VA Disability Rating for Depression and Anxiety: 2026 Pay Charts and Criteria
How Much Does VA Pay for Depression and Anxiety in 2026?
All 2026 rates reflect the 2.8% COLA effective December 1, 2025. Use the combined rating calculator to add your mental health rating to other conditions and see your exact monthly pay.
| Rating | Veteran Alone | With Spouse | With Spouse + 1 Child | With Spouse + 2 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $175.51 | Dependent additions begin at 30% | ||
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.80 | $650.47 | $683.14 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,242.48 | $1,296.22 | $1,349.96 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.23 | $2,037.10 | $2,112.97 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $4,267.28 | $4,376.39 |
Source: 38 CFR Part 4, VA published 2026 rate tables. Additional children add $53.74/month at 50%, $75.87/month at 70%, $109.11/month at 100%.
Which VA Diagnostic Codes Apply to Depression and Anxiety?
VA rates mental health conditions under 38 CFR Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities. All of the codes below use the same General Rating Formula, so the rating criteria and monthly pay amounts are identical regardless of which code is assigned.
| Diagnostic Code | Condition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DC 9434 | Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) | Most common depression code. Also covers persistent depressive episodes. |
| DC 9400 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) | Most common anxiety code. Covers chronic, pervasive worry affecting daily functioning. |
| DC 9412 | Panic Disorder with or without Agoraphobia | Recurring unexpected panic attacks. Frequency matters for the rating level. |
| DC 9403 | Specific Phobia / Social Anxiety Disorder | Avoidance of social situations due to service-connected anxiety. |
| DC 9435 | Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) | Chronic low-grade depression lasting two or more years. |
| DC 9432 | Bipolar Disorder | Rated under the same formula when depressive episodes are the primary feature. |
If you have both depression and anxiety from the same service connection, VA assigns one combined psychiatric rating rather than two separate ones. VA will use the code that best reflects the dominant diagnosis.
The Rating Criteria: Does This Apply to You?
VA assigns the rating level where your symptoms most closely match the criteria in 38 CFR 4.130. The scale measures how severely your condition affects your ability to work and maintain relationships. Answer honestly based on your worst regular functioning, not a good day.
TDIU: Getting 100% Pay at a Lower Rating
If your service-connected depression or anxiety prevents you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability). TDIU pays at the 100% rate, $3,938.58/month in 2026, even if your combined rating is 70% or lower.
To qualify under the schedular standard (38 CFR 4.16(a)):
- One condition rated at 60% or more, OR
- Combined rating of 70% or more with at least one condition rated 40% or more
A 70% mental health rating alone satisfies the single-disability TDIU threshold. Veterans who cannot work due to depression or anxiety at lower combined ratings may still qualify for extraschedular TDIU (38 CFR 4.16(b)).
Substantially gainful employment means earning above the federal poverty line, roughly $15,060/year in 2026. A sheltered workshop, family business at below-poverty wages, or marginal employment does not disqualify you.
Use the TDIU eligibility checker to see if you qualify.
C&P Exam Tips for Depression and Anxiety
The VA mental health C&P exam is a clinical interview that typically runs 30 to 60 minutes. The examiner uses a Mental Disorders DBQ (Disability Benefits Questionnaire) and evaluates both your ability to work and your ability to maintain relationships and daily functioning.
The most important thing to understand
Describe your worst days, not your average or best days. The rating formula measures overall impairment. If your worst days involve inability to get out of bed, panic attacks that interrupt work, or snapping at coworkers, that needs to be documented. Many veterans naturally minimize symptoms in a clinical setting and end up underrated as a result.
What the examiner will ask about
- Work history since discharge. Gaps in employment, firings, early departures, demotions, written warnings, and conflicts with supervisors all matter.
- Social relationships. Have you withdrawn from friends or family? Avoided gatherings? Lost relationships because of your symptoms?
- Daily functioning. Sleep quality, hygiene, leaving the house, driving, grocery shopping, managing finances.
- Treatment. Medications, therapy, hospitalizations, ER visits, crisis line calls.
- Suicidal ideation. Be honest. Passive suicidal ideation (wishing you were not here, not wanting to wake up) is a documented symptom at the 70% level. It does not automatically mean commitment.
Get your records in order before the exam
- Private therapy or psychiatry notes that document symptom severity and functional impact
- Buddy statements from family members or former coworkers describing what they have observed
- Employment records showing gaps, terminations, or accommodation requests
- A personal statement describing how your worst days affect you
See the full C&P exam preparation guide for more detail on what to bring and what to say.
Secondary Conditions That Often Accompany Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety rarely travel alone. Several conditions have well-established clinical connections and are frequently approved as secondary to mental health ratings. Adding one secondary condition can add hundreds of dollars per month.
| Secondary Condition | Connection | Typical Rating | Monthly Add-On |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Apnea (DC 6847) | Disrupted sleep architecture, nighttime hyperarousal, and insomnia from depression and anxiety can trigger or worsen obstructive sleep apnea | 50% with CPAP | +$1,132.90 |
| Hypertension (DC 7101) | Chronic anxiety elevates cortisol and adrenaline, causing sustained blood pressure increases | 10% to 40% | +$175.51 to +$721.27 |
| Migraines (DC 8100) | Anxiety and chronic stress are major migraine triggers; prostrating attacks once a month qualify for 30% | 10% to 50% | +$175.51 to +$1,132.90 |
| GERD / Acid Reflux (DC 7346) | Anxiety directly aggravates gastric acid production and lower esophageal sphincter function | 10% to 30% | +$175.51 to +$552.47 |
| IBS (DC 7319) | Gut-brain axis connection between mental health and gastrointestinal motility is well-documented | 0% to 30% | up to +$552.47 |
| Erectile Dysfunction (SMC-K) | Both depression itself and SSRIs/SNRIs prescribed for depression commonly cause ED | SMC-K flat add-on | +$139.87 |
Use the VA Secondary Conditions Finder to see which other conditions your depression or anxiety rating may support, organized by diagnostic code.
Filing Depression or Anxiety as a Secondary Condition
Depression and anxiety can also be claimed as secondary conditions flowing from a primary physical disability. This is common in veterans where:
- Chronic pain from back, knee, or neck injuries causes depression from loss of function and quality of life
- TBI causes mood disorders and emotional dysregulation (see the TBI rating guide)
- Hearing loss leads to social isolation and depression
- Diabetes causes anxiety about health management and complications
- A service-connected condition causes loss of employment, role, or identity
For secondary service connection you need a nexus letter from a treating provider stating it is "at least as likely as not" that the primary disability caused or aggravated the mental health condition. See the nexus letter guide for how to get one and what it must include.
What to Do After Getting Your Rating
Once you have a service-connected depression or anxiety rating, several additional benefits become available:
- Dependent additions. File VA Form 21-686c to add spouse or children. At 70%, a spouse adds $152.78/month ($1,961.23 total). Each child adds $75.87/month.
- Secondary conditions. Document any related physical conditions and file secondary claims. Sleep apnea alone could add $1,132.90/month.
- TDIU. If your rating is 70% and you cannot maintain employment, TDIU adds another $2,130.13/month over the 70% rate.
- Back pay. If there was a gap between when you first filed and when you were rated, you may be owed retroactive pay. Use the back pay calculator to estimate the lump sum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does VA pay for a 70% depression rating with a family?
At 70%, a veteran with a spouse receives $1,961.23/month. Add one child and it goes to $2,037.10/month. Each additional child under 18 adds $75.87/month. A school-age child (18 to 23) adds $246.57/month at the 70% level. File VA Form 21-686c to get dependent additions added to your payment.
What is DC 9434 and how is it rated?
DC 9434 is the VA diagnostic code for Major Depressive Disorder. It is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders at 38 CFR 4.130. The formula evaluates occupational and social impairment. A 70% rating under DC 9434 requires deficiencies in most areas of life including suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, or inability to maintain relationships. Monthly pay at 70% is $1,808.45 (veteran alone, 2026).
Can I get both a depression and PTSD rating at the same time?
Generally no. If your PTSD and depression both stem from the same service-connected trauma, VA assigns one combined psychiatric rating. However, if depression developed from a separate and distinct cause, for example secondary to a physical service-connected condition, a separate rating may be appropriate. Talk to a VSO about your specific situation before filing.
What if my C&P examiner gives a negative opinion?
A negative C&P opinion is not the end of your claim. You can file a supplemental claim with a private nexus letter from your own psychiatrist or psychologist. A well-written private nexus letter that addresses the C&P examiner's specific reasons for the negative opinion can overcome that finding. You can also appeal via the Appeals Modernization Act through a higher-level review or Board appeal.
Does a 100% mental health rating qualify me for P&T status?
A 100% mental health rating can qualify for Permanent and Total (P&T) status if the VA determines the condition is not expected to improve. P&T status ends future scheduled re-exams and unlocks CHAMPVA health coverage for eligible dependents, DEA education benefits for dependents, and free VA dental care. Use the P&T eligibility checker to see if you qualify.
How does VA rate anxiety vs depression differently?
VA does not rate them differently. Generalized anxiety disorder (DC 9400) and major depressive disorder (DC 9434) both use the exact same General Rating Formula at 38 CFR 4.130. The rating is based entirely on functional impairment at work and in social settings, not on which diagnosis appears on the label. A 70% anxiety rating and a 70% depression rating pay the same $1,808.45/month.
Can I get TDIU for anxiety alone?
Yes. If a 70% service-connected anxiety rating (or a lower rating combined with other conditions to reach the TDIU thresholds) prevents you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for TDIU. TDIU pays $3,938.58/month in 2026, the same as the 100% schedular rate. Anxiety is one of the most common TDIU-qualifying conditions because of its significant effects on workplace performance and attendance.
Add your depression or anxiety rating to all other conditions and see your exact monthly payment with dependents included.
Open Disability Calculator → Estimate Back Pay →Related tools and guides
- VA Rating Criteria Checker - answer yes/no questions based on the actual 38 CFR criteria for depression and anxiety
- Secondary Conditions Finder - see which conditions your depression or anxiety rating may support
- TDIU Eligibility Checker - see if your mental health condition qualifies for the 100% pay rate
- VA Disability Rating for PTSD: 2026 Guide
- VA Disability Rating for Sleep Apnea: 2026 Guide
- VA Disability Rating for TBI: 2026 Guide
- C&P Exam Tips: How to Prepare and What to Say
- Nexus Letter Guide: What It Is and How to Get One
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This guide is for informational purposes only. Rates are 2026 published VA figures. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your actual rating and payment depend on your medical records and VA evaluation. Consult a VA-accredited claims agent or VSO for your specific situation.