Acute Stress Disorder

DC 9413Mental Disorders38 CFR 4.130, DC 9413 — General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders

Intense anxiety, dissociation, and other symptoms occurring within one month of a traumatic event. While often resolving into PTSD, it can be independently service-connected. Rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

Rating Levels

Your condition causes total impairment in your ability to work and function socially. You may be a persistent danger to yourself or others, disoriented, or have severe memory loss.

What the VA looks for

Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
Persistent delusions or hallucinations
Grossly inappropriate behavior
Persistent danger of hurting self or others
Inability to perform activities of daily living
Disorientation to time or place
Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not filing promptly — if the condition evolves into PTSD, the diagnosis may change. Filing early preserves the record of acute symptoms and establishes the timeline.
⚠Not documenting the proximate stressor event in detail — the traumatic event that occurred within the preceding month must be clearly identified and linked to service.
⚠Dismissing symptoms as a normal combat stress reaction — acute stress disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition, not just "adjusting" to trauma.
⚠Confusing with adjustment disorder, which has different diagnostic criteria — make sure your provider gives the correct diagnosis based on your specific symptoms.
⚠Not describing dissociative symptoms like feeling detached, reduced awareness, or inability to remember aspects of the trauma — these are key features that distinguish acute stress disorder.

Related DBQ Forms

DBQ Mental Disorders (other than PTSD and Eating Disorders)

View evidence checklist →See secondary conditions →

Condition Rating Guides

Understand what the VA looks for at each rating level — loading conditions…

Acute Stress Disorder

Rating Levels

Your condition causes total impairment in your ability to work and function socially. You may be a persistent danger to yourself or others, disoriented, or have severe memory loss.

What the VA looks for

Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
Persistent delusions or hallucinations
Grossly inappropriate behavior
Persistent danger of hurting self or others
Inability to perform activities of daily living
Disorientation to time or place
Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name

Common Pitfalls

⚠Not filing promptly — if the condition evolves into PTSD, the diagnosis may change. Filing early preserves the record of acute symptoms and establishes the timeline.

⚠Not documenting the proximate stressor event in detail — the traumatic event that occurred within the preceding month must be clearly identified and linked to service.

⚠Dismissing symptoms as a normal combat stress reaction — acute stress disorder is a diagnosable mental health condition, not just "adjusting" to trauma.

⚠Confusing with adjustment disorder, which has different diagnostic criteria — make sure your provider gives the correct diagnosis based on your specific symptoms.

⚠Not describing dissociative symptoms like feeling detached, reduced awareness, or inability to remember aspects of the trauma — these are key features that distinguish acute stress disorder.