Combat records, unit logs, awards, buddy statements documenting the in-service event. For combat veterans, your own statement can carry the stressor.
A PTSD diagnosis from a qualified provider under DSM-5 criteria. VA or private — but it must be current and documented.
Work records, statements from spouses and coworkers, therapy notes. The rating follows the documented impairment — not how tough you are in the exam room.
Sleep apnea, GERD, hypertension, and migraines are commonly service-connected secondary to PTSD — and commonly missed.
Telling the C&P examiner you're "doing fine." Describe your worst weeks honestly — the criteria reward documented reality, and pride has cost more veterans their 70% than any VA error. New to the process? Start with how to file a VA claim for the full sequence.
