EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Intermittent Explosive Disorder
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.130 (Mental disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Intermittent Explosive Disorder is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9440 of 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9440 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
Recurrent behavioral outbursts representing a failure to control aggressive impulses, manifested by verbal aggression or physical aggression toward property, animals, or other individuals. The degree of aggressiveness is grossly out of proportion to the provocation.
RATING CRITERIA (5 LEVELS)
0%
Diagnosed intermittent explosive disorder but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning.
10%
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient anger outbursts controlled by medication or therapy.
30%
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency due to intermittent aggressive outbursts causing interpersonal conflict.
50%
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to frequent aggressive outbursts, difficulty maintaining employment or relationships.
70%
Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to severe uncontrolled aggression, legal problems, inability to maintain relationships.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Mental health treatment records
-Service records documenting stressors
-Buddy statements describing behavioral changes
-Employment records showing work impact
-Hospitalization records
-Prescription history for psychiatric medications
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Be completely honest about your worst days, not your best.
2.Describe specific examples of social and occupational impairment.
3.If you have suicidal ideation, even passively, report it.
4.Document panic attacks: frequency, duration, functional impact.
5.Mention any hospitalizations or crisis interventions.
6.Keep a symptom journal with specific dates and incidents.
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