diabetes Gaf Score

[ray russo]

My husband Vietnam Vet, currently connected at 60% (50% ptsd and 10% diabetes)

Collecting SSD and has been out of work since Jan 2005.

January 2008 submitted in a form for unemployability with 2 letters his SSD award paperwork. Feb 2008 sent for 2 C&P's one for PTSD and the other for Diabetes.

I have a copy of his C&P for PTSD the DR gave him a 40 GAF (before was a 60 GAF)

and a future diagnostic of being very poor future.

Both C&P's completed on March 25 2008

Looking for some advise, Do you think he'll just get 100% unemployability or permanent and total disability. and if completed March 25 when do youthink we should hear results.

[carlie]

His age is 59, his C&P for PTSD the Dr gave him a 40 GAF and his prognosis for improvement in his quality of life is poor. His meds tripled since he's been in the PTSD programs. depended on wife to function daily. Again he was 50% ptsd 10% diabetes. The new C&P gaf is 40 and we originally submitted for unemployability.

We were just wondering if the chances are stronger for the unemployability or Permanent and Total disability. IF Regional got the C&P's March 25 approx when should we hear back from Regional. they only had the 2 C&P's 2 letters from wife and friend (with a physcologist degree) just wondering the approx time factor here

I think he will get some staged ratings - probably an increase in PTSD percentage, and perhaps bump that on up to IU,

(and I think not due solely to the GAF score).

They will also factor in EXACTLY WHY SSD was granted, (hopefully due SOLELY to his SC'd disability's)

they MIGHT factor in any side effects due to medication's for SC'd conditions, they should factor in

"prognosis for improvement in his quality of life is poor", they should factor in,

"depend on wife to function daily".

The "depend on wife thing also has a strong possibility of bringing in incompetence and the

assigning of a fiduciary.

I think you will have about a three month wait from the date of the C&P to hear anything, prepare for longer.

Some of the more important factor's I do not see mentioned is:

Did the examiner make mention of effects on daily living such as occupational and social impairment,

sleep disturbance, panic attacks, neglect of hygiene, lack of concentration, many of the factors in the chart below ?

JMHO

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name . . . 100

Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships . . . 70

[carlie]

http://vets.yuku.com/topic/3727/PTSD-CLAIMS-FAQ-FROM-A-TO-Z

" XI. What is the GAF and what does it have to do with my rating?

ah...GAF stands for Global Assessment of Function. It is incredibly nice of the VA to put a numerical value to your mental health. You receive a GAF score every time you visit your mental health professional. It is a value that represents what you are mentally like on that particular day. the higher the number the better you are on that day.

Here is a basic explanation on what the numbers actually mean:

GAF

100-91

Superior functioning in a wide range of activities. Life's problems never seem to get out of hand, is sought out by others because of his or her many positive qualities. No symptoms.

90-81

Absent or minimum symptoms (e.g. mild anxiety before an exam), good functioning in all areas, interested and involved in a wide range of activities, socially effective, generally satisfied with life, no more than everyday problems or concerns ("e.g.. an occasional argument with family members)

80-71

If symptoms are present, they are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors (e.g., difficulty concentrating after family argument); no more than slight impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g temporarily falling behind in schoolwork).

70-61

Some mild symptoms (e.g., depressed mood and mild insomnia) OR some difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., occasional truancy, or theft within the household), but generally functioning pretty well, has some meaningful interpersonal relationships.

60-51

Moderate symptoms (e.g.. flat affect and circumstantial speech, occasional panic attacks) OR moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., few friends, conflicts with peers or co-workers).

50-41

Serious symptoms(e.g., suicidal ideation, severe obsessional rituals, frequent shoplifting) OR any serious impairment in social, occupational, or school functioning (e.g., no friends, unable to keep a job).

40-31

Some impairment in reality testing or communication (e.g... speech is at times illogical, obscure, or irrelevant) OR major impairment in several areas, such as work or school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood (e.g depressed man avoids friends, neglects family, and is unable to work: child frequently beats up younger children. Is defiant at home, and is failing at school).

30-21

Behavior is considerably influenced by delusions or hallucinations OR serious impairment in communications or judgment (e.g., sometimes incoherent, acts grossly inappropriately, suicidal preoccupation) OR inability to function in almost all areas. (e.g. stays in bed all day; no job, home, or friends).

20-11

Some danger of hurting self or others (e.g., suicide attempts without clear expectation of death, frequency violent; manic excitement) OR occasionally fails to maintain minimal personal hygiene (e.g smears feces) OR gross impairment in communication (e.g. largely incoherent or mute.)

10-0

Persistent danger of severely hurting self or others. (e.g. recurrent violence) OR recurrent inability to maintain minimal personal hygiene OR Serious suicidal act with clear expectation of death.

What does the GAF mean to my overall rating?

Well, its subjective. some people get a GAF of 45 and receive a 100% rating and others with a GAF of 45 could end up with a 50% rating. Its really just a guide.

In the letter used earlier to raters the VA explains its position on the GAF score:

Quote:

Do not base a rating solely or mainly on the GAF score. The GAF score does not translate directly to the rating schedule criteria.

If you would like to see a general guide on how the GAF may correspond to ratings here it is:"The rule of thumb for the amounts the VA assigns for psychiatric disabilities is:

GAF Percentage

0-40=100%

41-50=70%

51-60=50%

61-70=30%

71-80=10%

81-100=0%

Raters may choose to ignore this, but it does give you a general idea of where you stand. "

[bakerkd]

GAF is a "snapshot in time". MH professionals will show your GAF for a certain period of time ie; that particular day, based on your behavior/symptoms. From what I understand the raters look at symptoms and if its a close call they "May" look at the GAF's. You could have symtoms associated with a 50% rating throughout the year but only have a 62 GAF on the day you see the MH Pro. Some days are better than others so GAF can change. I know someone who has had a 65 and a 45 within 2 months of each other.

Edited September 7, 2011 by bakerkd

[Nelly35]

I will be getting off of my terminal leave on the 28th of this month when should I here my VA results or what is the next step after all the QTC appointments have been completed I starded my VA claim almost 4 months ago now I got a head start on it cause they said if I started it while I was still in the military it wouldnt take as long. I am woundering what I need to have done from here? Like I said I have completed all the QTC appointments.