My Claim And Gaf Score, Advice Please

[labonte1000]

Hi I for some reason, I never knew my GAF score, and didn't know much about it, and I just found it in my record. I was given a GAF score of 50 with a 10% disability rating for anxiety/depression, where as my lawyer wrote up in my disagreement letter that a score of 50 should be at least 70%, is this true and did the VA, low ball my disability, this is all new to me with the GAF score. Like I said my appealing the original rating, within the year.

Edited January 26, 2008 by labonte1000

[rentalguy1]

It would be helpful if you could post up the wording that the rater used in your rating on this issue. We would be able to provide better guidance on filing the NOD.

[labonte1000]

Hi rentalguy,

it says under the diagnosis of my first GAF when i had my initial C/P exam

Diagnosis:

Axis I- 300.02 Generalized Anxiety Disorder

300.4 Dysthymic Disorder

R/O Major Depression

Axis II- No Diagnosis

Axis III- Asthma, HTN?

Axis IV- unemployed, financial pressures, social isolation.

Axis V-GAF- 50

I am also 10% for hypertension. Thanks everyone for all the help, My lawyer just sent me a copy of my notice of disagreement and is pushing for a 70% rating at least, We'll see if i get another C/P, do you think I will?

[rentalguy1]

If that C&P was fairly recent I wouldn't look for another one due to a NOD. If that one is a year or more old, then I would look for a new one. Asking for 70% is probably too much, and might make a rater balk. It seems to shake them up when you ask for the percentage that you fall under, which seems to be 50% in your case.

[john999]

Labonte

I think the thing that is hurting you is your age. The VA does not like to rate a young guy as IU. They know this means decades of payments of 100% and that you will never work again. It is a financial decision they make to starve you into finding some kind of work or becoming homeless.

[rentalguy1]

John, I don't think he is asking for IU. I think he's just looking for a higher rating on his depression/anxiety. If he meets the criteria for an award of IU, and files a knowledgeable claim for it, however, it would be hard for them to deny him. They would have to come up with factual grounds to do so.

[Will]

I have had a gaf score range anywhere from 40 to 60 depending on the day I see a VA doctor. I can see one doctor and tell them I am still depressed and they will give me a gaf of 60 and next time I go they will give me a gaf of 45. I have been diagnosed with major depression s/c since 1993 and it took until 2007 till get to 80 s/c and they even said it is tempoary. I just saw a VA doctor last week and he is Chief of Psychiatry and he is going to document my record to state symptoms of PTSD. I was sexually and physically assaulted on active duty and they gave me 10 percent s/c. Over next few years they raised my rating slowly. I then in 2005 was rated for pension for Chronic Adjustment Disorder, and I had to laugh, because they said it was from me not being able to deal with everyday life since I left the Navy. So the VA always contradicts there own opinion, how can you say in one breath I am majorly depressed and in another say I have chronic adjustment disorder non service connected because of the Navy. It is unreal to even fathom that contradiction.