The Board has determined that the veteran's anxiety reaction, which is currently rated at 50 percent, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating of 70 percent as required by Diagnostic Code 9400. The evidence shows occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as hopelessness, panic attacks about once or twice a month, short-term memory loss, and disturbance of mood with anxiety, depression, and irritability.
The deciding factor: The veteran's GAF score was 35, indicating some impairment in reality testing or communications. However, the evidence does not show deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood required for a 70 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9400.
- Claimed conditions
- Anxiety Reaction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2005
- Citation
- 0518842
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0518842.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as a free-standing claim.,The appeal seeking to revise or reverse the November 4, 2009 rating decision that denied service connection for depression and anxiety reaction is remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and anxiety reaction based on the evidence of record at that time. The decision was not overturned due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE).
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's anxiety reaction is rated at 70 percent effective December 11, 2008. The rating was granted as the evidence demonstrated that his condition resulted in suicidal tendencies and occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's anxiety reaction did not result in a substantially impaired ability to establish or maintain effective relationships, and psychoneurotic symptoms did not manifest as severe industrial impairment due to reduced reliability, flexibility, and efficiency levels at the time of the February 12, 1965 rating decision.
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