★ Mental Health
OCD VA Disability Rating
38 CFR § 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9404
Overview
OCD involves intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce distress.
Time spent on rituals, avoidance behavior, and impact on work and relationships drive the rating.
Like other mental health conditions, only one mental health rating is generally assigned at a time.
How to Establish Service Connection
- Direct: documented onset during service.
- Secondary: OCD symptoms emerging or worsening because of a service-connected condition such as PTSD or TBI.
- Aggravation: pre-existing OCD made worse by service.
Rating Criteria
Paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9404
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Diagnosed condition, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with work or social functioning, or symptoms are controlled by continuous medication. |
| 10% | Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress. |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency with intermittent inability to perform tasks; depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss. |
| 50% | Reduced reliability and productivity; flattened affect; circumstantial speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty understanding complex commands; impairment of memory; impaired judgment; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. |
| 70% | Deficiencies in most areas (work, school, family, judgment, thinking, mood); suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals; near-continuous panic or depression; impaired impulse control; spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance; difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; inability to maintain effective relationships. |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living; disorientation to time or place; memory loss for own name, occupation, or close relatives. |
See what each percentage pays in 2026 and how it combines with your current rating →
Evidence Checklist
- Treatment notes documenting frequency and content of obsessions/compulsions.
- Functional impact statements from spouse, family, or coworkers.
- VA Form 21-0781 if a stressor is involved.
- Specialist evaluation (psychiatrist or psychologist) when available.
Common Secondary Conditions
Conditions frequently service-connected as secondary to OCD:
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a OCD claim or denial?
Four fields. A VA-accredited claims agent reviews it and responds within 3–5 business days. Contingent fees apply only to awarded past-due benefits on appeals — never on initial claims.
Requesting a consultation does not create representation and is not a guarantee of any outcome. Representation begins only after a written fee agreement and VA Form 21-22a are signed.
Educational content only — not legal advice and not medical advice. Rating criteria on this page are summarized in plain English from 38 CFR Part 4; consult VA.gov or the current Code of Federal Regulations for official criteria. This page provides general education about how the VA rates this condition; it is not individualized advice, does not establish a representation relationship, and should not be used to self-diagnose, self-treat, or decide a course of action without speaking to a qualified clinician and a VA-accredited representative. Outcomes depend on each veteran's individual facts, evidence, and the adjudicator's judgment; no specific rating, effective date, or other result is guaranteed. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
Related Conditions
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
Service-connected PTSD ratings, common stressors, and evidence strategy.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety ratings under the general mental health formula and common evidence.
Major Depressive Disorder
Depression ratings, secondary connections, and what the C&P examiner looks for.