How VA Rates Anxiety: DC 9400 Panic and Generalized Disorders

The VA rates generalized anxiety disorder under DC 9400 and panic disorder under DC 9413 using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. Because the formula evaluates overall functional impairment rather than diagnosis, anxiety ratings follow the identical 0% through 100% scale used for PTSD and depression.

The frequency and severity of panic attacks directly shape the evaluation. Under 38 CFR 4.130, panic attacks occurring on average more than once a week are an explicit symptom benchmark for the 50% tier, while panic attacks that are persistent, debilitating, or accompanied by agoraphobia point toward the 70% level.

Anxiety can develop secondary to serious medical conditions such as cardiac disease, tinnitus, or respiratory disorders where sudden symptom onset triggers acute distress. Establishing secondary service connection requires medical records documenting the onset of anxiety following the primary condition.

A Mental Disorders DBQ must capture the clinical history of anxiety symptoms, treatment response to anxiolytics or therapy, and specific examples of how anticipatory dread, hyperarousal, or panic episodes affect workplace attendance and interpersonal relationships.