Anxiety/depression Rating Criteria

[USAFSP]

I understand mental health ratings are calculated at 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%. And the VA regs list the criteria considered in order to determine a specific rating. My question is this. Do they consider how these criteria impact the veteran when he is ON VA issued meds or how they affect him WITHOUT being on the meds?

[georgiapapa]

USAFP,

I may be wrong. I think the Schedule of Ratings for your condition would have to include language in the rating criteria about the effects of medication on your disability in order for medication to be considered. Otherwise, the VA can not consider the effect of the medication when rating your disability. JMO

Hopefully, others will chime in and give you a more definite response.

Good luck to you and thank you for your service.

GP

[Matthew Hill]

There are many disabilities were the rating schedule does not speak to the effect of medicine on the disability. In that case, you should be rated on the severity of the disability without medication. But when the schedule specifically speaks to the medicine you cannot really get around it. That is the case in the anxiety rating:

Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms

which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational

tasks only during periods of significant stress, or; symptoms controlled

by continuous medication .................................................................................. 10

To get a higher rating you would have to show that even with the medication you have more significant symptoms.