Mental Health Claims

How should you approach filing for disability for mental health issues:

Take a look at the VA Mental Health webpage and familiarize yourself with different types of mental health symptoms.

Be familiar with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) standards for PTSD if you’re going to file for PTSD.

Talk to your VA Primary Care Manager (PCM) about your issue and ask for a referral to a Mental Health Specialist.

You may receive treatment from a VA Mental Health Specialist, or they may outsource it to a Community Care Provider outside the VA. Community Care Providers are local doctors who are part of the VA network of doctors that may be closer to where you live so that you don’t have to travel far.

Once you’ve completed your treatment file a disability claim. Your medical history will in your VA medical records so the Reviewing Officer (RO) will be able to get it from there. They may not need to do an in-person C&P exam if all the information they need was established in your VA medical records.

Note: If you’re filing for disability for a mental health issue due to traumatic event while in service you must use VA Form 21-0781