Daignosed Anxiety And Depression

[huskerfanfl]

I went to see the VA psychiatrist yesterday and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Although I have not seen the written diagnosis (probably is not done yet anyway), the psychiatrist stated that the aniety and depression are tied in to my other disabilites. I go in on the 29th to decide my course of counseling and then once a month for three months to learn coping strategies. I have alos been prescribed Celexa as well as another pill to take as needed for sleep.

Is this all normal?

At what point would I/should I put in a new disability claim? I would think they would want to see how I was doing on the medicine first anyway.

[john999]

Husker

My shrink does a GAF each time I see him. The VA won't give me the records right away like with other medical records. I sign a release and they mail them to me??? I don't know why that is but that is the way my VAMC does it with psychiatric records. Your VAMC might be different. I think you might as well file any claims you have to get the earlier effective date. The VA is so slow developing a claim you will have plenty of time to submit more evidence. I say when in doubt go ahead and file your claim. All they can say is NO. The VA denies good claims and bad claims, so often times you do have to appeal. Most here have been through many appeals. They start you out at some laughable 10% and years later you are 100% with the same basic problem. Just keep seeing your shrink and don't miss any appointments. You sound like you have your act together, so now you just have to battle with the raters.

[cowgirl]

question; regards similar subject, recent depression claim submitted; is it possible that last VA pysch C-File diagnosis "major depression" GAF 61 if I recall, sufficient? Or as I suspect is a new C+P more probable? Am cnsidering IMO but only if needed.thanks.cg

[huskerfanfl]

John,

Thank you for the reply and the information. I know what you mean on the ratings. I had 7 claims approved the first go around, all at 10%. I am in the process of appealing some of those and gathering additional evidence on the rest. I will request the records for my first visit the next time I go back there which is the 29th.

[Patrick428]

Huskerfanfl,

Are you already rated for a mental disorder by the VA? If so, then filing a claim for another will do nothing for you. Pyramiding is illegal in the VA and you will only be rated for the most serious mental disorder regardless if you have 5 others.

As for records, the reason they will not give them to you is because of ethical and 'welfare of the public" rules which say that there may be information contained within the mental health records the patient or another lay person may not understand in turn which may cause that veteran to harm himself or others. Most of the time a mental health record will be sent to another clinician to who should sit with you and go over them to ensure that what is contained in them is understood. It usually turns out to be a judgment call of the clinician as whether or not they wil release them to the individual veteran.

GAF scores are fluid and change like the weather. A GAF of 61 means: "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."

Too many veterans look at the GAF score as an indicator of their disability rating which is incorrect. As was previously stated by another veteran his psychiatrist rendered a GAF score after each therapy session which is the normal protocol. Having performed many C and Ps for the VA, the GAF score holds little releavance to the way in which a mental health claim is rated. There are many other more siginficant factors that are taken into consideration for the purpose of a rating rather than depending on a GAF score.

Patrick

[Pete53]

Patrick:

I disagree if its your record you have a right to see it. My opinion is VA uses the excuse to shield screw ups on their part.

[huskerfanfl]

Thank you for the answer Patrick,

No, I have not been rated for another mental disorder. I guess my question would then be whether they would send the records to my provate physician.