The VA Just Made It EASIER to Get 100% for Mental Health (New 2026 Rules)
π Schedule Your FREE Nexus Letter Evaluation with Xterra Health β https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/e71af9d9/appointment/89479598/calendar/any?appointmentTypeIds[]=89479598
What is this? This is how you book your 30-minute nexus letter evaluation with one of our medical providers. Free to schedule. No obligation.
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The new mental health rating system is coming. Make sure you’re ready.
π CLAIMS ROADMAP: We review your situation and help you understand exactly which functional domains are affected and how severelyβso you can document correctly for the new system.
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The VA is about to make it EASIER to get 100% for mental health conditions.
I’m not exaggerating. I’m not clickbaiting. This is actually happening.
Right now, mental health ratings are a mess. The criteria are vague. The language is confusing. Two veterans with identical symptoms can get completely different ratings depending on who examines them.
One examiner says “deficiencies in most areas” means 70%. Another says it’s only 50%. The veteran’s symptoms didn’t change. The interpretation did.
That’s about to change.
The VA is rolling out a COMPLETELY new rating schedule for mental health conditions. New criteria. New structure. And for the first timeβa CLEAR path to 100%.
ABOUT DR. MARSHALL BAHR & XTERRA HEALTH
I’m Dr. Marshall Bahr β physician, Army Ranger, Special Operations Combat Medic, disabled veteran, former C&P examiner.
At Xterra Health, we help veterans maximize their VA disability ratings. We identify conditions you’re missing, write nexus letters connecting conditions to service, and help you understand exactly what it takes to reach your goal rating.
OUR SERVICES:
π NEXUS LETTERS
Medical opinions connecting your conditions to service. Free consultation. Free records review. Free draft. You only pay if you like it.
π CLAIMS ROADMAP
Personalized strategy document mapping out every condition you should file, the connections, and the evidence you need. For the new mental health systemβwe help you understand which domains are affected and how severely.
π€ C&P EXAM PREP
One-on-one preparation for your exam. Learn to communicate your impairments in terms of functional impactβexactly what the new system requires.
π
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE NEXUS LETTER EVALUATION:
β https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/e71af9d9/appointment/89479598/calendar/any?appointmentTypeIds[]=89479598
π― CLAIMS STRATEGY SERVICES (Roadmap & C&P Prep):
β https://claims.xterrahealth.com/claim-services
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π¬ DROP YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS:
What’s your current mental health rating? Do you think the new system would help or hurt your claim? I read every comment.
π¬ WATCH NEXT: Do you actually know WHAT conditions you should be filing for? Your VSO knows forms. Your attorney knows appeals. But who knows MEDICINE? I made a video about why most veterans rely on the wrong people to decide what to claimβand how to fix it β https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSQ_a68XzXg&t=196s
β οΈ DISCLAIMER:
This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. While I am a licensed physician and former C&P examiner, I am not YOUR provider unless we have established care through Xterra Health.
Individual circumstances vary significantly. Consult with a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) for guidance on your specific situation.
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29 Comments
i feel like i have at least a 3 in like every zone. and a potential 4 in one or two zones. i'm currently in the gathering evidence step of my claim and the waiting is absolutely destroying me
LFR RANGER!! Thank You Doc for all you do!! AATW feet and knees together!!!βπΊπΈπΊπΈπΊπΈπ₯π₯π₯πͺπͺπͺ
I took this info and built a matrix in Excel. Background: I am PSTD rated at 70% service connected. Under the old system that rating was, in my view, always arbitrary and very precarious. Now, after reviewing my record and my rating submission evidence…I am definitely a solid 70% (and most likely 100%)! Thank you for this info…I am over 55 and have been rated for 7 years now. I think I'll hold what I got…and maybe…just maybe, I will sleep a little better tonight (yeah right). I talk to my shrink in a week and will now highlight with her was has never changed. Great timing Doc!
Hey, Doc…you're kinda a random guy on the internet!!!! Ha ha ha!!!
Good to hear, I'm up for a higher review soon.
These guys gave me a met of 7.2, I was exhausted but trying to continue, then they told the 2D echo tech not to put 45% βlooks like 50-55% to meβ these guys are playing with the numbers
I have PTSD from hearing the word FEE , I can hear the word in sentences etc, but letβs assume someone said hay hereβs a fee, Iβll be unable to function for probably 2 days and hoarse for about the same time frame
Vetcomm ENDORSING? Sad,They are not accredited. Hope they pay you well.
If I filed in February for an increase for PTSD how will I be rated ?
Just got done trying to communicate with your lackies. They claim I must have ALL of my "evidence" prepared before one of them them will review it. Then, ONLY for a nexus letter.
Your presentation seems to say that you will assist in a manner that makes the listener think you will help in areas of deficiency. I feel misled and now VERY dubious of your clear intent. I have to assume you are like the others and will remain so until proven otherwise.
Thx for what you have done for others.
Judging by the speed of claims being processed sounds like AI is used more. AI is only as good as the data you feed it.
This would've been nice. Ptsd just cost me my job and first time being fired.
I wax rated at 50%. New system 70% It is what it is
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Doc, Iβm 50% for PTSD with chronic depression. Not filing – Iβm 100% P&T + SMC-S. I really think I should have been rated 70%β¦.. C&P Dr. kept asking me βDo you have suicidal thoughtsβ? Over & overβ¦.. I kept saying NO. Why? Because I was worried about losing my gun rightsβ¦..
Good news, you made this easy to understand. Thank you for what you do to care for the Veteran Community.
TO ALL VETERANS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
If you are deemed 100%, would you then be considered unemployable?
Your videos are gold! Love this stuff. Spot on. Work with vets every day and use alot of your stuff to help their claims. Great info.
So are they going to review recent mental health claims? I filed on Feb 28 and was awarded 70% TDIU P&T. Do we have to file for an increase after the rollout of new criteria?
all the Veterans who are 70% theirs should be automatically looked at to see if they should be 100. Most ptsd on tdiu at 70% should be at 100%
Good video π im 70% for ptsd don't know if i should try to get a upgrade for mental health im trying to get claim for sleep apnea and migraine that has been denied have refilled but slow im working with vso in long beach California but process is slow vso is busy you may not have a appointment for months
This is incredibly misleading, what's your source for saying this is "expected by the end of Fiscal Year 2026"? The rule you're talking about, VA-2022-VBA-0010, was proposed in February, 2022 and comments closed on it in April, 2022. There's been no movement on it since and it's disingenuous of you to claim otherwise. Companies like yours have been making this claim for years. "Changes in 2025, 2024 etc." It's gross.
Thank you for making this topic so much easier to navigate.
Any chance you could make a video directed towards those still Active and what to do to make sure all our disabilities/symptoms are adequately documented, tips, etc?
Intent to file asap
Question…. If I get a condition diagnosis from Nurse Practitioner rather than a Doctor, does that impair the claim? I have a billing feud with my doctor so I am getting an annual with a local clinic but they only have a Nurse Practitioner. Is it a waste of time? Thanks in advance
I still have not gotten an answer to this question from so many YouTubers: under the new system, if you are able to reach 100% is it still going to be TDIU since itβs mental health? Currently if you are 100% you are TDIU and cannot exceed a certain income, which is so low itβs basically forbidden to have a decent job. I have not heard anybody mention the TDIU part and if itβs going away or not.
If you see a mental health worker and psychiatrist but their findings arent the same what do I do. Will back pay from day filed?
If you are looking for assistance with submitting a MH claim through the VA, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Dr. Bahr!
Good morning Dr Bahr, if I am already rated will they reevaluate or do I have to file a supplemental claim. Thanks for the great info