Hypertension - Clinically significant anxiety disorder Factor
This factor only applies for reasonable hypothesis cases.
Meaning of anxiety disorder
The 'Hypertension' Statement of Principle (SOP) specifies “any anxiety disorder attracting a diagnosis under DSM IV…”. The section entitled Anxiety Disorders in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) lists post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalised anxiety disorder, anxiety disorder due to a general medical condition, substance-induced anxiety disorder, panic disorders, agoraphobia, acute stress disorder, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Clinically significant
The hypertension SOP requires the anxiety disorder to be clinically significant for at least the six months immediately before the clinical onset or worsening of hypertension. The RMA has defined clinically significant as "sufficient to warrant ongoing management by a psychiatrist, counsellor or General Practitioner".
Generally it would be expected that if an anxiety disorder warranted treatment then treatment would be sought. However, where treatment was not sought, a person's anxiety disorder might still meet the definition of "clinically significant" if there was persuasive and professional evidence, based on a comprehensive clinical history, that ongoing management had been warranted.
Last reviewed for CCPS 12 March 2008.
Investgative Documents
| Type | Title | PDF Format | Word Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Report | Anxiety Disorder |
Preliminary questions [33314]
25233 the veteran has suffered from an anxiety disorder at some time.
25234 the veteran's anxiety disorder is an illness or injury which is identifiable. [Default true]
25235 the identified illness or injury was clinically significant.
33315 the veteran has established the causal connection between the anxiety disorder and operational service for hypertension.
Clinical onset and operational service [33315]
33316 the identified illness or injury was clinically significant for the six months immediately before the clinical onset of hypertension.
33317 the veteran has established the causal connection between the anxiety disorder and operational service for the clinical onset of hypertension.
25240 the clinically significant identified illness or injury is causally related to operational service.
or
7334 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.
7335 the condition under consideration permanently worsened.
33318 the identified illness or injury was clinically significant for the six months immediately before the clinical worsening of hypertension.
33319 the veteran has established the causal connection between the anxiety disorder and operational service for the clinical worsening of hypertension.
Clinical worsening and operational service [33319]
25240 the clinically significant identified illness or injury is causally related to operational service.
33320 the clinical onset of hypertension occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the clinically significant identified illness or injury is causally related.