Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

DC 9416Mental Disorders38 CFR 4.130, DC 9416 — General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders

Persistent feelings of being detached from your own body, thoughts, or surroundings, as if observing yourself from outside or living in a dream. Often triggered by severe trauma. 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

⚠Symptoms being attributed solely to the PTSD dissociative subtype — if depersonalization/derealization is a distinct condition, request a separate diagnostic evaluation.
⚠Not documenting how detachment episodes affect daily functioning and work — describe specific situations where depersonalization caused errors, inability to respond, or dangerous inattention.
⚠Difficulty describing symptoms to the examiner — practice explaining the feeling of detachment before your C&P exam, using concrete examples from your daily life.
⚠The condition often co-occurs with PTSD but can be rated separately if the symptoms are distinct — get a clear medical opinion establishing it as a separate diagnosis.
⚠Not tracking the frequency and duration of depersonalization episodes — a log showing how often you feel detached, for how long, and what triggers episodes strengthens your claim.

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…

Depersonalization/Derealization 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

⚠Symptoms being attributed solely to the PTSD dissociative subtype — if depersonalization/derealization is a distinct condition, request a separate diagnostic evaluation.

⚠Not documenting how detachment episodes affect daily functioning and work — describe specific situations where depersonalization caused errors, inability to respond, or dangerous inattention.

⚠Difficulty describing symptoms to the examiner — practice explaining the feeling of detachment before your C&P exam, using concrete examples from your daily life.

⚠The condition often co-occurs with PTSD but can be rated separately if the symptoms are distinct — get a clear medical opinion establishing it as a separate diagnosis.

⚠Not tracking the frequency and duration of depersonalization episodes — a log showing how often you feel detached, for how long, and what triggers episodes strengthens your claim.