the exact reason your rating was too low or why your claim was denied.
• Gather New Evidence: Use an IMO to address the denial reason directly. If the VA said your symptoms were “not severe enough,” your IMO can provide detailed evidence of how your symptoms cause “deficiencies in most areas” of your life.
• Choose Your Path: File a Supplemental Claim (with the IMO as your new evidence) or pursue a Higher-Level Review. Your high-quality IMO gives you the ammunition you need to win the appeal.

VMHA Is Here to Help

You have earned every benefit you are fighting for. Do not let the complexity of the VA system result in an unfair depression VA rating.

At VMHA, we provide comprehensive Independent Medical Opinions (IMOs) designed to secure the accurate rating you deserve. Our expert psychologists specialize in evaluating conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety and translating your suffering into the professional evidence the VA needs to see.

Ready to get the rating you deserve?

Contact us today to learn how our Independent Medical Opinions can help you with your depression VA rating and secure the benefits you’ve earned.

Want to find out if we can help you now? Take our mental health quiz and we’ll let you know.

Email us at info@vmhaforvets.com or call us at 214-307-2198.

You may also be interested in:

How To Obtain VA Disability Benefits For Anxiety?

Independent Medical Opinion for VA claims

VA Mental Health Claim: A Veteran’s Guide

VA Disability for Depression: Your Guide to Filing a Successful Claim

What is a Nexus Letter?

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