How Veterans Get a 100% VA Mental Health Rating (Doctor’s Blueprint) | VA Disability
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“The difference between 70% and 100% isn’t how sick you are. It’s how you describe it. And most veterans describe it wrong.”
You can be absolutely destroyed by your mental health—barely functioning, barely holding it together—and still get rated at 70%.
Not because you don’t qualify for 100%. But because the words you used at your C&P exam didn’t match what the VA is listening for.
I’ve reviewed claims where veterans are clearly, obviously, totally impaired. Can’t work. Can’t maintain relationships. Can barely leave the house.
70%.
Same level of suffering. Different outcome. Because of how it was described.
Today, I’m giving you the blueprint. What the VA is actually looking for. The exact criteria. The symptoms that matter. And how to make sure your reality gets translated into a rating that reflects it.
ABOUT DR. MARSHALL BAHR & XTERRA HEALTH
I’m Dr. Marshall Bahr — physician, Army Ranger, Special Operations Combat Medic, disabled veteran.
At Xterra Health, we review mental health claims every day. We see what gets approved. We see what gets denied. We see the patterns. We help veterans understand how their symptoms map to the rating criteria and write nexus letters that speak the VA’s language.
Here’s how Xterra Health works:
✅ Free consultation — We talk through your situation at no cost
✅ Free records review — We review ALL your records completely free
✅ Free nexus letter draft — We write the letter before you pay anything
✅ You participate in editing — This is YOUR story, your claim
✅ You only pay if you like it — Only after you approve the finished product
✅ $500 per letter — Not per condition
✅ No contracts — Walk away anytime
🌐 Website: https://xterrahealth.com/
📧 Email: mbahr@xterrahealth.com
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💬 DROP YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE COMMENTS:
Are you stuck at 70%? What symptoms are you experiencing? How is your condition affecting your work and social life? Tell me your situation — I read every comment.
🎬 WATCH NEXT: Your back isn’t one claim—it’s FOUR. Mental health often connects to physical conditions. Learn how your back is a gold mine of claims → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guf2ry8tF9E&t=535s
⚠️ DISCLAIMER:
This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. While I am a licensed physician, I am not YOUR provider unless we have established care through Xterra Health.
The information provided reflects general guidance for understanding VA mental health disability ratings under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR Part 4, Schedule for Rating Disabilities).
This video does not encourage exaggerating or fabricating symptoms. Veterans should accurately and thoroughly describe their genuine symptoms and functional impairments. The guidance provided is to help veterans communicate their ACTUAL condition effectively.
C&P exam guidance is educational. You should accurately and completely describe how your condition affects your functioning on your worst days.
If you are experiencing mental health crisis or thoughts of self-harm, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line immediately: 988, Press 1.
Rating criteria and compensation amounts are subject to annual adjustments.
If you have questions about your specific claim, consult with a VA-accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO).
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41 Comments
My problem is my social worker doesn’t accurately document anything I say. It’s just boiler plate, everything is good, but then can’t understand why the assessment scores are high.
If you are PT for mental health, you'll be the first to know because you have major issues. I'm PT for it single rating. Just have to make the best of things and try to stay positive. 🪖
Good afternoon XTH fam.
Can one request a higher level review if you are at 70
I've done two c&p exams for my mental health claim that I filed in September. I definitely check the boxes for 70% criteria without question, and possibly 100%. Still waiting to see what they decide.
I got rated with GAD. Anxiety, depression, insomnia. I take meds for all. Everything documented in community care records. They denied the claim based on nothing documented during Desert Storm. No one went to the doctor back then unless they had broken bones. Is this a lost cause
I am at 70% and I went to the VA today and was told if I go from 70% to 100% that I will get locked up in a hospital. Plus, that I am unable to work and be a member of society. I was also told I cannot own a firearm, which makes sense, but I would like to try to be a member of society. I struggle with keeping jobs, keeping friends, and relationships are out of the question. How much truth is in the getting locked up?
Dr. Bahr will you please address the risks everyone is talking about regarding getting private nexus letters? Rater HQ said he thought you might be opening a non profit on his last live stream. Will you be closing Xterra?
I choked out my employer with a phone cord because he wanted to call security on me for having a smoke.
The conditions you describe at time frame 14:40 are the exact words verbatim that 1 of the 3 c&p examiners used to describe the kind of job that he thought (and wrote) that I could do. That job does not exist we all know that unless you can afford to be independent and work for yourself. To the other down there said that I can't work, but they went with this one guys opinion that I could do that kind of job. So I didn't qualify for unemployability and that was 10 years ago. I haven't had a job since, riding 90% for ever. It never occurred to me that the decision wouldn't be made over the majority rules format, but that one doctor changed my last 10 years. Can you say if anything changes about this now that I'm 65 please? Thanks Doc, have a great day!
After getting a denial once, I re-applied and just received 30% rating for PTSD, I did not use any outside help and did not have a nexus letter
If you get a bad C&P examiner, you're effed. It's happened to me more than once.
Don't you get arrested or restrained if you are at 100% for mental health? Because that would mean that you are imminent suicidal. Please educate me
I have a rating for PTSD of 70% and TDIU. Since getting that rating I have become house bound. I don't leave the house unless I need to. My husband and I sleep apart because I have insomnia and MS. I don't make plans because I know I will cancel. I want to file for an increase in rating but I've been told to leave it alone because the VA may reduce the rating. Currenting, I'm appealing the third denial for service connected MS. It's very frustrating and confusing for me.
I am 70% P&T with TDIU paid at 100% would it change anything?
Killer video…thx doc❤
I’m stuck at 50% for my ptsd/anxiety and recently filed for an increase due to my symptoms being severe and causing me to lose my job. Currently waiting on their decision.
Does someone have to have all the symptoms or just the majority of them
The majority of these modern women only have air in their heads, men have told y’all many times, ways on different platforms and you don’t get it. I guess you’re never understood. And y’all have not understood countless times one the baby you have saved you have murder many through using contraception, men not the problem in this women are unless you got raped or something like that.
If any man asks a single mom for something, why not I see women doing it all the time.
Passport is not going overseas for the reason you think, it’s because decent women are hard to find in the USA
I've never been married, don't have any kids, and can't get along with my dog. I think I've got problems.
I receive aid and attendance yet do not receive SMC pay. Just normal disability tdiu pay.
How can ANY C & P exam/s be fair if AI is NOW going to decide your claim/s. Comment????
C & P Exam On 03/11/2026 for PTSD.
I look forward to coming back here with grand news thanks to you.
Till Next Time My Friend.
20:00
I have two C&P exams on next Monday…PFT and for Gulf War related issues.
But how do you get the c&p exam? I’ve been trying to request one.
I have an exam for Total reverse shoulder replacement secondary to sleep insomnia disorder because of the pain.and not being able to sleep on my right shoulder yes the shoulder surgery was completel.9 months ago.
I just got 50% for anxiety and depression. I feel like I should be in the 70% range. When should I try to get it bumped up?
So what if you’re working but you feel like you’re about to snap and demolish the entire department because of a hostile work situation? Currently rated. Currently receiving VA care and prescriptions. Feeling like hurting myself and peple…I can’t keep friends . Wtf do I do
Good grief, way too many ads
I been diagnosed with PTSD (military un related ) from behavior doctor
She ignored everything happening while i am in service and she related it to childhood
I am still active duty
Is that effect my rate and what i can do about it ?
Free review is nice. But, how much?
Scam artist.
It's because of podcasters like you and your ambulance chasing companies that the VA is cracking down on people that totally deserve..
Not just the ones that know how to fly through the hoops.
PTSD for boot camp, for crying out loud.
I'm glad you figured out an easy way to make money though.
Shouldn't you cite Allen v. Brown instead of Fountain v. McDonald (thats actually a CAVC decision)?
Hello Dr Marshall, and thanks for everything you do! I had a mental health examine for an increase and the examiner wrote the veteran cannot maintain employment in a workplace, or not even a remote setting. My rating was increased from 70% to 90%. I haven't been employed since 2017, after bilateral knee replacements. Should I have received an increase to 100% for MDD?? Thanks!!
Do you plan to do another video on this when the VA finally releases the new MH standards?
Your videos are too long. I would like to hear the content, but I just don’t have the time to sit here and listen to talk for as long as you do shorten your videos.
Initially got 50% for PTSD but then I filed again within just a few weeks, arguing that per the approval letter they sent me stating what I would need to have going on with me to qualify for 70%, that I already had all but 2 of those applying to me. Boom. Within 10 days they increased it to 70%. No nexus letter. No doctor's notes. I had a REALLY good C&P examiner that first time. The video appt. lasted 2 hrs 20 minutes! He was the one who diagnosed me with PTSD during that exam.
Once the new 5 domain guidelines go into affect I will apply for 100% for the PTSD because I know (by looking at that criteria) I will easily satisfy the requirements for 100%. It will be WAAAAY easier to get 100% for mental health issues than the current system is.
I'm already 100% P&T overall.
Dr. Marshal, will you help a vet who lives overseas?
I started out with a 0% not service connected. They said I had too many in service triggers and too much combat time for my PTSD to be service connected. They said I was only allowed 1 in service trigger. I spent 2003-2006 in Iraq…. after nearly 8 years I am 100% for PTSD. The VA had me at 50% for adjustment disorder. It was a VA provider who put me in for a reevaluation and I was instantly given 100%. I was told that there was no reason for them to deny my PTSD claim. It was weird. I got back paid but I honestly dont know how it happened. I have huge memory issues.