VA Rating for Suicidal Ideation
Veterans who struggle with suicidal ideation may be entitled to a 70 percent VA disability rating. However, suicidal ideation in itself is not a qualifying condition for VA disability benefits. Rather, to receive a rating, the suicidal ideation a veteran experiences must be the result or symptom of a qualifying condition such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
Content Reviewed by: Matt Coveney
How Suicidal Ideation Affects Veterans
Suicidal ideation refers to any form of planning or contemplation of suicide. It is a common symptom of many mental health conditions that disproportionately impact veterans.
Generally, mental health professionals have identified two main forms of suicidal ideation:
- Passive suicidal ideation – A preoccupation with suicide without actual plans of self-harm
- Active suicidal ideation – Characterized by actual planning to commit suicide
Many people think of suicidal ideation in terms of giving away belongings or writing a note to loved ones. These are symptoms of active suicidal ideation that require emergency treatment.
Suicidal ideation occurs with many types of mental illness, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders. While these disorders have different primary traits, they all can have a severe impact on a veteran’s daily functioning because of symptoms such as extreme lethargy, hallucinations of traumatic events, and panic attacks.
If you or a loved one are struggling with any form of suicidal ideation, seek support and mental health treatment as soon as possible. The VA offers support for veterans experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Common Mental Health Conditions Associated with Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal ideation is considered a symptom of other disabling mental conditions rather than a condition in its own right. Several common service-connected mental health conditions are associated with suicidal ideation in veterans, including the following:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. PTSD is clinically associated with a heightened risk of suicide and suicidal ideation. Many veterans experience PTSD due to traumatic events they experienced while on active duty. Combat-related guilt and intrusive thoughts related to military service can both contribute to suicidal ideation.
- Depression. Suicidal ideation commonly results from major depressive disorder. Veterans are often at risk of struggling with depression after completing their active duty service due to trauma, the development of a new disability, and other issues that can impact mental health.
- Anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are characterized by persistent fear and panic, often manifesting in panic attacks. Anxiety attacks can be debilitating and often have a significant impact on veterans’ daily functioning. Anxiety can lead to suicidal ideation because the anxious person constantly feels under threat and wants to escape it.
- Bipolar disorder. Military service can cause or exacerbate bipolar disorder for many veterans. The depressive episodes characteristic of this disorder commonly result in suicidal ideation.
VA Criteria for Rating Suicidal Ideation
The VA includes suicidal ideation as a qualifying symptom of some mental health conditions under CFR § 4.130, which establishes VA ratings for different levels of symptomatic mental illness. Depending on your mental health diagnosis and the severity of your suicidal ideation, you may be able to qualify for a 70 percent VA disability rating if it is connected to your military service.
To qualify for a 70 percent rating for suicidal ideation, you must experience “occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.” Thus, suicidal ideation must significantly impact your daily life in more than one respect for you to qualify to receive VA benefits for the condition.
Note that persistent low mood plagues most people with suicidal ideation. The impacts on your ability to function daily, including whether you can hold a job or maintain relationships, are key factors for qualifying for disability benefits.
What a 70% Rating Means for Your Benefits
A 70 percent VA disability rating is a relatively high rating associated with specific benefits and rates of monthly compensation. Benefits available to those with a 70 percent VA disability rating include the following:
- Free health care and prescription medication due to priority group 1 health care benefits
- Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, or VR&E, services
- Waived fees on VA home loans
- Additional monthly compensation based on the number of dependents
- 10-point veteran hiring preference for federal positions
Why Suicidal Ideation Alone Doesn't Qualify for VA Disability
For you to qualify for VA disability benefits, your suicidal ideation must be linked to an underlying service-connected mental health condition. Generally, suicidal ideation is considered a symptom of a larger mental health condition rather than a separate disorder. The VA does not recognize suicidal ideation as its own condition, and you will require a diagnosis of a specific mental health condition to receive benefits.
Not yet having a diagnosis of a mental health condition doesn’t mean you’re permanently ineligible for benefits. Seek help from a doctor or other licensed medical professional to identify the root cause of your suicidal ideation. A health care professional can provide a diagnosis that meets the eligibility criteria for VA benefits.
Common Reasons Why VA Claims for Suicidal Ideation Are Denied
There are a few typical reasons that disability claims related to suicidal ideation are denied or given low disability ratings. These include insufficient medical evidence, lack of a mental health diagnosis, and failure to show the impact of suicidal ideation on the veteran’s life.
Lack of Medical Evidence
One of the primary reasons the VA denies disability claims is the lack of sufficient evidence. Either the medical evidence submitted fails to meet VA rating criteria or fails to establish a connection to the veteran’s service. You must gather all relevant records documenting your medical treatment and military service before filing a disability claim. You must be able to connect the suicidal ideation you experience to a service-connected mental health condition.
Failure To Show Impact on Occupational and Social Functioning
VA claims related to suicidal ideation are often denied because the veteran has failed to prove the effect of their condition on their occupational and social functioning.
Under the VA criteria in CFR § 4.130, to qualify for a 70 percent rating for suicidal ideation, a veteran must show that their service-connected mental health condition significantly impacted their personal and professional life in multiple areas, such as their social and family life, work or school, and emotional health. If your initial application does not demonstrate this impact thoroughly, the VA will likely deny your claim.
How To Appeal a VA Disability Rating for Suicidal Ideation
If you’ve received a low disability rating or have had your benefits claim for a mental health condition with suicidal ideation denied, you still have options. There are three choices for appealing your claim denial:
- A Supplemental Claim involves submitting new and more thorough evidence of your claim to the VA. Unlike other forms of appeal, there is no time limit to submit a Supplemental Claim. However, the VA generally recommends that you do so within one year of the denial.
- A Higher-Level Review involves sending your claim denial to a more senior claims reviewer without submitting new evidence. The new claims reviewer will examine the original reviewer’s assessment of your claim to determine whether they made a mistake. You have one year after the date of denial to request a Higher-Level Review of your claim.
- A Board Appeal is the most formal type of VA benefits appeal. This type of appeal involves bringing your case before a Veterans Law Judge, who will either assess the previously submitted documentation or review new evidence. You have one year after the date of denial to request a Board Appeal hearing for your claim.
Gathering New and Relevant Evidence
Before appealing, obtain all updated medical records, lay statements, and psychological evaluation results showing that your suicidal ideation results from a service-connected mental health condition. Lack of complete and relevant evidence is a major reason VA benefits claims are denied. If possible, have your doctor write a nexus letter establishing the connection between your suicidal ideation and your military service.
Work With a VA Disability Lawyer To Get Maximum Compensation
Navigating the appeals process is difficult and often frustrating. Missed deadlines, paperwork errors, incomplete documentation, and similar issues can cause major setbacks. Professional legal support with a claim or appeal can be crucial to receiving a favorable decision. Veterans Guide has a network of experienced VA benefits attorneys who can help you determine the compensation you may be owed and fight for the benefits you deserve.
Call (888) 982-1009 or contact us online today for your free legal consultation.
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