How they're rated
Major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and other mental health diagnoses use the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (0, 10, 30, 50, 70, or 100%), based on occupational and social impairment. See our PTSD guide for the rating table.
Paths to service connection
- Direct: Symptoms or treatment during service, or an in-service event, plus a medical link
- Secondary: Depression or anxiety caused or worsened by a service-connected condition such as chronic pain, tinnitus, or a condition that ended your career
- Presumptive: Psychoses that appear within one year of discharge can be presumed service-connected.
One rating, multiple diagnoses
When symptoms overlap, VA typically assigns one mental health rating covering all diagnoses. Adding a diagnosis may still help if it captures symptoms VA hasn't considered.
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Official sources
Rating criteria summarized for general information. Read the full regulation for details. Last reviewed October 2026.