Anxiety VA Ratings and Service Connection
By Telemedica
9/17/2025
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- Types of Anxiety Rated by the VA
- How the VA Rates Anxiety
- VA Diagnostic Codes for Anxiety Disorders
- Establishing Service Connection: How to Prove Anxiety for VA Disability
- Secondary Conditions to Anxiety
- Filing a Claim
- Nexus Letter for Anxiety
- Understanding the VA C&P Exam for Anxiety Claims
- How a DBQ Can Impact Your Anxiety VA Disability Claim
- Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims
- Conclusion
- FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the symptoms of anxiety in veterans?
- Is anxiety a VA disability?
- What is the VA rating for depression and anxiety?
- Does the VA rate anxiety and PTSD separately?
- How do I get 100% disability for anxiety?
- What is the VA rating for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
- How often does the VA re-evaluate anxiety claims?
Many veterans experience anxiety after service, whether from combat exposure, stressful environments, or the challenges of transition.
The VA recognizes several types of anxiety disorders and rates them based on how much they affect your social and occupational impairment.
This Veteran’s Guide explains how the VA rates anxiety, the fastest way to file a claim, and the role medical evidence plays in establishing service connection.
Key Takeaways
- Common anxiety-related conditions in veterans include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- The VA rating for anxiety ranges from 0% to 100%, with breaks at 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70%.
- The VA rates anxiety according to how your symptoms impact work and social functioning.
- A Nexus Letter for an anxiety VA rating may strengthen your claim by providing a clear link between your condition and military service.
Types of Anxiety Rated by the VA
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) causes persistent, excessive worry about everyday events.
A 2024 study found that nearly 8% of veterans screened positive for GAD and 22% for mild anxiety symptoms.
Higher levels of anxiety in veterans are often linked to younger age, multiple deployments, and serious mental health challenges.
The VA rates generalized anxiety disorder under DC 9400.
Panic Disorder and/or Agoraphobia
Panic disorder involves sudden, intense episodes of fear that may cause rapid heartbeat, sweating, or shortness of breath.
Many veterans with this condition also experience agoraphobia, where they avoid public places for fear of triggering an attack.
These symptoms can make it hard to hold a job, attend appointments, or maintain relationships.
Phobias
Phobias are intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations, like crowds, flying, or even loud noises.
Veterans may develop phobias, sometimes connected to stressful or traumatic experiences during combat or deployment-related experiences, and these fears can severely limit daily functioning.
When phobias affect your ability to live and work normally, they may qualify for a VA anxiety rating.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is marked by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) done to reduce distress.
Veterans with OCD may feel trapped in cycles of checking, cleaning, or ordering tasks that interfere with work, family life, and social activities.
The VA rates OCD under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, depending on the level of occupational and social impairment it causes.
How the VA Rates Anxiety
The VA disability rating for anxiety ranges from 0% to 100%, with breaks at 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70%. Your VA anxiety rating isn’t based only on your current diagnosis; it also considers how your symptoms affect your work and daily life.
The VA uses the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, which measures how your symptoms affect everyday life.
The two areas that matter most are:
- Occupational Impairment: Does anxiety lower your productivity, limit your responsibilities, or make it impossible to hold a job?
- Social Impairment: Does anxiety strain your relationships, cause isolation, or make social situations overwhelming?
Anxiety VA Rating Chart
The VA uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to define and classify mental health conditions, including anxiety.
| General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders | VA Disability Rating |
| Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. | 100% |
| Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. | 70% |
| Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. | 50% |
| Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events). | 30% |
| 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 continuous medication. | 10% |
| 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 | 0% |
Upcoming Mental Health Rating Changes
To improve accuracy and reflect modern clinical practices, the VA is updating how it evaluates all mental health conditions, including anxiety, PTSD, depression, and eating disorders. Learn more about upcoming mental health rating changes HERE.
VA Diagnostic Codes for Anxiety Disorders
The VA uses specific diagnostic codes to assign ratings for different types of anxiety disorders; each tied to the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: DC 9400
- Phobias: DC 9403
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: DC 9404
- Other Specified Anxiety Disorder: DC 9410
- Panic Disorder and/or Agoraphobia: DC 9412
- Unspecified Anxiety Disorder: DC 9413
Note: Other specified anxiety disorders are anxiety conditions that have been diagnosed but don’t match any specific category. Unspecified anxiety disorders are diagnosed too, but they don’t fully meet the criteria for a named type of anxiety
Establishing Service Connection: How to Prove Anxiety for VA Disability
To secure a VA anxiety rating, you’ll need to show clear evidence that connects your current diagnosis to your military service. This is known as service connection.
Direct Service Connection
To prove direct service connection, you must provide evidence of the following:
- A current medical diagnosis of anxiety
- An in-service event, injury, aggravation, or illness
- A medical nexus (link) between your current diagnosis and the in-service event, injury, aggravation, or illness
Tip: Keep copies of all medical records and service documents in one place; organized evidence can make your claim much stronger and easier to process.
Anxiety as a Secondary Condition: Anxiety can also develop as a secondary condition linked to an existing service-connected disability, such as PTSD, chronic pain, or physical injuries.
Secondary Service Connection
The VA requires two key pieces of evidence before granting secondary service connection:
- A Current Diagnosis: A documented diagnosis of the secondary condition from a qualified medical provider.
- A Medical Nexus between the primary and secondary conditions: The nexus is proof that the secondary condition was caused or aggravated by your primary service-connected condition. A detailed Nexus Letter from an independent medical provider is often the strongest evidence.
Clear documentation connecting your secondary anxiety to your service-connected condition allows the VA to assign an appropriate rating and potentially increase your overall VA disability compensation.
Secondary Conditions to Anxiety
Mental health conditions like anxiety can also cause other secondary conditions, such as migraine headaches, hypertension, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Learn more about other common VA secondary conditions to anxiety and depression HERE.
Filing a Claim
To receive an anxiety VA rating, you must file a VA claim. While filing online is generally the most efficient option, you can also download and complete VA Form 21-526EZ and submit it in one of the following ways:
- By mail
- Via fax
- In person at a VA regional office
Remember, filing a VA claim doesn’t guarantee approval; it starts the process needed to prove your condition is connected to your service.
Note: If you’re filing a paper claim, it’s smart to submit an intent to file to protect your effective date and potential retroactive pay, but if you file online, your effective date is set automatically.
Nexus Letter for Anxiety
A nexus letter is a medical document that connects your current diagnosis to an event, injury, or experience from your military service.
For anxiety, a nexus letter can be critical in proving service connection, especially if your claim was denied before or if your anxiety is secondary to another service-connected condition.
While the VA doesn’t require a nexus letter, having one may significantly strengthen your claim by providing clear medical evidence that ties your anxiety to your service.
The experienced team at Telemedica can provide a well-crafted nexus letter to strengthen your anxiety VA claim.
Learn More: What is a Nexus Letter?
Understanding the VA C&P Exam for Anxiety Claims
The VA often requires a compensation & pension (C&P) exam to confirm anxiety and other mental health conditions.
This exam carries significant weight in your claim because the examiner’s report directly impacts your rating.
For anxiety, you’ll be asked about symptoms such as panic attacks, difficulty concentrating, or social withdrawal; so be ready to explain honestly how these issues affect your work, relationships, and daily life.
It’s not always easy to be vulnerable, but it’s your time to share your experiences, so the VA can fully understand your condition.
How a DBQ Can Impact Your Anxiety VA Disability Claim
A disability benefits questionnaire (DBQ) is designed to capture the medical details the VA needs to evaluate your claim.
These forms allow your healthcare provider to document your symptoms, diagnosis, and how your condition impacts your daily life.
Submitting a completed DBQ strengthens your claim by giving the VA clear, structured medical evidence tied directly to your condition.
For anxiety claims, make sure the provider completing your DBQ is thorough and specific, so the VA has an accurate picture of your mental health challenges.
Medical Evidence Wins VA Claims
Did you know that a lack of medical evidence is the #1 reason VA disability claims are denied?
Medical evidence is a crucial piece of the puzzle that VA raters consider when reviewing a disability claim.
Examples of evidence for an anxiety VA claim include:
- Nexus Letters
- DBQs
- Mental Health Notes
- Therapy Notes
- Medication History
- Medical Records
- Military Service Records
- Personal Statements
- Buddy Statements
Telemedica provides solutions for veterans looking to bolster their claims through high-quality medical evidence that wins claims!
Schedule your 20-minute consultation and learn how to get the supporting medical evidence you need to strengthen your claim.
Conclusion
Anxiety can have a serious impact on your ability to work, maintain relationships, and enjoy daily life. The VA acknowledges this and offers disability benefits to veterans whose anxiety is connected to their service.
By understanding the VA rating process, diagnostic codes, and the evidence required, you can take important steps toward securing the compensation you rightfully deserve.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of anxiety in veterans?
Common symptoms of anxiety include constant worry, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and physical issues like rapid heartbeat or shortness of breath. These symptoms can interfere with daily life, relationships, and work.
Is anxiety a VA disability?
Yes. Anxiety is recognized as a ratable mental health condition by the VA, meaning you may qualify for disability compensation if it’s connected to your military service. You must also have a current medical diagnosis and proof of an in-service injury, illness, or event that caused or aggravated your anxiety.
What is the VA rating for depression and anxiety?
The VA uses the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders to assign a combined rating for depression and anxiety, with possible ratings of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%.
The VA disability rating for anxiety and depression is based on how much your symptoms affect your ability to work, maintain relationships, and handle daily activities.
Does the VA rate anxiety and PTSD separately?
Yes, but you can’t receive two ratings for overlapping symptoms. If you have both PTSD and anxiety, the VA will assign a single rating that reflects your overall level of impairment.
How do I get 100% disability for anxiety?
To qualify for a 100% VA anxiety rating, you must show total occupational and social impairment. This typically means being unable to work or maintain relationships due to severe symptoms like persistent panic, disorientation, or an inability to perform daily tasks.
What is the VA rating for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
A generalized anxiety disorder VA rating depends on how symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, and trouble concentrating affect your work and social life. Ratings range from 0% to 100%, based on the severity of social and occupational impairment.
How often does the VA re-evaluate anxiety claims?
Generally, veterans are scheduled for a reevaluation when there is a likelihood of improvement, unless the condition is considered “static,” meaning permanent and unlikely to improve. The VA decides on the need for these exams based on signs of improvement, significant changes in the condition, or potential errors in the existing rating.