It’s not uncommon for military veterans to develop anxiety following a high-stress situation or trauma. The events can take place during military service or even in transition to civilian life.
While some anxiety and stress are considered normal, long-term anxiety is not. When anxiety interferes with your daily life and ability to function, you could be eligible to collect VA disability benefits.
If your anxiety is connected to your military service, you could potentially receive VA anxiety disability benefits. To learn whether your situation qualifies, speak with an experienced VA disability benefits lawyer at Gerling Law Disability Attorneys today.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
General anxiety disorder, or GAD, is relatively common with military veterans who were deployed or involved in some type of conflict.
People with general anxiety disorder have excessive and persistent worrying that they cannot control, and physical and psychological anxiety symptoms can impair their everyday life and ability to function.
Some symptoms of GAD include:
- Irritability,
- Poor sleep,
- Headaches,
- Fatigue,
- Mild memory loss,
- Difficulty concentrating,
- Disorientation, and
- Physical pain in back, shoulders, or neck.
Some veterans suffer repeated panic attacks, which can be very intense. During a panic attack, someone may feel overwhelming fear, experience chest pain or shortness of breath, and start sweating profusely. A panic attack can mimic a heart attack in some cases.
Another anxiety-related disorder is social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia. This condition is when someone has repeated and unending fear of social situations or ones where they need to perform somehow. Some veterans have social phobia so badly they fear appearing anxious and will act in a manner that will be humiliating or embarrassing.
In some cases, veterans struggle with specific phobias, which means they have an intense fear and try to avoid one particular situation or object. A phobia differs from social anxiety and panic disorders as there is no fear of panic attacks.
Instead, a severe fear of direct exposure creates panic. Phobias involve fears that are significantly blown out of proportion when you look at the object or situation.
How VA Anxiety Disability Benefits Claims Work
Years ago, qualifying for VA disability benefits for mental health conditions was extremely difficult. Fortunately, the VA has moved away from thinking injuries must be visible to warrant disability benefits.
Now, many military veterans receive benefits they are entitled to for military-service-connected conditions and injuries, including mental health conditions like anxiety.
If you have one of these anxiety disorders, you need to show how your military service is linked. You need a current diagnosis from an eligible healthcare provider, and you’ll also need a healthcare provider to identify a medical nexus that connects your condition to the specific service-related event.
Without this evidence, you will not be able to show you’re entitled to VA disability benefits.
Veterans Anxiety Disability Benefits Rating
Like other mental health conditions, the VA has specific rating levels for disability claims. Mental health conditions are assessed at 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%.
For example, a 10% disability rating for anxiety would mean you have mild symptoms that decrease your efficiency, but you can still work and interact with people. A disability benefits rating of 100% would mean you have a total social and occupational impairment.
Contact a VA Anxiety Disability Benefits Lawyer Today
If you are suffering from anxiety and you believe your condition is connected to your military service, speak with a skilled VA anxiety disability claims lawyer as soon as possible. At Gerling Law Disability Attorneys, we have over 50 years of experience assisting thousands of clients just like you.
We understand the nuances of VA anxiety disability claims and can help improve your chances of getting your application approved. Don’t wait until your claim has been denied to contact a VA disability benefits attorney for help. Call our office today to speak with one of our skilled lawyers. Remember, Go with Experience. Go with Gerling ®.