Depression and anxiety are rated under the same General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders in 38 CFR 4.130 that applies to PTSD. Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder have their own diagnostic codes, but the codes identify the condition; they do not change how severity is measured.
That surprises many veterans, so it is worth stating plainly: the percentage depends on occupational and social impairment, not on which mental health diagnosis appears in the record. Our PTSD ratings guide walks through what each level describes, and the same descriptions apply here.
Why the diagnosis label matters less than veterans expect
Because all mental disorders share one rating formula, a veteran with severe depression and a veteran with severe PTSD showing the same level of impairment are evaluated at the same percentage. And because the VA assigns a single evaluation for all service-connected mental health conditions, adding a second mental health diagnosis does not add a second rating.
What a second diagnosis can do is describe the full picture of impairment more accurately, which may support a higher single evaluation.
Two routes to service connection
Depression and anxiety reach service connection along two main paths:
- Directly - the condition began in service or is otherwise related to service, supported by in-service records, continuity of symptoms, and a medical opinion
- Secondarily - under 38 CFR 3.310, the condition was caused or aggravated by an already service-connected disability, such as chronic pain, a disabling physical condition, or another mental health condition
Where veterans start
Every case is different, and there is no obligation at any step. When veterans want to understand what their records actually support, these are the two most common starting points:
- Medical records review
A licensed physician reviews your records for a $250 flat fee and identifies which conditions the available evidence may support. The fee is refunded in full if nothing supportable is identified.
- Individual Psychological Evaluation Package
A telehealth evaluation with a psychologist licensed in your state. It includes a one-on-one evaluation of your history, symptoms, and functional impact, a DBQ when clinically appropriate, and a nexus opinion section when the evaluation supports one. It starts with a free screening - you pay nothing unless a full evaluation appears clinically appropriate.
The secondary route is common and often overlooked. Our guide to depression and anxiety secondary to service-connected conditions explains what that opinion has to address.
What raters look for in the record
Regardless of which diagnosis is listed, the evidence that moves a mental health evaluation is functional and specific: treatment notes describing frequency and severity over time, medication history, work history including absences, discipline, or job changes, and credible statements from people who see the veteran day to day.
Our guide to the evidence a mental health claim rests on covers each of those in detail.
Where an evaluation fits
For mental health conditions, the relevant evidence usually comes from a clinician who has actually evaluated the veteran. Our Individual Psychological Evaluation Package pairs veterans with a psychologist licensed in their state for a telehealth evaluation, and it starts with a free screening - you pay nothing unless a full evaluation appears clinically appropriate.
Patriot NEXUS Letters provides independent medical evidence, not legal representation or claim filing. We do not guarantee any particular medical conclusion, rating, or VA decision.