Anxiety Disorder VA Rating and Benefits
Anxiety is a disability for which you can obtain service-connection. If the VA has denied you for anxiety or adjustment disorder or some other mental health disability, then you must investigate your options in terms of filing an appeal. Debilitating anxiety can prevent you from working and if you are service-connected for it, you should be rated at the maximum rate if it makes you unable to work. Otherwise, service-connection for anxiety will be analyzed under the same basic service-connection principles, which we have discussed elsewhere in our articles.
Keep in mind that PTSD is a subset of anxiety disorders and PTSD claims are analyzed under their own separate rules as per the VA guidelines. Keep in mind that anxiety can be service-connected on a secondary basis as well. This means that if you are service-connected for another medical condition that causes you to experience anxiety, then you can make the claim for anxiety secondary to an already existing service-connected disability.
Anxiety Disability Claims
If you have recently been denied by the VA for a claim involving anxiety, please do not hesitate to contact our office to discuss the merits of your appeal.
Many veterans live with anxiety brought on by experiences during their time in the military. If you are dealing with panic attacks, your anxiety disorder may qualify you for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Unlike physical injuries that become obvious right away, it can take time for the symptoms of anxiety to manifest. For many veterans, that means only discovering their anxiety diagnosis after their military career has come to an end. At Gang & Associates, our team is here to help you pursue the VA disability benefits you deserve based on your service-related anxiety.
The Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety impacts everyone differently. In the most severe cases, this condition can alter the way you function on a daily basis, from your job to your personal relationships. Some of the most common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Fatigue
- Sleep disruptions
- Muscle tension
- Panic attacks
- Racing heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Persistent worry
Together, these symptoms can have a dramatic effect on everything from your career to your relationship with your family. The severity of your symptoms can also have an impact on your potential anxiety VA disability rating. When the VA reviews your case and determines your eligibility for benefits, a major factor in your rating will be the extent and severity of your symptoms.
At Gang & Associates, we can help you manage your claim after a denial or a disappointing rating. Reach out as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
There are a host of anxiety disorders that have been linked to in-service events, and many of them are severe. If you intend to pursue a disability claim through the VA, it is crucial for you to understand the nature and extent of your condition. Some of the most common types of anxiety disorders include the following:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is the name of a broadly defined condition that involves excessive worrying about everyday matters. Veterans with GAD may find themselves constantly on edge, anticipating the worst possible outcome in even the most routine of situations.
The condition can have physical symptoms, including fatigue and digestive issues. Many veterans also experience sleep disturbances, which can only make anxiety worse over time.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Another condition that veterans frequently deal with is social anxiety disorder. It involves an overwhelming fear of judgment or humiliation in social settings, regardless of whether they are warranted or not. Social anxiety disorder is one of the most common challenges that veterans face as they reintegrate into civilian life, and it can make even the most mundane interactions unbearable.
Phobias
A phobia is the intense fear of a specific object or environment. When it comes to veterans, phobias are frequently related to a traumatic event that occurred during the course of their service. For example, loud noises or crowded environments can trigger fear or even a fight or flight response in a veteran. This condition differs from general anxiety, which persists without the need for a specific trigger.
Panic Disorder
Veterans living with panic disorder face recurring, unexpected panic attacks that can be as frightening as they are disabling. Those experiencing these attacks often feel like they are losing control of themselves or that they are facing imminent mortal danger. The most common symptoms associated with panic disorder are a racing heartbeat and shortness of breath.
How Do I Establish a Service Connection for Anxiety?
If you want to recover disability benefits through the VA, the biggest obstacle standing in your way is your service connection. To be eligible for benefits, you must be able to show that your disability is linked to an event that occurred during your service. Without this so-called service connection, your claim will be denied.
There are different ways to prove this connection exists. You can show that a specific event in your past is the cause for your anxiety, or you can link the condition to some other service-connected disability you are already living with. If you were diagnosed with some kind of anxiety disorder prior to serving in the military, you may also build a winning claim by proving that your military service worsened your condition.
Direct Service Connection
A direct service connection is a link between your anxiety disorder and the event or experience in the military that caused it. If you developed symptoms while still in the military, there may be service or medical records that prove this connection. The events that can lead to long-lasting anxiety can vary, from serious injuries to military sexual trauma.
Secondary Service Connection
While most veterans seek benefits through a direct connection, anxiety is frequently linked to other service-connected conditions. Veterans living with everything from chronic pain to PTSD often develop anxiety as a secondary condition. In these cases, the veteran must demonstrate that their anxiety is either caused or significantly worsened by the primary disability.
Aggravated Service Connection
Some veterans may have had preexisting anxiety before entering the military, but serving in the military made the condition worse. The VA can recognize a service connection when there is evidence to show that an in-service event aggravated your anxiety. For this type of claim to be successful, you will need pre-service medical records that confirm your diagnosis.
How the VA Rates Anxiety Claims
The Department of Veterans Affairs assigns disability ratings for anxiety disorders based on how severely symptoms disrupt a veteran’s ability to work and function in everyday life. They issue these ratings in the form of percentages ranging from 0 to 100. As you might expect, higher ratings reflect greater impairment and lead to larger benefit payments.
A 0 percent rating means the veteran has a diagnosis of anxiety, but they deal with little to no limitations based on their condition. At 10 or 30 percent, the VA recognizes that symptoms exist and cause some challenges for a veteran. This includes panic attacks or trouble sleeping that can interfere with a person’s ability to keep up with their responsibilities at work.
A 50 percent rating reflects a more serious impairment. More often than not, this involves frequent panic attacks and noticeable issues with social relationships. At 70 percent, the veteran experiences near-continuous anxiety, including severe occupational and social dysfunction.
The highest rating, 100 percent, is reserved for the most severe cases. This includes veterans whose anxiety results in total occupational and social impairment.
To assign ratings, the VA considers a host of documents, including medical records and Compensation and Pension exam findings. When these documents are lacking, the decision makers at the VA may feel like they have no choice but to reject a claim.
Denials of Anxiety Claims
Anxiety might be one of the most common mental health conditions veterans deal with, but the reality is that these claims are frequently denied by the VA. These rejections happen due to a wide range of reasons, with some having more merit than others. Common reasons include:
- Lack of a Current Diagnosis
- Insufficient Medical Evidence
- No Clear Nexus to Service
- Preexisting Condition Without Proof of Aggravation
- Inadequate C&P Exam Results
- Symptoms Considered Mild
Denials are disappointing, but they do not have to be the end of your chances for compensation. Veterans can challenge these decisions on appeal, and our attorneys can help guide you every step of the way.
Learn How Gang & Associates Can Help
At Gang & Associates, we are prepared to help you seek the benefits you deserve for your service-related anxiety. If our claim was recently denied, our team can help you build the strongest case possible on appeal. Reach out right away to discuss your options during a private consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get VA disability benefits if I was diagnosed with anxiety after leaving the military?
Yes. Many veterans are not formally diagnosed until years after service. As long as evidence shows your anxiety is connected to your time in the military, you may still qualify for benefits.
What rating can I receive for anxiety?
The VA rates anxiety disorders from 0 to 100 percent, depending on severity. Ratings reflect how much the condition impacts daily life, employment, and relationships. Higher ratings are given when anxiety causes serious occupational and social impairment.
Can anxiety be rated along with PTSD or depression?
Yes. Veterans often have multiple mental health conditions, and the VA will evaluate all symptoms. However, the VA avoids “pyramiding,” meaning overlapping symptoms will not be rated twice. Instead, the VA assigns one combined rating based on overall impairment.
How long does it take the VA to decide an anxiety claim?
Timelines vary, but most claims take several months to over a year, depending on complexity, available evidence, and whether appeals are required. Submitting complete documentation can help speed the process.
Can anxiety qualify me for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)?
Yes. If anxiety prevents you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for TDIU, which pays at the 100 percent rate even if your rating is less than 100 percent. Supporting medical and vocational evidence is key to these claims.
Types of Cases
- Accrued Benefits
- Anxiety
- Burn Pits
- Camp Lejeune
- Cancer
- Death Benefits or DIC
- Defense Contractor Whistleblowers
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Agent Orange and Other Herbicides
- Gastrointestinal Problems
- Gulf War Syndrome
- Gulf War Veterans with Chronic Disabilities
- Heart Disabilities and Other Cardiovascular Conditions
- Migraines
- Mental Health
- Military Sexual Trauma
- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome
- Orthopedic Claims
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Psychiatric Disability
- Schizophrenia
- Serious Neurological Disorders and Organic Brain Syndrome
- Skin Diseases
- Sleep Apnea / Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
- Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- VA Medical Malpractice
