Diagnostic Code 9410 · 38 CFR §4.130
Other specified anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a veteran has significant anxiety symptoms that cause distress or impairment but do not fully meet the diagnostic criteria for any single specific anxiety disorder. Unlike unspecified anxiety disorder (DC 9413), this diagnosis is used when the clinician chooses to specify the reason the criteria are not met — for example, limited-symptom panic attacks that do not meet full panic disorder criteria, or generalized anxiety lasting less than six months. This diagnosis is relatively common among veterans because military-related anxiety may present in atypical patterns. The VA rates it under the same General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders applied to all mental health conditions.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | A formal diagnosis exists but symptoms do not interfere with occupational or social functioning and no medication is required. |
| 10% | Mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication. |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency with intermittent inability to perform tasks due to anxiety, depressed mood, chronic sleep impairment, or mild memory loss. |
| 50% | Reduced reliability and productivity due to persistent anxiety symptoms, flattened affect, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, and difficulty establishing effective relationships. |
| 70% | Deficiencies in most areas including work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. May include suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression, impaired impulse control, neglect of personal appearance, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment with gross impairment in thought processes, persistent delusions or hallucinations, persistent danger of hurting self or others, inability to perform activities of daily living, and severe memory loss. |
A diagnosis from a qualified mental health professional documenting the specific anxiety presentation and why it falls under this category is needed. Treatment records showing ongoing therapy, counseling, or medication for anxiety symptoms support the claim. Prescription records for anxiolytic or antidepressant medications are helpful. Buddy statements from family or friends describing how anxiety symptoms manifest in daily life provide important context. A nexus letter connecting the anxiety to military service — whether to a specific event, the overall service environment, or as secondary to another condition — is required for service connection.
Yes. It is a recognized clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5. It is used when anxiety symptoms are clinically significant but do not meet the full criteria for a specific anxiety disorder, and the clinician specifies the reason. It carries the same weight as any other anxiety disorder for VA rating purposes.
No. The VA uses the same rating criteria for all mental health conditions regardless of the specific diagnosis. Your rating is based on the severity of your functional impairment, not the name of the disorder.