Gaf Questions

[holdingontohelp]

hi! Happy holidays! B)

Just for a tiny bit of back ground, I came in back in 1995.

stayed 4 years, was out for 5 months.

came back, stayed for 5 years.

I have filed for back problems and service making me crazy-er

with aggrvated MDD and brand new GAD.

The earliest GAF I know of was when I was 12. it was 65.

1st time I joined, I was seen, for about 2 seconds, by a MEPS contracted Pdoc.

She said, your fine, and that was it.

I do not recall ever seeing a GAF resulting from that exam.

2nd time I was in, I was about 3 years into my enlistment, kinda got depressed

again, I'll spare you the boring stuff, lol.

Started seeing a Navy Pdoc, and taking meds. I had never taken anything for

mental issues before. Saw him all outpatant (sp).

In his mental status exam, he listed my appox. GAF before depressive

episoed as in the low 70's, when I was seeing him, GAF was 65.

My very last exam (June of 05, IMO) had me has a GAF of 60.

With all the help on this site on how to act during a CandP,

and my meds pooping out on me, plus getting out of a job I loved,

(not by choice, long story there.) and moving across the country

twice in 6 months, I est. current GAF at around 50.

(I know, the VA will skip over all the numbers anyway :) )

So, my question is, since my mental status was pre-exsiting,

WHICH gaf would they most likely use?

Thanks! everyone keep warm! B)

[holdingontohelp]

Also, I'm not sure if the 1st GAF (when I was 12) was ever even in

my record.

They mostly just asked for when, where and how I was treated

for minor depression.

And back then, I saw a clinial social worker, so I'm not

sure if the VA would consider that "hardcore" treatment.

[Pete53]

They try to use pre existing to deny benefits. You need to be very careful and focus on being accepted as fit for duty. Don't wortry about your GAF's.

[Jay Johnson]

They won't use any GAF for compensation if you cannot prove that the military aggrivated your mental issue. I'm guessing it is VERY difficult to get the military to admit they increased the severity of your mental condition even with a "stressor" let alone witout one.

As pete said, I would focus on proving a stressor in the military and showing a nexus between service and you mental conidtion...I wish you luck, but it sounds like you have a tough uphill battle:-(

[wallyg]

The best route to go here is to make sure you have complete copies of your Service Medical Records (SMRs), and look through them.

Start with your induction Physical, and see if there is any reference to pre-existing mental conditions, or a GAF score. If there is, you will have to fight on the basis of aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

If there isn't, then you need to examine all your SMRs to see if there is any record of the military ever recording a pre-existing mental condition, or GAF score. If there is, then it will be aggravation of an existing condition.

However, if there is nothing in your SMRs about a pre-existing mental condition or GAF score, then so far as the VA is concerned, it doesn't exist, and you will need to establish a stressor event and a nexus.

Good Luck.

[holdingontohelp]

Thanks, guess I jumped too far ahead of myself :)

I have found at least 10 possible nexues just in my SMR.

Thanks again, sorry for jumping the gun