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Veterans suffering from schizophrenia may be eligible for veterans disability benefits if the condition is service-connected or there is a secondary service connection. The possible VA disability ratings for schizophrenia vary greatly, and so do the benefits the veteran receives. If you’re applying for VA disability benefits based on schizophrenia, it’s important to understand what is required to establish each rating, and what benefits are available at that level.
What Is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a mental health disorder that impacts the way a person thinks and experiences their surroundings.
Some common symptoms of schizophrenia include:
- Hallucinations, including visual hallucinations (seeing things) and auditory hallucinations (hearing things) as well as feeling, smelling, or tasting something that isn’t there. Hearing voices is a common type of hallucination among people with schizophrenia.
- Delusions, include believing people are out to get them, that they are disproportionately important or have special powers, that ordinary events and communications carry hidden meaning intended for them, and the belief that someone else is controlling their thoughts.
- Disordered thinking, which may include difficulty organizing thoughts, stopping in the middle of a sentence, jumping topics, or not making sense.
- Cognitive problems such as trouble processing information and making decisions, and trouble focusing.
Ongoing medical treatment is critical for most people suffering from schizophrenia.
The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown. Some people appear to be more prone to schizophrenia based on genetics and other factors. However, psychotic episodes may be triggered by stress or trauma. So, a veteran may experience the onset of schizophrenia following a high-stress event during military service.
What VA Disability Ratings Are Available For Schizophrenia?
A veteran may receive a disability rating of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% or 100% for schizophrenia.
The requirements for each rating are set forth in 38 CFR.§4.130–the same schedule that governs many other mental health disorders.
Below is what each level currently looks like:
- 100% VA disability rating: $3,831.30 per month. This rating is for total occupational and social impairment, with symptoms like gross impairment in thinking, persistent danger of harming oneself or others, and the inability to perform daily tasks.
- 70% VA disability rating: $1,759.19 per month. This rating applies to those with significant occupational and social impairment, which includes symptoms such as obsessive rituals, constant panic or depression, and difficulty adapting to stressful situations.
- 50% VA disability rating: $1,102.04 per month. Veterans at this level show reduced reliability and productivity, with symptoms like flat affect, frequent panic attacks, memory issues, and difficulty understanding complex instructions.
- 30% VA disability rating: $537.42 per month. This rating is for veterans who experience some impairment in their ability to work, such as panic attacks, sleep issues, or depression that sometimes makes it hard to perform work tasks.
- 10% VA disability rating: $175.51 per month. For veterans with mild impairment of their ability to work, particularly under stress, or when the condition is controlled by medication.
- 0% VA disability rating: No monetary compensation. The veteran has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but there is no occupational or social impairment, and medication is not required.
Keep in mind that if you have dependents, your compensation may be higher.
It is the veteran’s responsibility to show that their symptoms and impairment meet the criteria for any given disability rating. That can be more difficult with a mental disorder such as schizophrenia than other conditions that can be measured with testing. In addition to providing ample medical documentation, a veteran pursuing disability benefits for schizophrenia will likely also need statements from people who have witnessed the impairments firsthand over time.
How Much Does VA Disability Rating Matter?
VA disability benefits are different from programs like Social Security disability because the amount you receive is based on the extent of your disability rating. Unlike some benefits that are all or nothing, VA benefits scale depending on your disability, so the higher your rating, the higher your compensation.
Here’s what to expect for 2025:
- 0% disability rating: Veterans with a 0% rating don’t receive cash benefits, but they are still entitled to VA medical care related to the service-connected condition.
- 10% disability rating: A veteran with a 10% disability rating will receive $175.51 per month. Additionally, the veteran is entitled to medical care for the service-connected condition. There’s no increase in benefits for dependents at this level.
- 30% disability rating: A veteran rated at 30% will receive $537.42 per month in compensation. They’re also entitled to medical care for their service-connected condition. Additional benefits may apply if the veteran has dependents.
- 50% disability rating: Veterans with a 50% disability rating will receive $1,102.04 per month. This amount may increase depending on the number and type of dependents. Veterans at this level and higher are also eligible for broader healthcare services.
- 70% disability rating: A veteran with a 70% disability rating will receive $1,759.19 per month, plus any additional amounts for dependents. Healthcare services are available, but benefits for dependents are more limited at this level.
- 100% disability rating: Veterans with a 100% disability rating will receive $3,831.30 per month, plus additional benefits for any dependents. Dependents may also qualify for healthcare coverage and educational benefits.
In short, your disability rating will have a significant impact on the veterans disability benefits you receive, and to what extent your dependents may be entitled to benefits.
Work With An Experienced VA Disability Benefits Advocate
Whether you are just applying for VA disability benefits, appealing a denial, or want to fight for a higher disability rating, the veterans disability advocates at Veterans Help Group are here for you. We’ve helped thousands of disabled veterans, family members, and survivors pursue the benefits they deserve. We know what type of evidence is required to prove that your condition is service-connected and to prove the extent of your disability and the limitations it creates.
To learn more about how we can help you submit the strongest possible claim or appeal, call 855-855-8992 right now, or contact us here now.
