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Experiencing mental or physical injuries as a result of qualifying for active service in the U.S. military entitles veterans and their families to benefits for medical coverage and lost earnings. The extent to which the mental health condition impacts the veteran’s day-to-day life, and the number of dependent family members they have, determines the amount of benefits available.
VA disability benefits are available for physical injuries as well as mental health conditions. The VA defines “clinical depression” as a condition that is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Low self-esteem
- A lack of motivation, including a lack of motivation to engage in prior hobbies and past-times
- A lack of interest in social activities and/or other activities that were once enjoyed
- Lethargy, or low levels of energy
Depression is a common condition experienced by veterans following their discharge from service. It impacts interpersonal relationships and can also reduce the dependability and performance of the veteran at work. In addition to a persistent sense of hopelessness, veterans may also experience the following symptoms:
- Feelings of sadness that persist over time
- Difficulty falling asleep, also known as insomnia
- Sleeping excessively, including sleeping throughout the day
- Ongoing thoughts of death and/or suicide
- Changes in appetite, whether an increase in eating that leads to weight gain, or a decrease, resulting in weight loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- An increase in irritability
- Changes in mood that can result in angry outbursts
Veterans are generally covered for depression when it originates as a result of a debilitating or disabling physical injury linked to active service, or if the depression directly followed an event or incident that occurred during active service. Depression can also develop as a secondary condition due to other service-connected physical or mental health conditions, such as anxiety. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, as well as Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI, are also common causes of depression among veterans. Depression is also a common condition among veterans who have suffered through Military Sexual Trauma or MST. Veterans managing critical injuries, long-term recoveries, long-term disabilities and/or managing long-term diagnosed and undiagnosed chronic diseases, illnesses and conditions are also particularly vulnerable to depression.
To help ensure that you receive an accurate VA disability rating for depression for your appeal or supplemental claim, contact one of the highly experienced VA disability attorneys from our law firm now. We will review the unique facts,circumstances and symptoms associated with your diagnosed depression condition, and then identify pathways through which we can either help or direct you to parties who can provide the help you need.
What is the average VA rating for depression?
The most common depression VA rating is 30 percent, although it is essential to note that each individual veteran’s claim is unique and will be reviewed by only one of over 120 individual Veterans’ Law Judges (as of this writing) who review each appeal and makes his or her independent assessment of the facts. It may be necessary to seek out an expert medical opinion to provide the VA with sufficient evidence to establish a particular evaluation or rating in your individual depression appeal. A 30 percent VA disability entitles you to medical coverage for any and all medical services necessary for your injury, including medications and mental health services. In 2024, the tax-free payment amount you are able to collect for 30 percent equals $524.31 to start, and the more dependents you have, the greater the payment.
While 30 percent is the most common rating, you could also receive a 0, 10, 50, 70, or 100 percent. The severity of your symptoms determines whether you can collect benefits for your condition and in what amount. The purpose of VA disability payments is to replace lost earnings that result from your condition.
How to get 70 percent VA disability for depression?
Veterans suffering from depression who are assigned a 70 percent depression VA rating generally are impaired in both social and occupational environments, impacting home, work, school, and family. Additionally, there can be a negative impact on judgment, thinking, and the mood of the individual experiencing depression this severe. Symptoms include suicidal ideation, obsessive rituals that interfere with daily activities, illogical thoughts, aggression and violence, and other substantial and negative behaviors.
A 70 percent disability rating for depression requires that your expert medical opinion communicating the current diagnosis provides the VA with evidence that your condition markedly impacts your life. At this level of depression-related activity, the veteran is mainly unable to function in many daily situations. However, the veteran is not entirely homebound at this level, where a 100 percent disability would be appropriate.
A veteran with a 70 percent disability rating is eligible to receive a tax-free monthly payment of $1,716.28, which increases with dependents and based on other factors. This is a significant income and is meant to help your family cover medical bills, lost income, and other expenses linked to your disability.
Can depression be secondary to tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a condition in which the sufferer experiences sounds that are not audible to others. The source of these sounds can evade medical treatment and can be caused by exposure to ongoing loud noises such as explosions, medications, or other mental health sources. Whatever the cause of tinnitus, it can significantly impact the day–to–day life of the impacted veteran.
When a veteran develops depression or an anxiety disorder as a result of tinnitus, then you may be eligible to add depression to your VA disability rating as a condition secondary to tinnitus. This is a process that an experienced, VA-accredited attorney can be of exceptional value and help throughout. We take over the process on your behalf, helping you to gather the necessary expert medical evidence to receive the fullest and most complete depression VA rating secondary to tinnitus possible.
Is it hard to get disability for depression?
Collecting VA disability benefits for your currently diagnosed depression requires that you demonstrate that your depression was connected to your active service. A medical opinion by a qualified medical professional must establish this connection, which is often referred to as the nexus between your current diagnosis and an event, injury, or illness that happened during your qualifying active service.
To collect VA disability benefits for your currently diagnosed depression, you must have:
- A current diagnosis of depression, whether major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder
- You must produce evidence that demonstrates that an event, injury, or illness that happened during your military service likely was the cause of your current diagnosis of depression.
Providing the VA with a nexus letter can be extremely helpful in support of your depression VA rating. A nexus letter is the opinion of a qualified medical professional (after having reviewed your entire VA claims folder) that your current diagnosis of depression is linked to your military service. One of the factors that makes collecting compensation for depression from the VA especially difficult is the fact that depression is generally self-reported and is not as easy to identify as physical injuries.
In addition to medical nexus letters, you can submit “buddy statements” alongside your VA depression application, appeal, or supplemental claim. “Buddy statements” are written statements provided by friends, family, co-workers or bosses, and fellow service-members who either have witnessed symptoms of your depression and changes in your personality; currently witness the conditions of your depression; or witnessed the cause of your depression during active service. The more evidence you provide to the VA, the more accurate your depression rating will be.
The VA offers free assistance for your initial claim application.
The time to connect with a VA disability benefits lawyer from our firm is as follows:
- When your initial claim has been denied,
- If your depression has worsened, or
- If you need to add depression to your existing VA disability rating.
Our experienced VA disability lawyers provide you with a risk-free, cost-free initial consultation to determine if we can help with your claim. If your claim is a fit, we only get paid if we win. While the amount charged by each attorney will vary, it is always within the range that the VA has defined as “reasonable,” generally between 20 and 30 percent of the back pay that we win on your behalf. It is important to understand, we do not continue to collect fees against the monthly award payments you are awarded moving forward in addition to the back pay. This might sound confusing, but we’ll answer any and all questions you might have before getting started, and testimonials from our many satisfied clients are also available to help inform your choice of attorney.
Consider Options with an Experienced VA Benefits’ Disability Attorney
If you or a loved one has been denied a depression VA disability claim or depression claim needs to be added to your pre-existing VA disability rating, our firm is standing by. Your initial consultation is free, and from there, if we can help with your claim, we’ll present your representation agreement to be granted power of attorney to act on your behalf. At this time, we’ll have you sign the engagement letter and discuss any questions you might have about how the process works and how we are paid. If you are worried that you cannot afford our services, don’t be. If we take your case, we only get paid if we win.