C&P Exam for Panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (DC 9412)

Read the C&P exam preparation guideWhat happens at the exam, what 38 CFR Part 4 requires the examiner to record, and what to bring.
Diagnostic code: 9412Condition: Panic disorder and/or agoraphobiaRegulation: 38 CFR § 4.130DBQ: DBQ PSYCH PTSD Initial

Which form the examiner uses

For panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (DC 9412), the C&P examiner completes the following Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ):

  • DBQ PSYCH PTSD Initial (public PDF on VA.gov. Public PTSD DBQ (Review variant). The Initial PTSD DBQ itself is examiner-only; the Review variant uses the same DSM-5 criteria the examiner applies at the initial exam.)

DBQs are Department of Veterans Affairs Form 21-0960 series documents. Public DBQs are hosted on benefits.va.gov. A handful are examiner-only and are not posted publicly.

What the examiner records

The fields below are reproduced from the DBQ form the examiner completes for this diagnostic code. This is the structural map of the form, showing what the examiner is asked to measure, observe, and record. It is a factual reproduction of the public DBQ, not advice on how to answer.

This DBQ evaluates the current severity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other co-occurring mental health diagnoses in a Veteran for VA disability rating purposes, based on DSM-5 criteria.

How DC 9412 maps to this DBQ: for this diagnostic code specifically, the examiner typically completes sections I and VIII of this form. Section I is the condition-specific section for this code. Sections II-VII and IX-XI cover unrelated conditions on this DBQ and are skipped.

2 of 11 sections apply to DC 9412 on this DBQ
DIAGNOSTIC SUMMARY (Section I) 5. Behavioral Observations (Section VIII)
DIAGNOSTIC SUMMARY (Section I)
  • Does the Veteran now have or has he/she ever been diagnosed with PTSD?
  • ICD Code:
2. Current Diagnoses (Section II)
  • 2A. Mental Disorders Diagnosis #1:
  • ICD Code: (Diagnosis #1)
  • Comments, if any: (Diagnosis #1)
  • Mental Disorders Diagnosis #2:
  • ICD Code: (Diagnosis #2)
  • Comments, if any: (Diagnosis #2)
  • Mental Disorders Diagnosis #3:
  • ICD Code: (Diagnosis #3)
  • Comments, if any: (Diagnosis #3)
  • Mental Disorders Diagnosis #4:
  • ICD Code: (Diagnosis #4)
  • Comments, if any: (Diagnosis #4)
  • If additional diagnoses, describe using above format:
  • 2B. Medical diagnoses relevant to the understanding or management of the mental health disorder (to include TBI):
  • ICD Code: (medical diagnosis)
  • Comments, if any: (medical diagnosis)
3. Differentiation of Symptoms (Section III)
  • 3A. Does the Veteran have more than one mental disorder diagnosed?
  • 3B. Is it possible to differentiate what symptom(s) is/are attributable to each diagnosis?
  • If "No," provide reason:
  • If "Yes," list which symptoms are attributable to each diagnosis and discuss whether there is any clinical association between these diagnoses:
  • 3C. Does the evidence of record show a diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) for the Veteran?
  • Comments, if any: (TBI)
  • 3D. Is it possible to differentiate what symptom(s) is/are attributable to TBI and any non-TBI mental health diagnosis?
  • If "No," provide reason: (TBI differentiation)
  • If "Yes," list which symptoms are attributable to TBI and which symptoms are attributable to a non-TBI mental health diagnosis:
4. Occupational and Social Impairment (Section IV)
  • 4A. Which of the following best summarizes the Veteran's level of occupational and social impairment with regards to all mental diagnoses? (Check only one)
  • No mental disorder diagnosis
  • A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication
  • Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by medication
  • Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, although generally functioning satisfactorily, with normal routine behavior, self-care and conversation
  • Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity
  • Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood
  • Total occupational and social impairment
  • 4B. For the indicated occupational and social impairment, is it possible to differentiate which impairment is caused by each mental disorder?
  • If "No," provide reason: (occupational/social impairment differentiation)
  • If "Yes," list which occupational and social impairment is attributable to each diagnosis:
  • 4C. If a diagnosis of TBI exists, is it possible to differentiate which occupational and social impairment indicated above is caused by the TBI?
  • If "No," provide reason: (TBI occupational/social impairment differentiation)
  • If "Yes," list which impairment is attributable to TBI and which is attributable to any non-TBI mental health diagnosis:
2. Recent History (since prior exam) (Section V)
  • 2A. Relevant social/marital/family history:
  • 2B. Relevant occupational and educational history:
  • 2C. Relevant mental health history, to include prescribed medications and family mental health:
  • 2D. Relevant legal and behavioral history:
  • 2E. Relevant substance abuse history:
  • 2F. Other, if any:
3. PTSD Diagnostic Criteria (Section VI)
  • Criterion A: Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)
  • Criterion A: Witnessing, in person, the traumatic event(s) as they occurred to others
  • Criterion A: Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend; cases of actual or threatened death must have been violent or accidental; or, experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s)
  • Criterion A: No criterion in this section met.
  • Criterion B: Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s).
  • Criterion B: Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to the traumatic event(s).
  • Criterion B: Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring.
  • Criterion B: Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
  • Criterion B: Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
  • Criterion B: No criterion in this section met.
  • Criterion C: Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
  • Criterion C: Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
  • Criterion C: No criterion in this section met.
  • Criterion D: Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically due to dissociative amnesia and not to other factors such as head injury, alcohol, or drugs).
  • Criterion D: Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world.
  • Criterion D: Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead to the individual to blame himself/herself or others.
  • Criterion D: Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
  • Criterion D: Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
  • Criterion D: Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
  • Criterion D: Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., inability to experience happiness, satisfaction, or loving feelings.)
  • Criterion D: No criterion in this section met.
  • Criterion E: Irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with little or no provocation) typically expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects.
  • Criterion E: Reckless or self-destructive behavior.
  • Criterion E: Hypervigilance.
  • Criterion E: Exaggerated startle response.
  • Criterion E: Problems with concentration.
  • Criterion E: Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless sleep).
  • Criterion E: No criterion in this section met.
  • Criterion F: Duration of the disturbance (Criteria B, C, D, and E) is more than 1 month.
  • Criterion F: Veteran does not meet full criteria for PTSD
  • Criterion G: The PTSD symptoms described above cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
  • Criterion G: The PTSD symptoms described above do NOT cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
  • Criterion G: Veteran does not meet full criteria for PTSD
  • Criterion H: The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., medication, alcohol) or another medical condition.
  • Criterion H: No criterion in this section met.
4. Symptoms (Section VII)
  • Depressed mood
  • Anxiety
  • Suspiciousness
  • Panic attacks that occur weekly or less often
  • Panic attacks more than once a week
  • Near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively
  • Chronic sleep impairment
  • Mild memory loss, such as forgetting names, directions or recent events
  • Impairment of short and long term memory, for example, retention of only highly learned material, while forgetting to complete tasks
  • Memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name
  • Flattened affect
  • Circumstantial, circumlocutory or stereotyped speech
  • Speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant
  • Difficulty in understanding complex commands
  • Impaired judgment
  • Impaired abstract thinking
  • Gross impairment in thought processes or communication
  • Disturbances of motivation and mood
  • Difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships
  • Difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, including work or a work like setting
  • Inability to establish and maintain effective relationships
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities
  • Impaired impulse control, such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence
  • Spatial disorientation
  • Persistent delusions or hallucinations
  • Grossly inappropriate behavior
  • Persistent danger of hurting self or others
  • Neglect of personal appearance and hygiene
  • Intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living, including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene
  • Disorientation to time or place
5. Behavioral Observations (Section VIII)
  • Behavioral Observations
6. Other Symptoms (Section IX)
  • Does the Veteran have any other symptoms attributable to PTSD (and other mental disorders) that are not listed above?
  • If "Yes," describe:
7. Competency (Section X)
  • Is the Veteran capable of managing his or her financial affairs?
  • If "No," specify each injury or disease resulting in incompetency and provide a rationale to support this finding:
8. Remarks (Section XI)
  • Remarks, (including any testing results) if any:

Rating Levels for DC 9412

The following tiers are reproduced from 38 CFR Part 4, the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. Toggle between the official VA criteria and a Plain English explanation.

Plain-English summaries are AI-generated to explain the official criteria. The official 38 CFR language is the binding legal standard. When in doubt, ask a VSO.

View the full DC 9412 pageSearch BVA decisions for this codeAbout DBQ forms

Disclaimer: This page reproduces public Department of Veterans Affairs forms (DBQs) and verbatim text from 38 CFR Part 4 (the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities). It is informational only and is not legal or medical advice. For guidance on a specific claim, contact a VA-accredited representative.