★ Mental Health
Panic Disorder VA Rating
38 CFR § 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9412
Overview
Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks, often with persistent worry about future attacks.
Agoraphobia (fear of places or situations from which escape may be difficult) commonly co-occurs.
Frequency, severity, and triggers of panic attacks are central to the rating.
How to Establish Service Connection
- Direct: onset during service or within the presumptive year for psychoses (does not apply to panic disorder itself, but documented onset matters).
- Secondary to PTSD, depression, or chronic medical conditions.
Rating Criteria
Paraphrased from 38 CFR § 4.130, Diagnostic Code 9412
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 0% | Diagnosed condition, but symptoms are not severe enough to interfere with work or social functioning, or symptoms are controlled by continuous medication. |
| 10% | Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency only during periods of significant stress. |
| 30% | Occasional decrease in work efficiency with intermittent inability to perform tasks; depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss. |
| 50% | Reduced reliability and productivity; flattened affect; circumstantial speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty understanding complex commands; impairment of memory; impaired judgment; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing effective work and social relationships. |
| 70% | Deficiencies in most areas (work, school, family, judgment, thinking, mood); suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals; near-continuous panic or depression; impaired impulse control; spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance; difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; inability to maintain effective relationships. |
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such 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; disorientation to time or place; memory loss for own name, occupation, or close relatives. |
See what each percentage pays in 2026 and how it combines with your current rating →
Evidence Checklist
- Mental health records documenting attack frequency and triggers.
- Episode log kept over weeks or months.
- Lay statements describing avoidance and missed activities.
- Records of ER visits for panic-related complaints.
Common Secondary Conditions
Conditions frequently service-connected as secondary to Panic Disorder:
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a Panic Disorder claim or denial?
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Educational content only — not legal advice and not medical advice. Rating criteria on this page are summarized in plain English from 38 CFR Part 4; consult VA.gov or the current Code of Federal Regulations for official criteria. This page provides general education about how the VA rates this condition; it is not individualized advice, does not establish a representation relationship, and should not be used to self-diagnose, self-treat, or decide a course of action without speaking to a qualified clinician and a VA-accredited representative. Outcomes depend on each veteran's individual facts, evidence, and the adjudicator's judgment; no specific rating, effective date, or other result is guaranteed. Oakridge Claims is a private business and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.