AFCS PTSD Awards Under Table 3: Why “Final” Decisions Are Sometimes Made Too Early

Many former service personnel receive compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. For some, these awards are designed to provide fair recognition of what they have endured.

But too often, we see awards for mental health conditions such as PTSD under Table 3 being issued as final decisions far earlier than is clinically or procedurally appropriate.

That distinction between an interim award and a final award is crucial. If the wrong decision is made too soon, it can permanently undervalue a veteran’s long-term mental-health injury.

A Recent Example

We recently advised a former serviceman who had:

• Only just discharged from service
• A confirmed diagnosis of service-related PTSD
• Received trauma-focused CBT while serving
• Transitioned into civilian life only weeks earlier
• Served on multiple operational deployments with significant traumatic exposure
• Despite the clear lack of a stable post-service prognosis, he was issued with a final AFCS award under:

Table 3 – Mental Disorders - Item 5 – Level 13 - Award: £6,180

This tariff level assumes that:

“Substantial recovery is expected within two years”

Yet there was no reliable medical basis on which to make such a prediction—certainly not so soon after discharge. In our view, the decision should have been interim, not final.

Why “Final” PTSD Awards Can Be Premature

1. PTSD rarely stabilises immediately after discharge

The first 12–24 months after leaving service are often the most unstable. Veterans face major shifts in identity, structure, support networks and employment. Clinically, this is when PTSD symptoms can fluctuate significantly or worsen—not when prognosis should be fixed.

2. Table 3 awards rely on predicted recovery

Many PTSD tariffs are based on what decision-makers expect will happen, rather than what has already occurred. Where recovery is uncertain, the proper outcome is an interim award.

3. Mental-health recovery is non-linear

PTSD rarely improves in a straight line. Relapse, delayed deterioration and variable functioning are all common. A final award assumes a level of certainty that often does not exist so early on.

The Consequences of a Premature Final Award

If a PTSD award is incorrectly made final:

• The tariff award is fixed at a lower level
• Future deterioration is difficult to address later and challenges become more complex
• The veteran risks permanent under-compensation

In short, a premature final award can have long-term financial and medical consequences.

What Can You Do If This Happens?

If you believe your PTSD award has been made final too early, you have the right to request a Reconsideration.  Under the AFCS, you normally have up to 12 months from the date of the decision to do so.

You should seek advice if:

• You were recently discharged
• You are still in treatment
• Your symptoms are not stable
• The award relied on assumed recovery rather than evidence

A properly drafted reconsideration request can:

• Challenge the finality of the decision
• Seek conversion to an interim award, and
• Protect your position for future reassessment

Who Can Help?

You can seek confidential guidance from:

• A specialist military claims solicitor and/or
• The Royal British Legion, who regularly assist veterans navigating AFCS decisions

If you believe your PTSD award has been decided too quickly or too cheaply, it is absolutely worth seeking advice. A premature decision can be corrected—but only if the issue is raised, and soon.

If you would like confidential assistance with AFCS reconsideration or military mental-health claims, you are welcome to contact us.

(Content and image by Grant Evatt)