Va Disability Benefits For Secondary Conditions To Depression
Depression is a mental health condition that can often manifest several secondary conditions. The combination of depression and secondary conditions can significantly impact a veterans well-being. Veterans who develop a condition that is secondary to their service-connected depression are eligible to receive VA disability benefits for their secondary condition.
Physical Conditions And Your Va Rating For Depression
Its true that depression can be caused by a traumatic or stressful experience, as well as many other factors.
However, depression can also be triggered by physical injuries and conditions in veterans. Mental illness can manifest when a veteran suffers lost limbs or body parts, endures chronic pain, or faces a lack of mobility. There are a variety of conditions and illnesses linked with depression, including heart disease, diabetes, traumatic brain injuries, and sleep disorders.
Obtaining Va Benefits For Service
To obtain VA benefits for depression, the Veteran must demonstrate that he or she has been diagnosed with depression and that its existence is service-connected. As suggested above, depression may be diagnosed as a secondary issue brought on by a primary physical or psychological condition, for which the Veteran may already have a disability rating.
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Do I Need Health Insurance To Receive This Service
The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, we will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. In addition, we can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
How To Understand The Vas Ratings For Depression
After you submit your VA claim for depression for approval, the condition of depression is calculated using the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders on the VA Rating Schedule.
The VA rates mental health conditions using percentages at 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%.
This rating helps the VA to determine how much mental illness affects the veterans occupational and social impairment.
Those who have higher social and occupational impairment will have a higher rating and vice versa.
Those who have a VA disability rating for depression of 100% are deemed as not being able to function in a job or socially.
A rating of 0 would mean that the veteran would still be able to receive healthcare for the condition they would not qualify for a VA claim for depression that resulted in monetary compensation.
The severity and the types of symptoms help the VA to determine the rating for each of the veterans who have depression.
A veteran does not need to have all of the symptoms associated with the condition or at a certain rating level to qualify. The system is meant to be a guide for the VA to help place the veteran in the appropriate rating category.
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Faq: How To Win Your Depression Va Disability Benefits Claim
Can I get VA disability compensation and benefits for DEPRESSION VA Claim?Yes. The Department of Veterans Affairs will pay veterans with service-connected DEPRESSION monthly compensation.
Is DEPRESSION considered a disability?The Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes DEPRESSION as a mental condition that may be related to service, and DEPRESSION is therefore compensable.
What is the disability rating for DEPRESSION?The VA will give you a disability rating based upon the severity of your DEPRESSION, specifically related to your level of occupational and social impairment. If you are considered service-connected, you will receive a VA disability rating for DEPRESSION of 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, or 100%.
How much does the VA pay for DEPRESSION?If your DEPRESSION claim is approved, you may receive up to $3,350.87 per month. That is currently the max that the VA will pay veterans with DEPRESSION, if at the 100% rating criteria for DEPRESSION. 100% rating for DEPRESSION.
Can DEPRESSION be permanent?Some veterans may receive a permanent and total rating. If your DEPRESSION is not expected to improve, you may obtain the status of permanent disability.
Can the VA reduce your disability rating for DEPRESSION?Yes. Unfortunately, sometimes the VA will lower a veterans DEPRESSION rating. If that happens to you, file an appeal with new and material medical evidence for DEPRESSION and challenge the VAs decision.
Understanding The Va Rating For Ptsd
The VA assesses both depression and PTSD based on how much the condition causes occupational and social impairment.
When discussing VA disability ratings for mental conditions, its helpful to understand the ratings for post-traumatic stress disorder as well. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that generally follows a traumatic event, such as combat and violent acts. It can often cause severe symptoms like panic attacks, reactive behavior, intrusive thoughts, and even mild memory loss related to the event. Depression can also be a symptom of this condition, but the VA focuses on PTSD as a whole when determining a disability rating.
Since these symptoms can interfere with daily life, some veterans will pursue a benefits claim. Similar to their ratings for depression, the VA assesses PTSD based on how much the condition causes occupational and social impairment.
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Rating & Employment Effects
Once your depression is service-connected, the VA assigns a rating based on the severity that your depression impairs your ability to work and function. Depression can not only alter a veterans mood, but also concentration, sleep, and activity level. Sometimes even if you dont have a 100% rating, your depression can completely impair your ability to hold a sustainable job. If that is the case, you may be eligible to receive 100% compensation referred to as total disability based on individual unemployability .
Veterans Help Group have been supporting veterans in getting the benefits they deserve since 1995. If you or a loved one served, and suffers from depression, please call 855-855-8992 or chat with us online.
Recent Changes To The Appeals Process
Under the Appeals Modernization Act, which applies to all denials issued on or after February 19, 2019, veterans may file a direct appeal on VA Form 10182, requesting review by the Board of Veterans Appeals . If the denial was issued prior to February 19, 2019, a legacy Notice of Disagreement must be filed with a local VA office before appealing the case to BVA.
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Do Veterans Have To File Separate Va Claims For Depression And Anxiety
Importantly, VA recognizes that veterans are not qualified psychological experts. Therefore, it is unreasonable to expect veterans to be certain of their exact mental health diagnosis. Veterans can only attest to their symptomatology and how it affects them on a daily basis. Clemons v. Shinseki held that a service connection claim for one psychiatric condition must be considered a claim for any psychiatric condition that may be reasonably raised by several factors . In other words, if there are other psychological diagnoses on record, VA is required to consider whether those diagnoses are related to a veterans service even if the veteran did not specifically file claims for those conditions. In short, veterans do not have to file separate VA claims for depression and anxiety.
Do You Qualify For A Va Disability Rating For Depression
Qualifying for a VA disability rating for depression can be difficult for some veterans.
Why?
Because you must be able to prove that your depression was caused or made worse by your active duty military service.
However, it can often be hard to characterize depression.
Often, depression is thought of as an invisible issue since it cant be seen.
When most people think about VA disability ratings, they consider the physical injuries of a service member.
They may not consider the mental health and well-being of the veteran.
Depression is often masked, and it is not as easy to spot as a physical injury.
In this article, we will explain how to get a VA disability rating for depression.
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What Happens After My Depression C& p Exam
To view a copy of the exam after, you can request a copy from the regional VA office or by running a new bluebutton report from My HealtheVet
The VA does not provide copies of the exams to you unless they are specifically requested.
It is always a good idea to do a follow-up and get the information, so you can look at it yourself and see what was provided to the VA.
What happens if the C& P exam does not show that the veteran has depression, or that the depression is not shown to be as severe as you believe for it to be?
In those cases, the veteran will need to provide evidence that counters what was written in the exam.
Many different types of evidence could suffice, but the more you have, the better off your chances of receiving a VA disability rating. You could include additional medical evidence, lay evidence, and other arguments that are in your favor.
Common Ways Depression And Anxiety Can Be Related To Military Service
Importantly, in-service causes of depression and anxiety do not have to be due to a military activity. Rather, the cause merely needs to have happened during service. Oftentimes veterans are experiencing problems not directly related to the military that still affect their functioning during service. For example, if a veteran is deployed to another country and they are experiencing problems with their family at home, they might become depressed and anxious over their inability to be with their family while stationed abroad. Again, as long as the factors causing the veterans symptomatology, or the symptomatology itself, manifested during service, they are eligible for service connection.
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How To File A Va Disability Claim For Major Depressive Disorder
9434 Major Depressive Disorder
The purpose of this article is to give tips on how to file a VA disability claim for MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, win your MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER VA disability benefits claim and get the highest rating possible under the law, aka MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER VA claim, so you can get the rating and compensation you deserve. Many Veterans are denied VA benefits for MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER due to a lack of medical evidence with no clear in-service stressor, aka, how did your active duty military service cause or make your DEPRESSION worse?
MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER is Major Depressive Disorder occurs when a person feels extreme depression and/or anxiety and has lost interest in work, life, and previously enjoyed activities. The person has intense thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to depression-like symptoms that interfere with daily life. A person with DEPRESSION is not faking his or her symptoms. The pain and other problems are real. They may be caused by a medical problem. But it’s the extreme reaction and behaviors about his/her symptoms that are the main problem.
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Service Connections For Anxiety And Depression Va Rating
Although an anxiety and depression VA rating is similar to physical disabilities when it comes to benefits, the process of VA rating is different. VA benefits are service-related, and it can be more difficult to establish service-related anxiety and depression in comparison with PTSD or a physical injury.
There are typically three elements of proving service connection:
A crucial distinction between a VA rating for depression and a VA rating for PTSD is the evidence needed. PTSD service-connections need to be connected by a stressor, or traumatic event. Depression or anxiety VA rating, however, do not need a specific traumatic event. The mental disorder does still need to establish that their symptoms started during their time in service.
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You Can Also File A Disability Claim:
File your claim by mail using an Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits .
Print the form, fill it out, and send it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
With the help of a trained professional
You can work with a trained professional called an accredited representative to get help filing a claim for disability compensation.Get help filing your claim
Medical Requirements For Obtaining Disability Benefits
Depression symptoms differ from person to person. However, the most commonly reported symptoms of depression include:
- Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Chronic fatigue
- Eating too much or too little
38 Code of Federal Regulations §4.130 outlines the criteria used by VA to assess the severity of an applicants depression based on the impact their condition has on their daily life. The effects of depression can range in severity from minimal impact on daily tasks to an inability to function at all. VA rates these effects on a scale from zero to 100 percent disability. In addition, if a veteran is rated below 100 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, or TDIU, may be available.
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Obtaining Veterans Disability Benefits For Mental Health Disorders
When determining a rating for a mental illness, the VA will normally send veterans to Compensation and Pension Exams, for a doctor to review all the veterans symptoms and give a medical opinion. Since there is variability in this process, it can be extremely difficult to predict the exact rating a veteran will receive.
Keep in mind that the VA may give out a low disability rating or deny the claim to start out. However, this should not dissuade a veteran from applying for disability compensation. If a veteran has a mental condition that is linked to the military, the veteran should always pursue the claim. If the claim is denied or if the rating given is too low, the veteran can always appeal.
Understanding the way that the VA rates a mental health condition like depression is a crucial aspect when filing a claim for VA disability compensation. Veterans who understand the initial claims process will have the insight and knowledge that is needed, with one foot already in the door. However, a veterans disability law firm can help you better interpret VA requirements and make an appeal. The lawyers at Hill and Ponton value attorney-client relationships, and we are available for representation and legal advice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
% Anxiety And Depression Va Rating
For a 0% rating, the veteran has been diagnosed for the mental disorder of anxiety or depression, yet the symptoms are mild. The VA has determined that daily life and functioning are not interfered with enough to require medical attention such as therapy or medication. The veteran can still function well in social and work situations. Even though the veteran has been officially diagnosed with anxiety and depression, the depression and anxiety VA rating of 0% is non-compensable. The veteran will have a diagnosis, but not receive monthly payments due to the diagnosis.
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Alcohol Tobacco And Other Drugs
Misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can have both immediate and long-term health effects.
The misuse and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and prescription medications affect the health and well-being of millions of Americans. SAMHSAs 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that approximately 19.3 million people aged 18 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year.
Va Ratings For Depression
Mental health conditions can be rating anywhere from 0 percent to 100 percent. Specifically, major depressive disorder is rated under Diagnostic Code 9434. The rating given will be based on the level of social and occupational impairment a veteran experiences and the severity of symptoms.
- 100%This rating is for veterans who experience total occupational and social impairment. Symptoms may include 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 names of close relatives, occupation, or name.
- 70%Veterans rated at 70 percent experience occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. Symptoms may be similar to those listed above in the 100 percent criteria. Impairment may affect the veterans work, school, family relations, thinking or mood. Veterans rated at this level may also experience suicidal ideation.
- 50%The 50 percent rating is given to veterans with occupational and social impairment, specifically with reduced reliability and productivity. Symptoms can include panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, loss of memory, impaired judgement, disturbances of mood, and difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.
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Is It Possible To Get 100% Va Disability For Anxiety
Yes, it is possible to get a 100% VA rating for an anxiety disorder.
However, the Department of Veterans Affairs rarely assigns this degree of impairment.
The major exceptions are when the patient has become suicidal or is considering hurting others.
The 100% rating is difficult to obtain regarding mental health conditions because the VA requires that the symptoms are so severe they completely impair your ability to function in everyday life.
In these situations, the patient is often too impaired to carry out simple, normal daily functions like getting out of bed or taking care of personal hygiene.