VA gave me 30% — should be 70%. Increase request?
CAanon_vet21 month ago
Got 30% for PTSD. My symptoms are way more severe than that rating suggests. How do I get a higher rating?
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✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first
File a claim for increase. The mental-health rating criteria (38 CFR §4.130) are based on functional impairment — work, social, family. The disconnect you're describing usually means the C&P exam didn't capture your full functional impairment. Things that help: a current mental-health treatment record showing severity, a 'DBQ' (Disability Benefits Questionnaire) from your treating provider documenting symptoms in VA language, a buddy/family lay statement describing day-to-day functioning. Be specific in the new evidence — 'panic attacks 2-3x/week, inability to drive on freeways, marriage in crisis, last employer write-up for outburst' is far more useful than 'I struggle with PTSD.' For PTSD especially, fluctuations in severity matter — bring records across time, not just one snapshot.
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Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.