VA Form 21-0960P-3 Review Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Disability

OMB Control No. 2900-0779
Respondent Burden: 30 Minutes
Expiration Date: XXXXXXXX

REVIEW POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
DISABILITY BENEFITS QUESTIONNAIRE
IMPORTANT - THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) WILL NOT PAY OR REIMBURSE ANY EXPENSES OR COST INCURRED IN THE
PROCESS OF COMPLETING AND/OR SUBMITTING THIS FORM. PLEASE READ THE PRIVACY ACT AND RESPONDENT BURDEN INFORMATION
BEFORE COMPLETING THIS FORM.
NAME OF PATIENT/VETERAN

PATIENT/VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

NOTE TO PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST - Your patient is applying to the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for disability benefits. VA will
consider the information you provide on this questionnaire as part of their evaluation in processing the veteran's claim. Please note that this questionnaire is for
disability evaluation, not for treatment purposes. VA reserves the right to confirm the authenticity of ALL DBQs completed by private health care providers.
NOTE: If the Veteran experiences a mental health emergency during the interview, please terminate the interview and obtain help, using local resources as appropriate.
You may also contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Stay on the Crisis Line until help can link the Veteran to emergency care.
The following health care providers can perform REVIEW examinations for PTSD: a board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrist; a licensed doctorate-level
psychologist; a doctorate-level mental health provider under the close supervision of a board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrist or licensed doctorate-level
psychologist; a psychiatry resident under close supervision of a board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrist or licensed doctorate-level psychologist; a clinical or
counseling psychologist completing a one-year internship or residency (for purposes of a doctorate-level degree) under close supervision of a board-certified or boardeligible psychiatrist or licensed doctorate-level psychologist; or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, or a physician
assistant, under close supervision of a board-certified or board-eligible psychiatrist or licensed doctorate-level psychologist.
SECTION I - DIAGNOSTIC SUMMARY
NOTE: This section should be completed based on the current examination and clinical findings.
1. DOES THE VETERAN NOW HAVE OR HAS HE OR SHE EVER BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD?
NO (If "Yes," continue to complete this Questionnaire)

YES

(If no diagnosis of PTSD, and the veteran has another Axis I and/or II diagnosis, then continue to complete this Questionnaire and/or VA Form
21-0960P-1, Eating Disorders Disability Benefits Questionnaire)
SECTION II - CURRENT DIAGNOSES

2A. LIST CURRENT DIAGNOSES
DIAGNOSIS #1:
ICD CODE:

INDICATE THE AXIS CATEGORY:

AXIS I

AXIS II

INDICATE THE AXIS CATEGORY:

AXIS I

AXIS II

INDICATE THE AXIS CATEGORY:

AXIS I

AXIS II

INDICATE THE AXIS CATEGORY:

AXIS I

AXIS II

COMMENTS, IF ANY:
DIAGNOSIS #2:
ICD CODE:
COMMENTS, IF ANY:
DIAGNOSIS #3:
ICD CODE:
COMMENTS, IF ANY:
DIAGNOSIS #4:
ICD CODE:
COMMENTS, IF ANY:
IF ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSES, DESCRIBE USING ABOVE FORMAT:

2B. AXIS III - MEDICAL DIAGNOSES (to include TBI):
ICD CODE:
COMMENTS, IF ANY:

VA FORM
XXXX

21-0960P-3

SUPERSEDES VA FORM 21-0960P-3, FEB 2015,
WHICH WILL NOT BE USED.

Page 1

PATIENT/VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

SECTION II - CURRENT DIAGNOSES (Continued)

2C. AXIS IV - PSYCHOSOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS (describe, if any):

2D. AXIS V - CURRENT GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONING (GAF) SCORE:
COMMENTS, IF ANY:

SECTION III - DIFFERENTIATION OF SYMPTOMS
3A. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE MORE THAN ONE MENTAL DISORDER DIAGNOSED?
YES

NO

(If "Yes," complete Item 3B)

3B. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DIFFERENTIATE WHAT SYMPTOM(S) IS/ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO EACH DIAGNOSIS?
YES

NO

NOT APPLICABLE

(If "No," provide reason that it is not possible to differentiate what portion of each symptom is attributable to each diagnosis):

(If "Yes," list which symptoms are attributable to each diagnosis):

3C. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE A DIAGNOSED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)?
YES

NO

NOT SHOWN IN RECORDS REVIEWED

(If "Yes," complete Item 3D)

(Comments, if any):

3D. IS IT POSSIBLE TO DIFFERENTIATE WHAT SYMPTOM(S) IS/ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO EACH DIAGNOSIS?
YES

NO

NOT APPLICABLE

(If "No," provide reason that it is not possible to differentiate what portion of each symptom is attributable to each diagnosis):

(If "Yes," list which symptoms are attributable to each diagnosis):

SECTION IV - OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT
4A. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST SUMMARIZES THE VETERAN'S LEVEL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT WITH REGARDS TO ALL MENTAL
DIAGNOSES? (Check only one)
NO MENTAL DISORDER DIAGNOSIS
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
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 MEDICATION
OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT WITH OCCASIONAL DECREASE IN WORK EFFICIENCY AND INTERMITTENT PERIODS OF INABILITY TO
PERFORM OCCUPATIONAL TASKS, ALTHOUGH GENERALLY FUNCTIONING SATISFACTORILY, WITH NORMAL ROUTINE BEHAVIOR, SELF-CARE AND
CONVERSATION
OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT WITH REDUCED RELIABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY
OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT WITH DEFICIENCIES IN MOST AREAS, SUCH AS WORK, SCHOOL, FAMILY RELATIONS, JUDGMENT, THINKING
AND/OR MOOD
TOTAL OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT
4B. FOR THE INDICATED LEVEL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DIFFERENTIATE WHAT PORTION OF THE OCCUPATIONAL
AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT INDICATED ABOVE IS CAUSED BY EACH MENTAL DISORDER?
YES

NO

NO OTHER MENTAL DISORDER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED

(If "No," provide reason that it is not possible to differentiate what portion of the indicated level of occupational and social impairment is attributable to each
diagnosis):

(If "Yes," list which portion of the indicated level of occupational and social impairment is attributable to each diagnosis):

VA FORM 21-0960P-3, XXXX

Page 2

PATIENT/VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

SECTION IV - OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT (Continued)
4C. IF A DIAGNOSIS OF TBI EXISTS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DIFFERENTIATE WHAT PORTION OF THE OCCUPATIONAL AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT INDICATED ABOVE
IS CAUSED BY THE TBI?
YES

NO

NO DIAGNOSIS OF TBI

(If "No," provide reason that it is not possible to differentiate what portion of the indicated level of occupational and social impairment is attributable to each
diagnosis):

(If "Yes," list which portion of the indicated level of occupational and social impairment is attributable to each diagnosis):

SECTION V - CLINICAL FINDINGS
1. EVIDENCE REVIEW
5A. IF ANY RECORDS (EVIDENCE) WERE REVIEWED, PLEASE LIST:

2. RECENT HISTORY (SINCE PRIOR EXAM)
5B. RELEVANT SOCIAL/MARITAL/FAMILY HISTORY:

5C. RELEVANT OCCUPATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL HISTORY:

5D. RELEVANT MENTAL HEALTH HISTORY, TO INCLUDE PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS AND FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH:

5E. RELEVANT LEGAL AND BEHAVIORAL HISTORY:

5F. RELEVANT SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORY:

5G. SENTINEL EVENT(S) (OTHER THAN STRESSORS):

5H. OTHER (If any):

VA FORM 21-0960P-3, XXXX

Page 3

PATIENT/VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

SECTION VI - PTSD DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
NOTE: Please check criteria used for establishing the current PTSD diagnosis. The diagnostic criteria for PTSD, referred to as Criteria A-F, are from the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV).
CRITERION A: The Veteran has been exposed to a traumatic event where both of the following were present
The Veteran experienced, witnessed or was confronted with an event that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of
self or others.
The Veteran's response involved intense fear, helplessness or horror.
No exposure to a traumatic event.

CRITERION B: The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in 1 or more of the following ways:
Recurrent and distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts or perceptions.
Recurrent distressing dreams of the event.
Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring; this includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations and dissociative flashback episodes,
including those that occur on awakening or when intoxicated.
Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.
Physiological reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.
The traumatic event is not persistently re-experienced.

CRITERION C: Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before the trauma), as
indicated by 3 or more of the following:
Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with the trauma.
Efforts to avoid activities, places or people that arouse recollections of the trauma.
Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma.
Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others.
Restricted range of affection (e.g., unable to have loving feelings).
Sense of a foreshortened future (e.g., does not expect to have a career, marriage, children or a normal life span).
No persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma or numbing of general responsiveness.

CRITERION D: Persistent symptoms of increased arousal, not present before the trauma, as indicated by 2 or more of the following:
Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Irritability or outbursts of anger.
Difficulty concentrating.
Hypervigilence.
Exaggerated startle response.
No persistent symptoms of increased arousal.

CRITERION E: Duration of symptoms:
The duration of the symptoms described in Criteria B, C and D is more than 1 month.
The duration of the symptoms described in Criteria B, C and D is less than 1 month.
Veteran does not meet full criteria for PTSD.

CRITERION F: Clinically significant distress or impairment:
The PTSD symptoms described above cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The PTSD symptoms described above do NOT cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Veteran does not meet full criteria for PTSD.
VA FORM 21-0960P-3, XXXX

Page 4

PATIENT/VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

SECTION VII - SYMPTOMS
7. FOR VA RATING PURPOSES, CHECK ALL SYMPTOMS THAT APPLY TO THE VETERAN'S DIAGNOSES:
Depressed mood
Anxiety
Suspiciousness
Panic attacks that occur weekly or less often
Panic attacks more than once a week
Near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively
Chronic sleep impairment
Mild memory loss, such as forgetting names, directions or recent events
Impairment of short and long term memory, for example, retention of only highly learned material, while forgetting to complete tasks
Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name
Flattened affect
Circumstantial, circumlocutory or stereotyped speech
Speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant
Difficulty in understanding complex commands
Impaired judgment
Impaired abstract thinking
Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
Disturbances of motivation and mood
Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships
Difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a work like setting
Inability to establish and maintain effective relationships
Suicidal ideation
Obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities
Impaired impulse control, such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence
Spatial disorientation
Persistent delusions or hallucinations
Grossly inappropriate behavior
Persistent danger of hurting self or others
Neglect of personal appearance and hygiene
Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene
Disorientation to time or place

SECTION VIII - OTHER SYMPTOMS
8. DOES THE VETERAN HAVE ANY OTHER SYMPTOMS ATTRIBUTABLE TO PTSD (AND OTHER MENTAL DISORDERS) THAT ARE NOT LISTED ABOVE?
YES

NO

(If "Yes," describe):

VA FORM 21-0960P-3, XXXX

Page 5

PATIENT/VETERAN'S SOCIAL SECURITY NO.

SECTION IX - COMPETENCY
9. IS THE VETERAN CAPABLE OF MANAGING HIS OR HER FINANCIAL AFFAIRS?
YES

NO

(If "No," explain):

SECTION X - REMARKS
10. REMARKS (If any):

SECTION XI - PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST CERTIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

CERTIFICATION - To the best of my knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate, complete and current.
10A. PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST SIGNATURE AND TITLE

10D. PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST PHONE AND
FAX NUMBERS

10B. PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST PRINTED NAME

10E. NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIER (NPI)
NUMBER

10C. DATE SIGNED

10F. PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST ADDRESS

NOTE - VA may request additional medical information, including additional examinations, if necessary to complete VA's review of the veteran's application.

IMPORTANT - PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST send the completed form to:
(VA Regional Office FAX No.)

NOTE - A list of VA Regional Office FAX Numbers can be found at www.benefits.va.gov/disabilityexams or obtained by calling 1-800-827-1000.
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE: VA will not disclose information collected on this form to any source other than what has been authorized under the Privacy Act of 1974
or Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations 1.576 for routine uses (i.e., civil or criminal law enforcement, congressional communications, epidemiological or research
studies, the collection of money owed to the United States, litigation in which the United States is a party or has an interest, the administration of VA programs and
delivery of VA benefits, verification of identity and status, and personnel administration) as identified in the VA system of records, 58/VA21/22/28, Compensation,
Pension, Education and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Records - VA, published in the Federal Register. Your obligation to respond is voluntary. VA uses
your SSN to identify your claim file. Providing your SSN will help ensure that your records are properly associated with your claim file. Giving us your SSN account
information is voluntary. Refusal to provide your SSN by itself will not result in the denial of benefits. VA will not deny an individual benefits for refusing to provide
his or her SSN unless the disclosure of the SSN is required by a Federal Statute of law in effect prior to January 1, 1975, and still in effect. The requested information is
considered relevant and necessary to determine maximum benefits under the law. The responses you submit are considered confidential (38 U.S.C. 5701). Information
submitted is subject to verification through computer matching programs with other agencies.
RESPONDENT BURDEN: We need this information to determine entitlement to benefits (38 U.S.C. 501). Title 38, United States Code, allows us to ask for this
information. We estimate that you will need an average of 30 minutes to review the instructions, find the information, and complete the form. VA cannot conduct or
sponsor a collection of information unless a valid OMB control number is displayed. You are not required to respond to a collection of information if this number is not
displayed. Valid OMB control numbers can be located on the OMB Internet Page at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. If desired, you can call 1-800-827-1000 to
get information on where to send comments or suggestions about this form.
VA FORM 21-0960P-3, XXXX

Page 6