Substance Abuse Now Included in 100% PTSD Disability Rating

Veterans can now temporarily qualify for a 100% disability rating for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on the basis of alcohol and drug abuse. To determine an appropriate amount of disability compensation per month, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assigns a disability rating based on the intensity of a former servicemember’s condition.

How to Qualify for 100% Disability Based on PTSD

According to 38 Code of Federal Regulations §4.130, to qualify for a rating of 100% for PTSD, a veteran must exhibit total occupational and social impairment. This level of impairment is displayed by symptoms like:

• An overt deterioration of thought process and communication;
• Periodic delusions or hallucinations;
• Blatantly inappropriate behavior;
• Repeated danger of hurting oneself or others;
• Inability to carry out daily living actions-including the maintenance of personal hygiene;
• Disorientation to location and time, or
• Severe memory loss of family or self.

In short, the veteran’s behavior must demonstrate a considerable danger to himself or herself as a result of in-service incidents.

What Our Firm Can do for You

Fight4Vets is now able to help veterans establish a temporary 100% PTSD rating for symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse. Though the link between service-based PTSD and substance abuse has long been acknowledged by medical science, the VA has not added these symptoms to the list of indications of occupational and social impairment associated with PTSD.

If you are a veteran suffering from PTSD and would like help with your VA disability claim, Fight4Vets is here to help you. We offer a free disability calculator that can offer an estimated disability percentage and monthly payment amount. If you think you may be eligible for disability benefits on the basis of PTSD or other service-related disabilities, contact us today for a free consultation.