GAF, the G stands for Global so it's an overall view of your total,
whole, GLOBAL,
condition and includes everything you suffer from.
The Global Assessment of Function (GAF) Score will show up as the Axis V (Roman
Numeral)
of the Psychiatric Evaluation.
The Score is of most importance for rating purposes at the time of your C&P
exam. However,
it will also show up on periodic reports made by one or more of your VAMC
providers of care.
Their score is a guide that reflects how you are doing at the time of each of
your visits to
a VAMC Mental Health Clinic.
For rating purposes the C&P evaluator's score carries a lot of weight; but know
this your
GAF score can and will change over time depending on the subjective judgment of
the person
evaluating you. DO NOT assume that because you received a low GAF at one C&P
that you will
receive a high rating from a rating specialist, DRO, or the BVA.
The GAF is very subjective and a rating specialist will not base his or her
decision just
on the number given by your Psychiatric Evaluation.
Go to the Release of Information Office of your VAMC and ask them to provide you
with a list
of your scores over time. My VAMC can do this. If your VAMC cannot or will not
summarize the
numbers, ask for a copy of the reports for each visit you have made over time to
a VAMC Mental
Health Clinic.
A GAF number will be given on the reports if you routinely go to a VAMC Mental
Health Clinic.
The clinicians treating you have to update your GAF several times a year. Look
for the
following AXIS identifiers:
Axis I is the Main Psychiatric Diagnosis. (e.g.: Manic-Depressive, OCD, PTSD
etc.)
Axis II is any other Psch Condition that is impacting on Axis I
Axis III is any medical condition that impacts on Axis I
Axis IV is any social/economic condition that impacts on Axis I (i. e. going
through
Divorce, High Debt or whatever.)
Axis V is the GAF. (Simply a number)
