VA Ratings for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Veterans?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a common mental health condition in which there is excessive stress about everyday life, even if there is no specific reason for the worry. This distress can be about family, relationships, health, finances, or work. Generalized anxiety disorder among veterans is also prevalent, and there are many reasons for it. These reasons could include: injuries, exposure to lethal combat, and adapting to civilian life.
Why do veterans suffer from anxiety?
Veterans face many psychological difficulties on the battlefield. Anxiety disorders occur very commonly in veterans. This is because of the trauma they go through during the combat.
Causes of GAD in veterans
There are a lot of reasons why veterans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. These include:
- Facing deadly situations and violence can have a deep impact on the mental health of the veterans.
- Moreover, returning and adjusting to normal civilian life can be difficult for veterans. Sudden change to normalcy can feel distant and hostile.
- Social integration can also become hard because of the unfamiliar routines and habits of family and friends.
- Sometimes, the veterans feel a loss of identity and purpose because their identities were shaped by the services in early adulthood. This leaves them with feelings of emptiness, eventually leading to anxiety.
- Long-term physical injuries and pain can also have a mental toll on veterans.
Other causes of generalized anxiety disorder include substance abuse, physical and sexual assault, or limited access to treatment.
Related Post: How Generalized Anxiety Disorder Affects Relationships
How does generalized anxiety disorder affect veterans
Generalized anxiety disorder can obstruct the daily life of veterans, making relationships and work life hard to deal with. Several physical and psychological symptoms are evident in veterans.
Symptoms of GAD in Veterans
The physical symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are given below:
- Restlessness
- Headache
- Trembling
- Twitching
- Perspiration
- Sleeplessness
- Tiredness
The psychological and emotional symptoms of GAD include:
- Feeling difficulty in dealing with uncertainty
- Irritability
- Persistent dreadful feelings
- Difficulty focusing on tasks
- Continuous worry
VA ratings
The Veterans Affairs has created a rating system that calculates how a certain disability affects the life of the veteran. This provides the veteran with an idea of how much their mental or physical health is affected. A certain rating makes you eligible for certain benefits for treating your disability.
The ratings of GAD are as follows:
| Rating | Symptoms |
| 0 Percent | This rating is given to the veteran if GAD is diagnosed, but it does not affect the veteran’s work life or societal relationships.
In case of a 0 per cent rating, medication is also not required. |
| 10 Percent | When less severe symptoms are shown.
Impairments in work and relationships occur only during higher stress. Medication is prescribed in case of a 10 % rating. |
| 30 percent | The ability to work and socialize becomes impaired, but it is infrequent.
You tend to be less efficient and have a decreased level of productivity, which affects your ability to perform tasks. This is due to symptoms like, Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, mild memory loss like forgetting names, directions, and recent events suspicion, and chronic sleep impairments. Other daily activities and behaviours, including self-care and everyday conversations, remain unaffected. |
| 50 percent | Work and social life are more affected.
This is because of the following symptoms: Multiple episodes of panic attacks per week. Trembling and shaking Fear of impending doom Pounding heart rate Feelings of unreality and detachment It is hard to follow commands, resulting in social and workplace problems. Short-term and long-term memory is generally defective. Poor planning and decision-making The ability to make judgments is reduced, which can cause illogical behavioral patterns.
Another condition known as flattening affect occurs in which the person does not show any emotional response. It is one of the symptoms of depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Flattened affect results in decreased ability to respond with proper gestures, leading to social isolation and loneliness. The ability to do complex thinking or higher wisdom is greatly affected. This includes impaired humour, imagination, logical reasoning, and problem-solving. Spatial disorientation causes unsteadiness, perplexity, and clumsiness. Disoreinted Speech: irrational, vague speech that does not make sense A condition where a person experiences using too many words to explain something, or overexplaining something. This is known as circumlocutory speech, and it is common among veterans. Simplified and generalized speech patterns reflecting an inability to make nuanced judgments. |
| 70 percent | This rating is given when a veteran has increased ineffectiveness in work and social life.
The symptoms shown include suicidal thoughts, repetitive behavior patterns, illogical speech, constant state of panic, and depression. Difficulty controlling your actions or behaviors is also manifested. An inability to resist urges leads to spontaneous actions and violent behavior. Carelessness towards personal hygiene. |
| 100 percent | A 100% means total disability.
It is the highest rating. This rating means a completely diminished work and social functioning. Some symptoms may include impairment of thought and communication, constant delusions, suicidal thoughts, a lost sense of time and place, memory loss resulting in forgetting names of close relatives, occupation, or one’s own name. Not being able to perform everyday activities, such as the maintenance of personal hygiene. |
Final Thoughts
Oftentimes, when soldiers return from the battlefield, they face many mental health challenges, especially depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder are commonly occurring ones. Living with GAD becomes problematic for the veterans if not given the right treatment. The physical and psychological symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder make life difficult for the veterans. Managing and treating the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder is important for leading a healthy and active life. Making healthy life choices, like a balanced diet and exercise, is a key to controlling the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. If symptoms become serious, it is advised to seek professional help that includes therapy and medication. Furthermore, the US Veterans Affairs specifies disability ratings for veterans based on their symptoms. The disability rating system is vital for veterans to get the right treatment benefits.
Find Optimal Care for GAD at Advanced Mental Health Group
Advanced Mental Health Group is well-known for expert psychiatric services. Our team of dedicated mental health professionals provides personalized treatment for all kinds of mental health disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, for veterans. We have created a safe, non-judgmental space for the care and support you need. Make the first move towards your healing journey with us. Book a consultation at Advanced Mental Health Group and regain mental balance.
FAQs
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Q: How does VA assess the rating for various mental disorders?
A: For various mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and PTSD, the VA measures rating based on the symptoms, their level of severity, and how they impede normal life functioning. -
Q: Is it possible to get disability benefits for an anxiety disorder?
A: If your anxiety disorder was caused by your service in the military, you could be eligible for VA benefits for anxiety, depending on your symptoms. -
Q: What is the most commonly occurring VA rating for anxiety?
A: 30% is the most common VA rating for anxiety.