Condition
VA Nexus Letters for Depression & Anxiety
Mood and anxiety disorders, including those secondary to chronic physical conditions.
Depression and anxiety are frequently service-connected on a secondary basis: chronic pain, disfigurement, sleep disruption, and functional loss from an already service-connected condition are well-documented causes of mood disorder. These claims are commonly missed because veterans file only for the physical condition.
What the VA requires
- A current diagnosis meeting DSM-5 criteria
- An in-service event or an established service-connected condition
- A medical opinion explaining causation or aggravation
- Documentation of occupational and social impairment
How it is rated
Rated under the same General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders as PTSD (38 CFR 4.130). Only one rating is assigned across all mental health diagnoses.
How we help
- Telehealth evaluation with a licensed mental health clinician
- Causation and aggravation opinions tied to your service-connected conditions
- Impairment documentation written to the rating criteria
Commonly claimed as secondary
- Chronic pain conditions
- Sleep apnea
- Tinnitus
- GERD
Find out which of your conditions a medical opinion can support.
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