The VA rates psychiatric conditions on a six-tier occupational and
social impairment scale defined in 38 CFR § 4.130. This cheat sheet
breaks down every tier, shows what documentation language moves
ratings, and flags the regulatory mistakes that suppress claims below
their clinical floor.
VA Disability Cheat Sheet: Psychiatric Ratings, Documentation, and Common Errors Read Post »
Veterans and service members asking whether a video call can replace a therapy room deserve a straight answer. The randomized trial evidence is clear: online PTSD treatment produces outcomes equivalent to in-person care — and for many veterans, it removes barriers that make getting started possible.
Telehealth for PTSD: Does It Actually Work? Read Post »
A 100% rating and a Permanent and Total designation aren’t the same thing — and the difference shapes which protections you actually have. This post breaks down what 38 CFR § 4.130 actually says, why continuing psychiatric care doesn’t put your rating at risk, and which ancillary benefits stack with P&T.
The 2024 VA/DoD suicide risk guideline reclassified several interventions under stricter GRADE methodology. This walkthrough explains what changed, what didn’t, and why Recommendation 12 on ketamine matters.
Most veterans who engage with appropriate PTSD treatment get meaningfully better. The barrier is access, not effectiveness. Here’s the complete evidence-based landscape — what works, what doesn’t, and in what order.
The Complete Guide to PTSD Treatment for Veterans Read Post »
The VA’s February 2026 interim rule would have let medication effectiveness factor into disability ratings. It was rescinded 10 days later. Here’s what the rescission restored, what it didn’t, and why § 4.10 still protects your rating.
VA Medication Disability Rating: What the 2026 Rule Change (and Rescission) Actually Did Read Post »
A C&P exam PTSD evaluation is structured and time-limited. Here’s how to prepare, what examiners look for, and how your treatment record fits in.
C&P Exam PTSD: How to Prepare and What Providers Should Know Read Post »
Your PTSD disability rating isn’t decided by diagnosis or symptom count. It’s decided by what your psychiatric record says about functional impairment — in the specific language VA raters are trained to read.
PTSD Disability Rating: What Your Psychiatric Record Actually Controls Read Post »
Here’s what veterans need to know before choosing between VA Community Care and private psychiatry.
VA Community Care vs. Private Psychiatry: What Veterans Should Know Read Post »
They overlap, but they’re not the same condition — and the distinction changes treatment.
Moral Injury vs. PTSD: Why the Distinction Matters for Treatment Read Post »
