Everyone experiences occasional anxiety. Racing heartbeats, sweaty palms, and spiraling worst-case scenarios are universal. However, severe anxiety, often qualifying for VA Disability for Anxiety, is entirely different. For many, including thousands of Veterans, anxiety can be crippling, significantly impacting daily life.
Many Veterans suffer from severe anxiety, potentially eligible for VA Disability for Anxiety, due to intense combat experiences and challenges re-entering civilian life. Military service can leave Veterans constantly on edge, even years after returning from combat. These lingering effects often form the basis for VA Disability for Anxiety claims.
Combat experiences aren’t the only source of severe anxiety for Veterans, either. A variety of different circumstances in the military can lead to anxiety later in life, including sexual assault or abuse. Sexual trauma can leave someone perpetually feeling like something is wrong, even when there is seemingly nothing to make this anxiety set in.
Veterans with anxiety cannot always pinpoint a specific experience or event that acted as the catalyst for their struggle. Sometimes, the overall stress of military service is enough to leave someone with severe, lingering anxiety that does not go away.
Veterans who struggle with severe anxiety may find the simplest tasks nearly impossible, especially on the days when they feel especially overwhelmed. Seemingly small stressors can be triggering in some cases, especially for Veterans who are suffering from anxiety related to trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition common in Veterans, is often accompanied by severe anxiety and hypervigilance. When a Veteran has had an extremely traumatic experience, they may start showing symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety. The anxious feelings that come with PTSD are often so intense that going to work or even getting out of bed is out of the question on some days.
When a Veteran’s anxiety is so severe that they struggle to work, socialize, and live a healthy and fulfilling life, there is a strong possibility of receiving monthly benefits from the department of Veterans affairs (VA). The VA recognizes service-related anxiety – anxiety directly linked to a Veteran’s time in the military – as a legitimate disability that can make a Veteran eligible to receive monthly tax-free compensation.
For a Veteran suffering from extreme anxiety, monthly support from the VA can be life-changing. Anxiety can make it hard for many Veterans to work, especially when a work environment has the potential to be triggering. For Veterans suffering from trauma-related anxiety, even the slightest reminder of a traumatic experience can trigger overwhelming and intense feelings. In cases where the workplace becomes a source of anxiety triggers, monthly compensation often becomes crucial. This financial support may be the only means for Veterans to provide for themselves and their loved ones while managing their condition.
The VA offers disability benefits to disabled Veterans based on a scale from 0 to 100. A 10% disability rating is given to Veterans who are negatively affected by service-related disabilities but are not impacted as severely as others. A Veteran with a 10% rating will receive the lowest possible monthly benefits from the VA – any lower than 10% will mean that the VA will not provide compensation for the condition. However, it can still be valuable to get a 0% rating, even though it is not accompanied by monthly payments.
A Veteran can receive benefits from the VA based on more than one service-related disability. For example, if a Veteran is suffering from service-related anxiety and PTSD, along with a back injury, this Veteran will likely receive a higher rating than a Veteran who is only suffering from anxiety alone.
The VA typically gives a 100% disability rating only to disabled Veterans who suffer from conditions that make it impossible to function in some way. This can mean the ability to work, socialize, or care for themselves is inhibited. The 100% disability rating is often given to Veterans with multiple service-related disabilities, not just one.
If you are a Veteran dealing with severe anxiety, you deserve to receive compensation from the VA. However, it’s crucial to know how to file a claim to receive benefits in the best possible way. The VA needs specific details about your symptoms, condition, and military history to approve your application. You’ll also need to be diagnosed with anxiety by a mental health professional.
When you start filing a claim to receive benefits for service-related anxiety, be prepared to dispute the VA’s decision regarding your application if necessary. The VA often does not accurately assess mental health issues like anxiety and may give you a lower rating than you deserve or deny your application altogether. If you end up in either of these scenarios, you can contest the VA’s decision on your case by appealing with the help of an attorney.
Don’t give up if your anxiety benefits claim is denied. The VA often denies claims due to insufficient medical evidence, missed exams, or unclear service connections.
You can request a decision review to reexamine your case. This process allows you to present additional evidence or take required exams. A senior VA official may review your claim, potentially leading to a better outcome.
Consider getting an independent medical examination (IME) if benefits are still denied. A private doctor can assess your military records and current symptoms, providing a supporting statement for the VA.
Testimonials from friends, family, and fellow service members can strengthen your claim. These “buddy statements” help demonstrate the link between your anxiety and military service.
If the VA continues to deny your claim after review, you can appeal further. Persist in seeking the rating you deserve!
When the VA gives you a rating that is lower than you deserve, making an appeal with the support of a seasoned attorney is often the best way to get a better outcome. An attorney who knows how the VA works and how they determine rulings can make a large difference in the rating that you end up with.
The VA’s disability benefits program exists to support Veterans who deserve compensation for their service-related conditions, both physical and psychological. If you are suffering from anxiety, the VA is not your enemy, but they may not give you the rating you deserve initially. One of Berry Law’s attorneys can team up with you to make an appeal that can be the game-changer you need to get the benefits you are entitled to.
Our team is made of Veterans who want to give fellow Veterans all the help and support they need navigating the VA appeals process. We can help you make an appeal at any level – at your regional VA office, at the Court of Veterans’ Appeals, or at a higher court. We’re here to support you in whatever way we can, and we’ll fight with you to get the rating that you deserve from the VA. With a Berry Law attorney on your team, you’ve got help that you can count on. Contact Berry Law today for a free case evaluation.
Sources:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1440-1614.1999.00638.x
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005789411000141
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