Veteran

[Domar]

Where is there a written M21-1 manual?

Anyone upped from 70 to 100 on PTSD?

[Tbird]

This link should help you out https://www.hadit.com/va-law-va-code-va-manuals/

[Buck52]

https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018

 

General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders

   Rating

Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name.100%

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 70%

[GBArmy]

34 minutes ago, Tbird said:

This link should help you out https://www.hadit.com/va-law-va-code-va-manuals/

Thank you , Tbird for sharing this site. You probably have done it many times before but I just saw it. Great resource!

[broncovet]

Excercise caution using the M21 manual.  This is designed for rating specialists, and the BVA pretty much disregards M21, and uses 38 CFR's instead.  

The M21 is "va's interpretation" of the CFR's.   For good reasons, the courts and even BVA uses the direct CFR's instead of VA's interpretation.  

The courts can/do "clarify" the interpretations, and sometimes VA has to publish new M21's to comply.  Example:

The VA LLLLLOVED>>> to deny Vets who applied for SMC S (housebound) who showed up for a  C and P exxam.  Their reasoning is that how can a Vet be housebound, and show up at the VAMC??

It was an incorrect interpretation, and Howell changed it.

Source: https://asknod.org/2014/08/25/cavc-howell-v-nicholson-what-smc-s-really-says/

In relevant part, the court looked at "congress intent", which is clear:

 

Quote

The Secretary, citing to Senate Report No. 1745 (June 27, 1960), notes that in passing section 1114(s) Congress intended to provide additional compensation for veterans who were unable to overcome their particular disabilities and leave the house in order to earn an income as opposed to an inability to leave the house at all.

So, did the VA's new M21 put congress intent in the new regulation?  No.  They changed it to mean, instead, that the Veteran is unable to leave his house except for medical appointments.  

This is NOT THE SAME as congress intended, above.  The VA was afraid every tdiu would get SMC S, and, indeed, if the Veteran is unable to work due to sc conditions, then he is unable to leave the home TO EARN AN INCOME.  

Its possible I may be involved in a fight with VA on this very issue, where they repeatedly dont want to award SMC S, even tho Im tdiu.

[Buck52]

broncovet In my opinion it would help you if you were P&T

[GBArmy]

SO the lesson to be learned is when a veteran receives a SOC and it doesn't seem right, you see if you can find it in the M21 and then compare it the CFR. Then you can provide new and relevant evidence to support the law, not m21.

21 hours ago, Tbird said:

This link should help you out https://www.hadit.com/va-law-va-code-va-manuals/

Thank you , Tbird for sharing this site. You probably have done it many times before but I just saw it. Great resource!