ptsd Awarded 10%

[TiredSgt]

I received my official notice the other day - The VA awarded me 10% for PTSD, retro to May 05.

However, I have a GAF of 48 - shouldn't my rating have been at least 30%, if not 50%? I'm not complaining by no means, I was happy to get the 10% and the retro, but of course 30% would have been better.

Is their a certain percentage assigned for particular GAF's?

Oh well, at least I got something! B)

I'm going to appeal and also submit my paperwork for my pacemaker implant and link it to PTSD....does anyone have any info on this?

Tim

Edited February 16, 2007 by TiredSgt

[Berta]

Tim- getting the heart disability service connected is most likely going to take strong medical linkage showing it is due to the PTSD.

Cases like that involve not only psychiatrict opinion but often strong cardiologists opinion-

it has been done but it is difficult.

In another topic I posted a BVA case- the vet got his High Blood Pressure secondarily service connected to PTSD- the case shows the medical evidence that took.

Since the rating at 10% is low- that too factors in-to any heart from PTSD claim- so best to NOD the 10%.

A GAF score has very litle to do with the actual ratings for PTSD- it is only one part of the whole medical package.

EXample- my husband's Gaf was 34 and then 26-catastrophic PTSD per the doc-

He was rated at 30% in his lifetime and claimed higher rating in 1992.

Over three years after he died they granted the 100%SC PTSD , with a back date of 1991 for 100% SC. That claim took almost 6 years.

You can see how little his gaf score affected his claim.They never even mentioned it in the award.They used other medical evidence that supported a 100% finding of SC for PTSD.

This case shows how they determine ratings for PTSD:

The vet had GAF of 45 and was rated at 50% SC. The BVA awarded him to 70%.

http://www.va.gov/vetapp05/files1/0501329.txt

In the narrative under where they say PTSD is DC 9411 you will note that the vets GAf score

is not even mentioned as they coordinate the vets medical evidence with his rating.

In the decision for the 10% they should have expalined why they did not award a higher rating. If you have medical evidence they did not consider that puts you into a higher catergory in the Schedule of Ratings-

attach copy of this evidence and refer to this in your NOD.

This vet got 70 for 45 GAF because his other medical evidence warranted a higher rating.

Edited February 16, 2007 by Berta

[Philip Rogers]

I received my official notice the other day - The VA awarded me 10% for PTSD, retro to May 05.

However, I have a GAF of 48 - shouldn't my rating have been at least 30%, if not 50%? I'm not complaining by no means, I was happy to get the 10% and the retro, but of course 30% would have been better.

Is their a certain percentage assigned for particular GAF's?

Oh well, at least I got something! B)

I'm going to appeal and also submit my paperwork for my pacemaker implant and link it to PTSD....does anyone have any info on this?

Tim

Tim, sounds like they're really screwing you. I believe Alex Humphrey used to say he could get 100% for anyone with a GAF of 50 or lower. Yup, they're screwing you. What's their explanation?? I would have thought at least 30%, if not 50% and that's a lowball. I haven't seen a 10% given out in years. May be the new trend as they try to cut expenses. The good news is you are now SC, so the hardest part is over. You have PTSD and it's due to your service. Appeal, appeal, appeal. jmo

pr

[mobie16r]

Tim,GAF is just a part of the process,but personally i thank you should been rated more than 10%.I am guessing that you have a cib or purple heart that was used as your inservice stressor and only medical evidence was C&P.This is just my guess if so,I would file a NOD And ask that my claim be reconsider and looked at by a decision review officer (DRO) and in the mean time try to get in a couseling program at the va.You got 60 days to ask for a DE NOVO DRO after time claim was granted.A reconsideration mean that your claim will be consider from original date you file it.Ihope this helps.GOOD LUCK!

mobie16r

[john999]

I got 70% with a GAF of 50 plus I was unemployed and on SSDI so that helped. If you are working it is hard to get a higher rating for a mental/emotional disorder. I had 10% then 30% and finally 70% when I retired on disability. I think being employed is the biggest factor in rating emotional disabilities. About the only difference in my symptoms over the years was my employment status.

[Pete53]

I don't see how anyone could be 10% PTSD it does not make sense.