Generalized anxiety disorder (DC 9400) | VA Rating Tool
| Diagnostic Code | 9400 |
|---|---|
| Category | Mental Disorders |
| Subcategory | Mental Disorders |
| Also Known As | anxiety, generalized anxiety, Generalized anxiety disorder, GAD, worry, panic, nervousness, anxious, substance abuse, alcoholism, addiction |
| CFR Section | 4.125-4.130 |
📊 What Veterans Actually Get
Anxiety is rated on the same scale as PTSD and depression. Most commonly rated at 50%. If you also have PTSD or depression, they're evaluated together under one combined mental health rating.
Next Steps for This Condition
Rating Criteria
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | 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. |
| 70% | 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. |
| 50% | 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. |
| 30% | 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). |
| 10% | 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. |
| 0% | 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. |
Conditions Secondary to This
8 linksAnxiety increases stomach acid production and worsens reflux
Anxiety directly affects gut motility through the gut-brain axis
Anxiety and depression are highly comorbid conditions
Chronic anxiety elevates blood pressure over time
Anxiety disrupts sleep patterns and may worsen sleep-disordered breathing
Anxiety causes jaw clenching and teeth grinding
Anxiety heightens awareness of tinnitus symptoms
This May Be Secondary To
32 linksFear of cardiac events causes significant anxiety
Breathing difficulties and fear of attacks cause significant anxiety
Barrett's esophagus causes anxiety due to cancer risk and required surveillance endoscopies.
Social anxiety from visible scarring
IBD causes severe anxiety through fear of flare-ups, urgency episodes in public, and concern about surgery.
Crohn's causes severe anxiety through fear of flares, urgency episodes, and concern about complications and surgery.
Performance anxiety and relationship stress from ED
Chronic widespread pain causes significant anxiety
Hyperthyroidism directly causes anxiety, panic attacks, and nervousness through excess thyroid hormone stimulation of the nervous system.
Fear of episodes and unpredictability causes significant anxiety
Leukemia causes anxiety through fear of recurrence, treatment side effects, and mortality concerns.
Fear of recurrence, treatment side effects, and life disruption from breast cancer commonly cause generalized anxiety disorder.
Fear of vertigo episodes causes persistent anxiety
Narcolepsy causes anxiety through unpredictable sleep attacks, cataplexy episodes, and driving/safety fears.
Chronic vertigo and balance disorders cause severe anxiety through fear of falling, inability to drive, and unpredictable episodes.
Generalized anxiety commonly develops alongside or as a result of PTSD.
Persistent tinnitus is a well-documented cause of anxiety.
Chronic pain and worry about physical decline commonly lead to anxiety.
Fear of worsening condition and loss of function causes anxiety
Chronic itching and flare-ups cause anxiety
Retinal detachment causes anxiety through sudden vision loss, surgical recovery, and fear of recurrence in the other eye.
Recurrent diverticulitis causes anxiety through fear of flare-ups, potential surgery, and dietary restrictions.
Anxiety frequently develops secondary to endometriosis due to chronic pain uncertainty, fear of infertility, and unpredictable symptom flares.
Hearing loss causes anxiety through difficulty in social situations, fear of missing important sounds, and communication frustration.
Pain, missed work, and fear of future limitations often contribute to anxiety.
Chronic pain and physical limitations often cause anxiety about future function and employment.
Fear of losing hand function and work capability
Fear of migraine episodes and their unpredictability commonly causes anxiety.
Recurrent kidney stones cause anxiety due to severe pain episodes, fear of recurrence, and ER visits.
Anxiety develops from fear of incontinence episodes in public, driving, work, and social settings.
Glaucoma causes anxiety through fear of progressive vision loss and blindness.
Disclaimer: Secondary connections shown are based on commonly established medical links. Individual claims require medical evidence. Consult a VSO or VA-accredited attorney.