Gaf Rating Question?

[allan]

Would anyone know what the rating for GAF score of 52 might be?

Thanks in advance.

Allan

[LarryJ]

It's kinda "borderline" between 30% and 50%, of course that's assuming there are NO other ratable problems thrown in, such as MDD or say, suicidal ideations, or bi-polar tendencys, etc. Throwin' in, for example, suicidal ideation with a 52 GAF will getcha 70%, almost certain.

Repeat after me:

"It's a crap-shoot."

[allan]

Thanks Larry.

Additional mental health issues they diagnosed and treat me for are bipolar, cognitive problems, PTSD, depression, sleep disorder and anxiety/panic attacks with anger outbreaks.

Some days are better than others. Most days i'm all messed up.

[jim n ok]

mine was 54. major depression,anxiety,ptsd...and i got 50%

[WHOLESALE]

The GAF is just one thing the VA MAY or MAY NOT look at when rating mental disorders. One person with a GAF of 50 might get 50% and another 70%. Depends on the rater and medical evidence as a whole.

Frank

Would anyone know what the rating for GAF score of 52 might be?

Thanks in advance.

Allan

[broncovet]

Allan...

Remember what the guy said with the funny hat:

"ITs a crap shoot".

You will be rolling the dice and see what it comes up. TWO keys:

YOu regional Office and your rater.

Some of these are nicer than others, and your results will be reflected in who rates your claim and at which RO. Sadly, there is no standard. I think there should be a direct relationship with your VA docs GAF rating and your Regional office disability rating. There should be a chart somewhere, something like:

GAF 50 = 50% disability rating.

GAF 45-49 = 70% disability rating, etc.

There is not, so everything is applied willie nillie, so Vets in some states make out much better than Vets in other states.

[allan]

Thanks everyone.

That gives me a better idea of how I stand. A crap shoot!

[carlie]

allan,

The most important factor I see in the difference of 50 & 70 percent is,

suicidal ideation is part of 70 % but not part of 50 %.

carlie

[LarryJ]

allan,

The most important factor I see in the difference of 50 & 70 percent is,

suicidal ideation is part of 70 % but not part of 50 %.

carlie

Me thinks that you are absolutely correct............but, I'm not advocating anyone become suicidal. PLEASE, NO!

[LarryJ]

Thanks Larry.

Additional mental health issues they diagnosed and treat me for are bipolar, cognitive problems, PTSD, depression, sleep disorder and anxiety/panic attacks with anger outbreaks.

Some days are better than others. Most days i'm all messed up.

We all knew that, Allan, and we've been making allowances. :)

[purple]

The GAF score is a quick snapshot of how you are at that particular moment. So to have a GAF of say "50" on one day really doesn't mean squat. Now, if everytime you go to an appt and you have a GAF score in the 50s.....then you have something to stand on.

That's why the GAF score from a single C&P exam is pretty worthless unless you have a series of other scores to go along with them and they are consistent.

[carlie]

Now allan,there are some additional symptons besides SI that

VA can consider that are different in the 50 & 70% ratings -

but I feel SI is the one usually documented most often.

allan,

1) If you got a copy of your C&P pull it out and compare it word by word to the Schedule.

2) Always double check the evidence sections in a rating decision to see what's

been or not been considered as evidence (also check the reasons and bases section),

from your medical records.

Always compare this to any rating decision.

3) Always read very carefully, (again compare word by word) what a decision maker

states (in a rating decision) that your c&p examination states.

An example I'd like to give regards a vet I correspond with.

The decision maker granted PTSD at 50 % SC.

In the rating decision the decision maker stated,

upon c&p examination records show, fleeting SI.

NO WHERE IN THIS VETS MEDICAL RECORDS does any MH provider state fleeting SI.

All of this vets MH records refer to current thoughts on SI with an active plan.

This is a clear example of a decision maker twisting and changing the specific wording in the vets

medical evidence, inorder to meet the decision makers own agenda, to award the veteran a lower rating than the medical evidence actually supports.

Many times we get rating decisions in which a decision maker has changed the specific wording

of the medial evidence, and we read the decision and don't compare the decision makers

reasons and bases to that of the exact medical evidence presented.

And...... we bend over.... just a little further.

jmho,

carlie

[carlie]

Allan,

Study these carefully and compare to your medical evidence:

MH at 70 %

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

MH at 50 %

Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as:

flattened affect;

circumstantial, circumlocutory,

or stereotyped speech;

panic attacks more than once a week;

difficulty in understanding complex commands;

impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks);

impaired judgment;

impaired abstract thinking;

disturbances of motivation and mood;

difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships

Edited June 16, 2009 by carlie (see edit history)

[bud]

allan,

The most important factor I see in the difference of 50 & 70 percent is,

suicidal ideation is part of 70 % but not part of 50 %.

carlie

[bud]

its hard to say what u would get i had a gaf score of 50 and received a thirty percent rating i had been out of service since may 1989 and filed a claim in 2006 for ocd/anxiety got rating first time around filed a nod and reveived a 70 percent rating va had sent me for another comp exam in 2008 and i had a gaf of 40 what i am saying is that the gaf score does help but it is all the wording of the examiner is very important

[WHOLESALE]

At my first Comp&Pension exam the shrink didn't even give me a GAF. I guess the GAF really isn't weighted by the VA that much.

Jay

The GAF score is a quick snapshot of how you are at that particular moment. So to have a GAF of say "50" on one day really doesn't mean squat. Now, if everytime you go to an appt and you have a GAF score in the 50s.....then you have something to stand on.

That's why the GAF score from a single C&P exam is pretty worthless unless you have a series of other scores to go along with them and they are consistent.

[john999]

I got a rating of 70% with a GAF of 50. The main thing was I was not working and my doctor said I was unemployable due to my MH condition.

[WHOLESALE]

Have you been granted UI since your doctor determined you're unemployable?

jay

I got a rating of 70% with a GAF of 50. The main thing was I was not working and my doctor said I was unemployable due to my MH condition.

[WHOLESALE]

well stated! I agree the wording is what the VA looks a the most. \\

jay

its hard to say what u would get i had a gaf score of 50 and received a thirty percent rating i had been out of service since may 1989 and filed a claim in 2006 for ocd/anxiety got rating first time around filed a nod and reveived a 70 percent rating va had sent me for another comp exam in 2008 and i had a gaf of 40 what i am saying is that the gaf score does help but it is all the wording of the examiner is very important

[allan]

I have had gaf of 32, 42 & 52.

52 was the last one provided by a resent psychiatrist in 2008.

I've gotten kinda crazy for a while, so out side of family. I don't have a relationship with friends except Hadit.com. Get periods even with currant meds where I stay in the house & away from family except my wife. Cognitive issues make it difficult to understand others sometimes. Waves of depression, anger out breaks, anxiety.

Suicidal? I don't talk to the Dr's about it. Share it with the wife but not the VA Dr's. Don't want to get into it with them so I would just take the 50% over a 70% if thats the case. I don't think I would act on the thought, but have them for some reason I can't pin down. Even with the currant meds that seem to keep my bipolar in better balance.

I read they treat me for PTSD, depression & bipolar. But it must be with just the depakote. I take a high dose of it three times a day. Also a high dose of buspar for the panic/anxiety attacks.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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.

Yes. I go through this. Not near as bad as I did taking Paxil, but still experience it during the week.

Thank you for your since of humor Larry. Hope you never leave this board.

[LarryJ]

B)