EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. Not legal or medical advice. Not affiliated with the VA.
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Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis)
✓ VERIFIED AGAINST 38 C.F.R.§ 4.130 (Mental disorders) · reviewed 2026-05-15 · ClaimRecon Editorial Team
Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis) is rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs under DC 9422 of 38 CFR § 4.130, DC 9422 across 4 severity tiers (0% / 10% / 30% / 50%). Service connection requires (1) a current diagnosis, (2) an in-service event, injury, or exposure, and (3) a medical nexus opinion linking the two under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
OVERVIEW
Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness despite minimal or no somatic symptoms. Characterized by high health anxiety, excessive health-related behaviors (frequent checking, doctor visits), and maladaptive avoidance of medical situations.
RATING CRITERIA (4 LEVELS)
0%
Diagnosed illness anxiety disorder but symptoms not severe enough to interfere with occupational or social functioning.
10%
Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient health preoccupation controlled by medication.
30%
Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency due to excessive medical visits, health checking, and reassurance seeking.
50%
Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to persistent health anxiety consuming significant daily time and energy.
KEY EVIDENCE TO GATHER
-Service treatment records showing injury or complaints
-Imaging (X-ray, MRI, CT)
-Range of motion measurements
-Flare-up documentation per Sharp v. Shulkin
-Buddy statements describing limitations
-Prescription history
-Physical therapy records
-Employment impact documentation
C&P EXAM TIPS (6)
1.Do NOT stretch, warm up, or take pain medication before your exam. The VA needs your baseline limitation.
2.Report your WORST day. DeLuca v. Brown requires documentation of functional loss during flare-ups.
3.Tell the examiner about flare-ups: frequency, duration, estimated ROM loss. Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) requires estimates.
4.Request active, passive, weight-bearing, and non-weight-bearing ROM testing per Correia v. McDonald (2016).
5.If you use assistive devices (brace, cane), bring them.
6.Describe daily activity impact: work, sleep, household tasks.
SOURCES & EDITORIAL
Rating criteria text quoted verbatim from 38 C.F.R. § 4.130 (Mental disorders). Source verified 2026-05-15 by ClaimRecon Editorial Team during a regulation-text comparison against the Cornell Law CFR mirror; eCFR.gov is the authoritative government source.
EDUCATIONAL TOOL ONLY. NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE.
NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CLAIM RECON 2026