Gaf And Disability Rating

[Bill (USAF Retired)]

I know it's not as simple as "a GAF of X gives you a disability rating of Y," but I'm hoping for some educated guesses from my more experienced colleagues.

The GAF is 41. Rating (for psych) is 50%. Now for the Goldilocks question: Is that rating too big, too small, or just right?

Thanks

Bill

[blanco63]

IN 2008, I recieved my SSDI for migraines and bipolar disorder and my psychiatrist did a mental RFC form back then and put in all of that unable to do any type of work, unemployable, no chance of improvement. Now he is doing another letter with all of that again with all the symptoms for both 70 and 100%, ave GAF since getting SSDI 40, and more likely than not statement. First I concentrated on my migraines and got them up to 50% so I will now go after bipolar so both sc's match the SSDI. I think that will get me a pretty good rating. So I think that I will soon be good to go.

[Testvet]

I am not real smart but if the SSD is based on your Bi-polar and your mental health care statements why would you need new ones for the VA it would seem the same statements would be all the evidence you would need for the VA are you SC now for Bipolar? If not why not? Why wait 2 years to file with VA for bipolar?

[blanco63]

It's somewhat confusing and I do not remember everything in detail but here I go. I am not yet sc for bipolar disorder. When I requested an increase from 30 to 50% for migraines june 2009, I opened a claim for bipolar with the SSDI grant, the mental rfc form, and an incorrect nexus. The psych did not write a good connection statement so claim was continued and I have until 6/30/10 to submit new evidence thus the new nexus letter with a more likely than not statement plus by then I will also submit records of 12 visits containing many connections of my current problems to those I had in the military and another year of 40 GAF'S. Hopefully this will do it. 50% would make me very happy.

[Testvet]

good luck correcting bad info seems to he harder than starting from scratch I hope you are successful

[mags1023]

Blanco, why are you waiting a couple of months to file? The sooner you send it in, the earlier your effective date will be. You will have plenty of time to prepare and strengthen your claim while they process your paperwork. Think about it.

[blanco63]

The effective date for the bipolar claim is 6/3/09. That's when i filed for it, at the same time I filed for the increase for migraines. When i received the increase on 10/7/09, they said that I have until 6/3/10(not 6/30) to submit new evidence so I am getting it together and will mail and fax it to the VARO in May.