sdettloff

Hi, A while back I came across the VA PTSD Case Review training letter dated 1-8-01. It's VERY interesting if you have a PTSD claim. Has anyone else seen this? And more importantly, has anyone cited this in their claim? It's not code, it's not caselaw but I'm hoping to lean on it nonetheless since it's from the Director of C&P. I've attached a copy. I'm using it as it pertains to the GAF score. My father-in-law appointed me as his VA rep and I'm drafting a second reply on his request for increased PTSD (he's also got Hep C - sc). He had 2 C&P's done (1998 & 1999) where the GAF and the narratives didn't match up. The training letter says that the GAF and narrative don't have to match and that the GAF is unreliable. It also says that the rating decision should be based solely or even mostly on the GAF score. My second question is this: the BVA remanded his claim for an increase back to the RO in March 2001... 3 months after this training letter came out. They cited the fact that the GAF and narratives didn't match and therefore it was impossible to tell if he was occupationally impaired. I tend to think that (if you consider the training letter the guideline) they (the BVA) shouldn't haven't remanded the matter at all. The training letter clearly says that the ratings decision should be made based on all the evidence presented and, in fact, it seems to me that the GAF score is at the bottom of the list! The GAF and the narratives didn't NEED to match so as I see it remanding it was in ERROR. What does everyone else think? I am iffy on it and I'd appreciate any input. Thanks. training_letter.doc