Mental Health
Under 38 CFR § 4.130 (Schedule of Ratings – Mental Disorders), a mental condition is considered a disability when:
It is a diagnosed mental health disorder from the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), AND
It causes functional impairment in daily life, work, or relationships, and there is a nexus (connection) between the condition and military service.
The VA combines many diagnosis in Mental Health. PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Alcohol/Drug Abuse, MST, bi-polar are just a few diagnosis names included in Mental Health. You get 1 rating for any/all diagnosis.
Please proceed to the quiz questions.
Step 1
Review the Key Factors:
- Diagnosed, but symptoms don’t interfere with functioning.
- Mild symptoms, occasional work or social interference.
- Occasional decrease in work efficiency, intermittent symptoms.
- Reduced reliability and productivity, difficulty with relationships, panic attacks, memory issues.
- Deficiencies in most areas—work, school, judgment, mood, thinking.
- Total occupational and social impairment, delusions, danger to self or others, disorientation.
The VA combines multiple diagnoses within Mental Health. Here is a partial list:
- PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Panic Disorder
- OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
- Adjustment Disorder
- Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
- Military Sexual Trauma (MST) – Under the current VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities, all mental health conditions are evaluated using the same General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, regardless of the diagnosis.Please select and of the diagnostic codes listed below if you are starting a new claim.
Step 2
Continue with the quiz for mental health. This is a 3 step quiz.
When completed, you will view the results of your quiz.