Major Depressive Disorder — VA Disability Rating & Claim Guide
This is not legal or medical advice. Always consult with a VSO or accredited claims agent.
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The DBQ for Major Depressive Disorder
Your C&P examiner fills out DBQ 21-0960P-2 (Mental Disorders (Other Than PTSD and Eating Disorders)) — the form that decides your rating. You can have your own doctor complete the same DBQ and submit it as evidence.
What the examiner measures
- Level of occupational & social impairment — this sets the % under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders
- DSM-5 criteria for a depressive disorder and current diagnosis
- Formula symptoms present: depressed mood, anxiety, chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss, disturbances of motivation and mood, difficulty concentrating
- Severity markers for higher ratings: suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, inability to maintain relationships
- Impact on ability to work (reduced reliability/productivity vs. deficiencies in most areas vs. total impairment)
Have a C&P exam coming up? See exactly what the examiner will ask about Major Depressive Disorder — and how to describe it.
Prep →2026 Compensation Rates
Monthly compensation for Major Depressive Disorder, based on your overall combined VA disability rating.
| Rating | Monthly (Alone) | Monthly (w/ Spouse) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | — | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | — | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $47,262.96 |
Common Symptoms
Document these symptoms in your claim. The more thoroughly you describe how they affect your daily life, the stronger your claim.
Functional Limitations
VA rates disabilities based on how they limit your ability to function. Describe these limitations in your personal statement.
Rating Criteria for Major Depressive Disorder
Rating schedule under 38 CFR 4.130, General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (DC 9434). Criteria are simplified summaries; your specific rating depends on severity documented in your C&P exam.
Formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, though generally functioning satisfactorily.
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity (e.g., flattened affect, panic attacks more than once a week, impaired memory and judgment).
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g., suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression).
Total occupational and social impairment (e.g., gross impairment in thought processes, persistent danger of hurting self or others, inability to perform activities of daily living).
Verified against 38 CFR Part 4, the official VA rating schedule. Reviewed July 2026.
Will adding Major Depressive Disorder raise your rating?
Enter your current combined rating and the level this condition would rate at. We'll do the VA math.
New combined
10%
New monthly
$180
Change
+$180
Rates shown are the 2026 veteran-alone amounts (no dependents). VA combines ratings with "whole-person" math and rounds to the nearest 10, so adding a condition does not simply add its percentage. Full combined-rating calculator with dependents →
Peer-Reviewed Medical Evidence
Real, verified studies from PubMed/NIH that support a Major Depressive Disorder claim. Bring these citations to your accredited VSO or C&P exam — they help show your condition is recognized in the medical literature and, where noted, linked to other service-connected conditions.
American Journal of Public Health, 2010 · PMID 19910353
Finding: In a prospective Millennium Cohort sample of 40,219 US service members, combat-deployed personnel had the highest rate of new-onset depression; combat-deployed members were at increased risk versus nondeployed members (men adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.13-1.54; women adjusted OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.70-2.65), while deployment without combat exposure was not associated with increased risk.
Why it helps: Supports an association between combat exposure during military service and the onset of depression, consistent with a direct service-connection theory for MDD in combat-deployed veterans.
International Journal of Psychology, 2022 · PMID 34608645
Finding: Systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 studies estimated a pooled depression prevalence of 22.4% (95% CI 15.0-32.0) among war veterans and former POWs, substantially higher than rates reported for general military personnel.
Why it helps: Supports an association between wartime/combat and captivity-related military service and elevated depression prevalence, helpful background for a direct service-connection argument.
Journal of Affective Disorders, 2014 · PMID 24210623
Finding: Among 1,700 veterans, lifetime MDD was frequent and more common in women (46.5%) than men (36.3%); MDD usually followed the onset of other comorbid disorders such as PTSD, suggesting MDD often develops after earlier service-related conditions.
Why it helps: Supports the high frequency of MDD among veterans and that it commonly co-occurs with and follows other service-related diagnoses, relevant to both direct and secondary framing.
Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 2015 · nexus to PTSD · PMID 26246789
Finding: This VA-affiliated review notes that approximately half of people with PTSD also meet criteria for MDD, and argues the co-occurrence is not merely overlapping symptoms but may reflect a trauma-related phenotype.
Why it helps: Supports a strong association between PTSD and MDD, helpful when arguing MDD as secondary to a service-connected PTSD condition.
- Transdiagnostic Cognitive Processes in Chronic Pain and Comorbid PTSD and Depression in VeteransSecondary
Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 2022 · nexus to chronic pain, PTSD · PMID 34038509
Finding: In a sample of 147 veterans with chronic pain, those with comorbid PTSD and depression reported significantly greater pain intensity and depressive symptoms than the pain-only group, with shared cognitive processes (ruminative pain absorption) transversing chronic pain, PTSD, and depression.
Why it helps: Supports an association linking chronic pain, PTSD, and depression in veterans, helpful when framing MDD as secondary to service-connected chronic pain and/or PTSD.
JAMA Network Open, 2025 · nexus to chronic pain · PMID 40053352
Finding: Meta-analysis of 376 studies (347,468 adults with chronic pain) found clinically significant depression in 39.3% (95% CI 37.3-41.1) and a major depressive disorder diagnosis in 36.7% (95% CI 29.0-45.1), with the highest rates in fibromyalgia (depression 54.0%).
Why it helps: Supports a strong association between chronic pain and depression/MDD, helpful when arguing MDD as secondary to a service-connected chronic pain condition.
American Journal of Otolaryngology, 2025 · nexus to tinnitus · PMID 40088765
Finding: Meta-analysis of 22 studies found tinnitus was significantly associated with depression (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.56-2.36), as well as anxiety (OR 1.63), insomnia (OR 3.07), and suicide (OR 5.31).
Why it helps: Supports an association between tinnitus and depression, helpful when arguing MDD as secondary to service-connected tinnitus.
Every citation is real and verified against PubMed. This is general information, not medical or legal advice — your accredited VSO or representative can advise on your specific claim.
Evidence Checklist
Gather these types of evidence before filing your claim. The strongest claims include multiple evidence types.
Common Treatments
Documenting ongoing treatment strengthens your claim and supports higher ratings.
Secondary Conditions Linked to Major Depressive Disorder
These conditions are commonly claimed as secondary to Major Depressive Disorder. A secondary condition can increase your overall combined rating and monthly compensation.
Insomnia
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Anxiety
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
GERD
Nexus strength: moderate· Commonly granted
Erectile Dysfunction
Nexus strength: strong· Commonly granted
Weight Gain / Obesity
Nexus strength: moderate
Substance Abuse
Nexus strength: moderate
Migraines
Nexus strength: moderate· Commonly granted
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Related Guides
Major Depressive Disorder as a Secondary Condition
Major Depressive Disorder is commonly claimed secondary to these primary conditions:
Filing a Major Depressive Disorderclaim? Don't skip these.
Most veterans filing for Major Depressive Disorder should also be looking at:
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Draft your Major Depressive Disorder personal statement
7-step wizard that builds your VA claim personal statement using your own words. Detects presumptive eligibility, cites 38 CFR + DBQ, includes federal-crime disclosure. You review and edit before filing.
Start draftingNot legal or medical advice. Always have a VSO or accredited rep review before filing.
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Secondary Condition Claim Guides
Detailed guides on claiming each secondary condition linked to Major Depressive Disorder.
Major Depressive Disorder Claim Guide by State
Find state-specific VA facilities, veteran benefits, and filing resources.
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Educational content, not professional advice
This article is published by Military Transition Toolkit for educational and planning purposes. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. VA rating criteria, benefits, and regulations change — verify anything benefits-affecting against VA.gov, 38 CFR Part 4, or a VA-accredited representative (VSO, agent, or attorney) before filing.
MTT is a veteran-owned planning tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, or any military branch.