Major depressive disorder is a prevalent service-connected disability affecting thousands of veterans receiving VA disability compensation. Many veterans develop depression during or after military service due to combat exposure, military trauma, stress from service, or secondary to other service-connected conditions. Depression in veterans can be severely disabling, affecting the veteran’s ability to work, maintain relationships, and function in daily life. Yet many veterans don’t realize they qualify for VA disability benefits for depression or don’t understand how the VA rates depression in veterans. This comprehensive article explains how veterans develop service-connected depression, how veterans can file disability claims for depression, what disability ratings veterans with depression receive, and how veterans can maximize compensation for depression disability.

How Veterans Develop Service-Connected Depression

Veterans develop depression through various service-related pathways:

Combat Exposure: Veterans exposed to combat frequently develop depression from the stress and trauma experienced during the veteran’s combat service. Combat-related depression in veterans can be severe and chronic, significantly impacting the veteran’s functioning.

Military Trauma: Veterans who experienced or witnessed traumatic events during military service frequently develop depression as a result of the veteran’s trauma. Military sexual trauma, violent incidents, and other traumatic experiences cause depression affecting the veteran.

Service-Related Stress: The cumulative stress of military service contributes to depression development in many veterans. The demanding military environment affects the veteran both during service and afterward.

Secondary Depression: Many veterans develop depression secondary to other service-connected conditions. A veteran with chronic pain from a back injury may develop depression from the burden of chronic pain affecting the veteran. A veteran with PTSD may develop secondary depression. A veteran with hearing loss may become depressed from isolation related to the veteran’s hearing disability. These secondary depression conditions in veterans qualify for disability benefits.

Occupational Exposure: Veterans exposed to certain environmental hazards, chemicals, or traumatic occupational incidents during military service may develop depression as a psychological response to the veteran’s exposure.

Service Transition: Some veterans develop depression from the difficulty transitioning from military to civilian life. The veteran’s identity shift and loss of military community affect the veteran, potentially triggering depression.

Types of Depression Affecting Veterans

Veterans experience various forms of depression qualifying for disability benefits:

Major Depressive Disorder: Veterans with major depressive disorder experience persistent depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and other symptoms significantly affecting the veteran’s functioning. This is the most common type of depression affecting veterans.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): Some veterans experience chronic, long-lasting depression called persistent depressive disorder. The veteran’s depressive symptoms are less severe than major depression but persist for years, continuously affecting the veteran.

Depression with Anxiety: Many veterans experience depression combined with anxiety symptoms. The veteran’s depression and anxiety together substantially impact the veteran’s functioning more than either condition alone.

Depression Secondary to PTSD: Veterans with PTSD frequently develop comorbid depression affecting the veteran. This secondary depression in veterans is common and deserves separate disability rating.

Treatment-Resistant Depression: Some veterans’ depression doesn’t respond well to standard treatments. These veterans may try multiple medications and therapies before finding effective treatment for the veteran’s depression.

Service Connection for Veterans with Depression

Veterans can establish service connection for depression through several pathways:

Direct Service Connection: Veterans with depression caused by combat exposure, military trauma, or service-related stress can establish direct service connection. The veteran must show that depression resulted from the service-related event and that the veteran currently has a major depressive disorder diagnosis.

Secondary Service Connection: Many veterans establish service connection for depression as a secondary condition to PTSD, chronic pain, TBI, or other service-connected conditions. Veterans show how their primary service-connected condition causes or aggravates the veteran’s depression.

Presumptive Service Connection: While less common for depression than for PTSD, some veterans may qualify for presumptive depression benefits under certain presumptive programs. Veterans exposed to specific environmental hazards or with certain service-related conditions may have presumptive depression benefits.

Disability Ratings for Veterans with Depression

The VA rates depression in veterans based on severity and functional impact. Depression ratings in veterans range from 0% to 100%, though most veterans with depression receive ratings between 10% and 50%.

0-10% Rating for Veterans: Veterans at this level have diagnosed depression with minimal functional impairment. The veteran experiences occasional depressive symptoms that don’t substantially limit the veteran’s work or daily functioning.

20-30% Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 20-30% for depression have noticeable depressive symptoms affecting the veteran’s functioning. The veteran experiences depressive episodes regularly and it impacts the veteran’s work performance, relationships, and daily activities.

40-50% Rating for Veterans: Veterans with a 40-50% depression rating have substantial depression significantly limiting the veteran’s functioning. The veteran’s depression substantially affects occupational capacity and the veteran experiences significant difficulty with work and relationships.

60% and Higher Rating for Veterans: Veterans receiving 60% or higher for depression have severe depression substantially preventing the veteran from working or functioning in society. These higher ratings reflect depression so severe the veteran is significantly disabled by the veteran’s condition.

Filing for Depression Disability Benefits as a Veteran

To file for VA disability benefits for depression, veterans submit VA Form 21-0960 (Application for Disability Compensation) indicating depression as the claimed condition.

Veterans filing for depression should include:

• Medical records documenting the veteran’s major depressive disorder diagnosis
• Clinical notes from mental health providers treating the veteran for depression
• Records showing the veteran’s depression treatment history
• A personal statement from the veteran describing the veteran’s depressive symptoms and how depression affects the veteran’s daily life, work, and relationships
• If filing for secondary depression, medical evidence showing how the veteran’s primary service-connected condition causes the veteran’s depression
• Information about when the veteran’s depression began and what triggered depression development in the veteran
• Documentation of any hospitalizations or crisis interventions for the veteran’s depression

Veterans should clearly explain whether the veteran is filing for direct service connection (depression caused directly by military service) or secondary service connection (depression caused by another service-connected condition affecting the veteran).

The Compensation and Pension Exam for Veterans with Depression

When veterans file for depression disability, the VA typically schedules a Compensation and Pension exam with a psychiatrist or psychologist. During the veteran’s exam, the VA examiner will:

• Review the veteran’s medical records and depression history
• Ask the veteran detailed questions about depressive symptoms affecting the veteran
• Assess functional limitations caused by the veteran’s depression
• Evaluate the veteran’s occupational and social functioning impacted by depression
• Perform mental status assessment documenting the veteran’s depression presentation
• Inquire about suicidal ideation or self-harm thoughts affecting the veteran

Veterans should prepare for the veteran’s exam by being honest about depression symptoms affecting the veteran, describing how the veteran’s depression impacts the veteran’s ability to work and maintain relationships, and explaining any difficulties the veteran experiences with daily functioning due to the veteran’s depression.

Evidence Supporting Veteran Depression Claims

Building a strong depression disability claim requires comprehensive evidence:

• Mental health treatment records documenting the veteran’s depression diagnosis
• Prescriptions for depression medications taken by the veteran
• Clinical notes from therapists or psychiatrists treating the veteran for depression
• Descriptions from the veteran of depressive symptoms the veteran experiences
• Information about how the veteran’s depression affects the veteran’s work performance and relationships
• Statements from family members or employers describing how depression impacts the veteran
• Medical provider letters confirming the veteran’s depression diagnosis and severity
• Documentation of any hospitalizations or psychiatric care for the veteran’s depression
• Records of any suicide attempts or crisis interventions affecting the veteran

The more detailed evidence the veteran provides about the veteran’s depression symptoms and functional impact, the stronger the veteran’s disability claim.

Secondary Conditions in Veterans with Depression

Veterans should file claims for conditions secondary to their depression:

Anxiety: Many veterans develop anxiety secondary to their depression affecting the veteran. Secondary anxiety in veterans qualifies for separate disability rating.

Sleep Disorders: Veterans with depression often develop sleep problems from their depression preventing restful sleep. Secondary sleep disorders in veterans can receive separate disability ratings.

Substance Use Issues: Some veterans develop substance abuse problems as they attempt to self-medicate depression. While substance abuse itself may not be service-connected, depression-related substance problems may impact overall functional impairment in the veteran.

Relationship Problems: While relationship difficulties themselves aren’t rated conditions, they may be documented as functional impact demonstrating how the veteran’s depression affects the veteran’s occupational and social capacity.

Physical Health Decline: Chronic depression in veterans can manifest as physical health decline. Veterans’ depression may reduce motivation for self-care, contributing to weight gain, poor nutrition, or neglect of medical conditions in the veteran.

These secondary conditions increase the veteran’s combined disability rating, potentially significantly increasing the veteran’s total compensation.

Combining Depression with Other Veteran Disabilities

Many veterans have depression combined with other service-connected conditions. For example, a veteran might have a 50% rating for PTSD, a 30% rating for secondary depression, plus additional disabilities.

All conditions in veterans combine using the VA’s combined rating formula to determine the veteran’s total disability rating. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand exactly how your depression rating combines with your other service-connected conditions as a veteran. The calculator shows veterans their total combined rating and monthly compensation.

Rating Increases for Veterans with Worsening Depression

Veterans whose depression worsens or whose functioning declines should file for rating increases. Depression in veterans can worsen due to life circumstances, seasonal factors, or progression of the veteran’s condition.

Veterans should file for rating increases when:

• The veteran’s depressive episodes become more frequent or severe
• The veteran’s depression increasingly impacts the veteran’s ability to work
• The veteran develops suicidal ideation or self-harm urges affecting the veteran
• The veteran requires medication changes or increased treatment intensity
• The veteran’s depression causes the veteran to require hospitalization

When filing for a rating increase, veterans should submit updated medical evidence showing the veteran’s worsened depression condition and current functional impact.

Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to see how a depression rating increase would affect your combined rating and total compensation as a veteran.

Understanding Your Depression Disability Compensation

A veteran’s depression disability compensation depends on the veteran’s depression rating and any other service-connected conditions the veteran has. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to determine:

• Your combined rating including depression and other disabilities affecting the veteran
• Your monthly compensation based on your disability ratings
• How a depression rating increase would affect your total compensation as a veteran
• How depression combines with other service-connected conditions affecting you

The calculator helps veterans understand their total compensation when depression combines with other disabilities affecting the veteran.

Depression Management While Receiving VA Benefits

Veterans with service-connected depression should establish regular care with VA mental health providers. The VA offers veterans:

• Psychiatric medication management for depression affecting the veteran
• Evidence-based psychotherapy for depression in veterans (like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy)
• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for veterans with more severe depression
• Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization when needed for veterans in crisis
• Crisis services including the Veterans Crisis Line for veterans in acute distress

Veterans should maintain regular VA mental health care both for treatment and to create medical documentation supporting disability ratings and potential rating increase claims for the veteran.

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Support

The VA recognizes that veterans with depression are at increased risk for suicide. If you’re a veteran experiencing suicidal thoughts or in crisis, reach out for help immediately:

• Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1
• Text to 838255
• Veterans in acute crisis can go to the nearest emergency room
• VA mental health providers can assist with crisis planning

Veterans should never feel ashamed about depression or suicidal thoughts. These are medical symptoms deserving treatment and support. Reaching out for help is a sign of strength.

Individual Unemployability and Severe Depression in Veterans

Some veterans with severe depression may not be able to work despite having depression ratings below 100%. These veterans may qualify for Individual Unemployability (IU), which provides 100% disability compensation based on occupational inability.

Veterans with severe depression affecting occupational capacity should consider filing for IU. IU provides maximum VA disability compensation to veterans who cannot maintain employment due to service-connected disabilities including severe depression.

Family Support for Veterans with Depression

Veterans’ families play an important role in supporting veterans with depression. Family members should:

• Encourage veterans to maintain VA mental health care
• Be patient with veterans experiencing depressive episodes
• Support veterans’ treatment compliance
• Reach out when veterans seem to be struggling
• Know warning signs of suicide risk in the veteran

For family members themselves, the VA offers support services and counseling to help families cope with veterans’ depression.

Appealing Denied Depression Claims for Veterans

If the VA denies a veteran’s depression claim, the veteran can appeal. Many veterans successfully overturn denials by:

• Submitting additional mental health records documenting the veteran’s depression
• Obtaining detailed statements from mental health providers supporting the veteran’s depression disability claim
• Working with a VA-accredited representative who understands depression disorder claims
• Filing for secondary depression if the veteran’s primary service-connected condition was approved
• Requesting a higher-level review or appealing to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals

Don’t accept a denied depression claim without appeal—many veterans successfully obtain depression disability benefits through persistent appeals and proper documentation.

Conclusion

Major depressive disorder is a service-connected disability affecting many veterans, significantly impacting the veteran’s ability to work and function. Veterans who developed depression from military service, combat exposure, military trauma, or service-connected conditions deserve disability compensation. If you’re a veteran with depression, file a disability claim documenting your condition and how depression affects your functioning. File for secondary depression if your primary service-connected condition causes the veteran’s depression. Maintain regular VA mental health care and document your depressive symptoms and functional impact. Use our disability calculator at https://vetvalor.com/va-disability-calculator-2025/ to understand your combined rating and total compensation when depression combines with other veteran disabilities. As a veteran with service-connected depression, you deserve disability benefits recognizing your condition and compensating you for the functional impact on your veteran life. Your military service and the depression resulting from that service deserve full recognition through VA disability benefits. Reach out for help if you’re struggling—the VA and veteran community support is available to help you.