How do I make a PTSD claim?
Asked by: Damian Roob | Last update: July 19, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (58 votes)
Use VA Form 21-0781 if you've been diagnosed with a mental health condition related to a traumatic event during your military service, and you want to apply for related benefits or services.
What evidence do you need for a PTSD claim?
Medical evidence is going to be an important part of documentation for a PTSD disability claim. Medical records, whether a private physician, VA doctor, or in-service treatment will be a way to demonstrate the frequency, duration, and severity of symptoms.
What is an example of a PTSD claim statement?
My PTSD has negatively affected my work and my personal life significantly. I got divorced from my wife and lost custody of my children. I was fired after I could not concentrate on my job and took too many days off due to my depression. I also was doing a bad job at work because of my memory issues.
What do I say to claim PTSD?
Provide as much detail as you're able to, and describe the feelings you had about what happened. Don't diminish the stressful experience you had and don't make it seem even more severe than it was. Just say exactly what occurred and that will be very effective.
What support can you get for PTSD?
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. offers a list of support groups across the country for a number of different mental health conditions, including PTSD. National Alliance on Mental Illness. (NAMI) Information HelpLine provides support, referral and information on mental illness care.
PTSD VA Rating Secrets: Ultimate Guide To A Winning Claim!
What can I claim if I have PTSD?
You can make a PTSD compensation claim regardless of whether your PTSD is the only after-effect of what happened or if you also have physical injuries. As long as the accident or other incident that led to your PTSD was in the past three years and the fault of someone else, you can claim for PTSD compensation.
What qualifies you for PTSD?
People may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if their symptoms last for an extended period after a traumatic event and begin to interfere with aspects of daily life, such as relationships or work. People who have PTSD may continue to feel stressed or frightened, even though they are not in danger.
Is PTSD hard to claim?
In conclusion, winning a claim for PTSD can be complicated with many challenging legal issues. It is also worth pointing out that according to the VA's own Board of Veterans' Appeals, veterans who are unrepresented are more than twice as likely to get denied than those who have an advocate.
How to pass a PTSD C&P exam?
- Prepare for Your C&P exam ahead of time. ...
- Be upfront with your concerns and day-to-day issues. ...
- Explain about “bad days” and how often they occur. ...
- Get a copy of the C&P results. ...
- Bring someone close to you to the appointment. ...
- Remember that you might have multiple visits.
How can I prove that I have PTSD?
Criteria for Diagnosis
To receive a diagnosis of PTSD, a person must have at least one re-experiencing symptom, at least three avoidance symptoms, at least two negative alterations in mood and cognition, and at least two hyperarousal symptoms for a minimum of one month.
How do I file a PTSD claim?
To get disability compensation, veterans must file a claim with VA. There is an added step with PTSD claims. First, veterans should download and fill out VA Form 21-526EZ. This can be submitted via mail to the Claims Intake Center, in person at the closest VA Regional Office, or electronically through VA's website.
Can you claim PTSD without diagnosis?
If the DoD does not have records of a Veteran's PTSD diagnosis or a record of the circumstances of the claimed stressor that caused the condition, there are still ways to establish a PTSD claim. One way is through lay testimony that provides evidence of the event that caused the Veteran's PTSD.
What is an example of a claim statement?
If you construct a position claiming that something is good or bad or one thing is better than another, you've made a claim of value. Examples of claims of value are “The Wizard of Oz is the greatest movie of all time,” “Snowboarding is the greatest way to spend a vacation,” or “Indian food is the best food of all.”
Why do PTSD claims get denied?
1. Insufficient Evidence. This is probably the biggest reason why your PTSD claim may be denied. Evidence of a link between an in-service stressor and the current PTSD diagnosis is absolutely critical in order to win your claim.
What is the easiest VA claim to win?
Tinnitus, mental health conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, scars, and presumptive disorders are frequently approved VA disability claims.
How do I prove my PTSD service connection?
- credible evidence that the claimed in-service stressor occurred.
- a link, established by medical evidence, between current symptoms and an in-service stressor.
- related to the Veteran's service, and.
- consistent with the circumstances, conditions, or hardships of that service.
What not to say at PTSD C&P exam?
Failing to describe the full extent of your condition prevents the C&P examiner from understanding the challenges you face in your work, life, and relationships. Example to Avoid: Describing severe PTSD symptoms as “not too bad” or brushing off chronic pain as “normal for my age.”
How to get 100% rating for PTSD?
If you're pursuing a 100% disability rating based on this condition alone, you must have excellent documentation of your condition and limitations. That means both medical records and statements from people close to you who have observed the changes and limitations.
What is the 17 question PTSD test?
The PCL is a standardized self-report rating scale for PTSD comprising 17 items that correspond to the key symptoms of PTSD. Two versions of the PCL exist: 1) PCL-M is specific to PTSD caused by military experiences and 2) PCL-C is applied generally to any traumatic event.
What is the average payout for PTSD?
The average PTSD settlement amount is often between $10,000 and $100,000. Factors that influence the amount include injury severity, loss of income, how fault is determined, and the impact of injuries on everyday life.
What do I say in a PTSD claim?
For each event, give the date and place it occurred, and the name of the unit you were attached to. Tell what happened in as much detail as possible, and tell how you felt about what happened.
What are the 17 symptoms of PTSD?
- Intrusive thoughts.
- Nightmares.
- Avoidance.
- Memory loss.
- Negative thoughts.
- Self-isolation and distancing.
- Anger and irritability.
- Loss of interest.
How to prove you have PTSD?
For physical health problems, this could include labs (like bloodwork), tests (like an x-ray, scan or biopsy) or a physical exam. For PTSD, an assessment includes answering questions about your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. PTSD is most often diagnosed, or confirmed, by a mental health provider.
What are 5 symptoms of PTSD?
- Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event.
- Negative thoughts about oneself or the world.
- Exaggerated feelings of blame directed toward oneself or others.
- Ongoing negative emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, or shame.
- Loss of interest in previous activities.
How much does PTSD disability pay?
Is PTSD a disability? Yes. Depending on the severity, a veteran's diagnosis of PTSD is eligible for a VA disability rating of 100% ($3,831.30/month), 70% ($1,759.19/month), 50% ($1,102.04/month), 30% ($537.42/month), 10% ($175.51/month), or 0% (no payment).