EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.130 (Mental disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9416 of 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9416 across 5 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 30% / 50% / 70%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Persistent or recurrent experiences of depersonalization (feeling detached from one's own mental processes or body) and/or derealization (feeling that surroundings are unreal), with intact reality testing.
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
0%
Diagnosed DPDR but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning.
10%
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient depersonalization/derealization episodes.
30%
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency due to recurring episodes of feeling detached or unreal.
50%
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to frequent, prolonged episodes of depersonalization/derealization.
70%
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to near-continuous depersonalization/derealization severely impairing daily functioning.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.130 (Mental disorders). Source verified 2026-05-15 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026