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Major depressive disorder DC 9434

VA rates it under diagnostic code 9434 in 38 CFR 4.130. Body system: Mental health.

Also searched as: depression, MDD, major depression, clinical depression.

How VA rates it

The schedule allows 6 rating levels for this code: 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%. VA picks the level whose criteria best match your symptoms and records.

Rated under the general rating formula for mental disorders (§ 4.130).

Source: 38 CFR 4.130 on eCFR. Read the full criteria there before you file.

Rating levels and criteria

This code is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (38 CFR 4.130).

RatingWhat the schedule says
100%Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.
70%Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.
50%Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.
30%Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events).
10%Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication.
0%A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication.

Criteria text from 38 CFR 4.130, eCFR as of November 10, 2026. The eCFR is the official source if anything here differs.

Conditions it can lead to

If this condition is service connected, these conditions are often claimed as secondary to it (38 CFR 3.310). Each one still needs its own diagnosis.

Commonly claimed as secondary to

If one of these is already service connected, you may be able to claim this condition as secondary to it.

Related medications

Medications that can cause or worsen it

If you take one of these for a service-connected condition, this condition may be claimable as secondary to that condition. You need a diagnosis, your prescription records, and a medical opinion.

  • 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (for example finasteride, dutasteride) Possible link

    The finasteride label lists depression reported after approval.

    Sources: FDA label: Finasteride (DailyMed)

  • Interferon beta-1a (Avonex, Rebif) Established link

    Interferon beta labels warn about depression and suicidal thoughts.

    Sources: FDA label: Interferon beta-1a (DailyMed)

  • Montelukast (Singulair) Established link

    Montelukast has a boxed warning for mental health effects, including depression.

    Sources: FDA label: Montelukast (DailyMed)

  • Isotretinoin (Absorica, Claravis) Possible link

    Isotretinoin labels warn about depression. Whether the drug causes it is debated, so a medical opinion matters.

    Sources: FDA label: Isotretinoin (DailyMed)

Medications prescribed for it

A prescription shows the condition was diagnosed. It still needs its own link to service.

Show 27 medications

Check your claim

The claim finder asks about your service and current ratings, then lists conditions you may be able to claim. The calculator shows what a new rating does to your combined rating and monthly pay.

Open the claim finderOpen the VA rating calculator

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Rating schedule data as of November 10, 2026. Secondary and presumptive links checked November 13, 2026.

Not affiliated with the VA. VA decides ratings. Free help from an accredited VSO is available at no cost.

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