This is very interesting. I agree - I actually think this criteria makes sense from an objective sense. Within psychiatry (or mental health), sometimes we struggle with subjective criteria especially when judging impairment. But this makes it a bit more concrete. Thanks for this information, Clay, and great video! - Doc

I just got my 100% this past Friday, the rating specialist called me personally and told me that I'm permanent and to enjoy the rest of my life. Me and my wife were in tears, I've been battling this since 2010

You do an outstanding job explaining everything Jarine! 🇺🇸⚓️🏴‍☠️

Thank you for all you do!

Thank you, This is another great video. Your daughter's input was outstanding.

Thank you for this video. This video single handedly asissted me in obtaining my 100% in my C& P EXAM for mental health ❤️. Now, I can get the help I need for me and my family ! Keep doing what you do brother !!

thanks for being on top of this

Brother thank you so much for the selfless sacrifice you make taking time from your life to share with us fellow veterans 🙏🏽 ❤️ you are a true American Hero 🇺🇸 Again Thank You 🫡

I got my mental health C&P exam next month. Thank you for this 🙏🏾

They made it easier for vets that actually have issues

Great breakdown!

I'm scheduled for my cnp depression next month. Thank you,

Wow! So informative thank you so much!!

Thank you for this. This is great news and a win for mental health. And that is great advice to not go to an appointment in pajamas if you don't wear your pajamas everyday. Do not attempt to fraud the system this way.

This actually seems to be a lot easier to understand and simpler to work with. I'm surprised with how many things I been hearing about them making things more difficult in other areas, it nice to have some good news for those with MH issues!

One thing veterans should talk about is how they might got two weeks before taking a shower do to depression. That falls under self care. Or warring the same clothes for a week straight. Something that a lot of us do with serious mental health issues

Had my C&P today for mental health increase and I had to fill out a form similar to this with those questions and afterwards I had my 1 on 1.

I've got a 50% rating for ptsd/anxiety as of now and am going for a c&p exam next week that was scheduled for me. it looks like they are doing a review of my rating (requested services are dbq psych ptsd intiial, psych dx interview, behavior assessment or reassessment, etc)? Anyways I feel like its possible that I may be in the 70% category, would I need to file for an increase for that to happen or could the va possibly make that determination and change based on my c&p exam results?

where can i get a copy of this document?

Any possible guidance on letter from the Va- requesting stressor details/ medical evidence/ personal trauma event.

Would the level report be in our decision letters? Or is this new?

Thank you for giving a great explanation of this. Have you heard anything about when this may take effect date? I you are working to submit a supplement for Mental health in the next couple of months would it be better when develop for personal statement plus get your legal Medical Nexus letter. Would it make a difference if you laid your documentation for the new format?

Question? Does this mental type C&P exam exclusively pertain to regular mental status; like depression or chronic adjustment disorder? Or does it also apply to PTSD & MST? If PTSD & MST are different; how are they going to rate them? Thanks. Not sure if this deserves a separate video. Looking forward to your VA disability videos. Great information and much appreciated. I help active duty members here in Japan, mostly Airforce personnel traverse thru the “BDD” Benefits on delivery discharge process transition.

If I have a current rating and then apply for a secondary issue to PTSD, will they reconsider the PTSD which could be good or bad depending. Thx.

We shall see

I currently have 30 percent for mental health. How do I file for an increase? Do I need a nexus letter?

I believe this method clears up a lot of issues. In my case, im at 70%... under this system would be 100%

If i adjust my current rating for the new scale can they reevaluate my sleep apnea under the new rating as well?

I just had my first session with a psycologist today. Last deployment was in 2011. My wife made me go. After a couple more sessions i think im going to go for my claim. I know ive got 70% in the bag. Getting a four on one of those may be a stretch for 100% we'll see. Biggest issue, even though ive proven twice i cant complete school, ive never gotten fired from a job. But i am struggling in certain aspects with my current field. I have been thinking of stepping away from it as the paperwork is becomming too much for me to handle. Not even sure what job fields i could tolerate...

Yea. They do this now on the C&P exams, good info. They will run some exercises by you and see how much you can remember.

So if I'm going to bh now 4 months out from ets date can I make a bdd claim for this and who is rating this on that scale would it be a c&p examiner or My active duty bh doc?

I wonder once this change officially takes place, will MH claim (new or increase) be rated with new vs old criteria based on Intent to File date vs when the claim was actually filed, (or if C&P exam was conducted etc).

Can I apply for a mental health rating which is not service connected?

Are the DBQ going to change? I have one completed from Dr. Sharma and submitted with my claim back in May but haven’t had a C&P yet.

My mental health exam was interesting, it took a total of 50 minutes. The VA examiner seemed to check for honesty of my answers and also tried to trip me up by anxiety symptoms being caused by something other than service. The rating criteria for mental health doesn’t feel quite right to me as individual symptoms can greatly vary and my severity can look entirely different from someone else’s.

I hope it’s easier. I entered the military as a perfectly mentally healthy human, 6 months in and I was jacked up. Stayed that way long after I’d gotten out.

So I’m currently rated 70% for my mental health, I have a revaluation coming up I believe.. what will that detail?

When does this take effect? Or has it already?

This is much easier to relate to, and understand for me this way. I kind of thought I would be around 70% on the current scale, with all my current evidence, but believe definitely 70% on the new scale. But since my claim most likely will be decided before the new scale is implemented, it's any body's guess what my rating will be above my current 30% rating for MH/MDD, and really need to get the DBQs for that C&P Exam, to give myself some kind of idea before the final rating. Probably like most, if every day was a better day, I'd of had a fully developed claim, but that is not reality, so I/we do the best I/we can, when I/we can do it.

If I just got a rating but filed back in November did I fall under this? Should I try to get more than 70%?

Can't wait to submit my BDD

I will definitely get 100% w the new rating system. Setting at 70% had the examiner fumbling around herself looking for that Hotline number

Clay, thank you for your explained short video as always!🙏 Yes, I agree one can get properly rated. My only concern is that since the VA is "generous", mental health will not be P&T anymore, and we have get evaluated periodically, that would suck, let's hope not. Once again thank you Clay!

Further research on the new mental health rating, it does appear easier as you do not have to prove impairment in all domains if I’m not mistaken.

So this is in effect now ?

When I review this on the Federal Register, it states it is still a proposed rule that was proposed Feb 15, 2022. You state that they are certainly going to go into effect but we are waiting to find out when. I like the new proposed ratings and believe I would qualify at 100% (70% minimum). My questions is: if it is only a proposed rule, who decides when it becomes an actual rule and then is instated? How can you guarantee that these proposed rating are definitely going to go into effect? I'm not being sarcastic... this is the first time I have even looked at the Federal Register and just hoping your response can help me understand it better. Thanks for all you do!

Thank you for this information. I am currently rated at 70%. Yeah, I'm pretty bad off. But, according to these new standards, I will rate a level 3 in at least TWO of these categories. I fully intend to request a reevaluation.

Won't change anything and u will get it if the right person looks at it....otherwise we will be denied, nothing trumps the rater/decisin maker period...games are played with our lives and they wish we would just give up!

Great video. Quick question: for someone who is rated 70% for mental health and 50% for migrainesv+ 10% tinnitus (total percentage 130) VA rating is 90% P&T.. Could this new VA reg elevate the total percentage to 100% if the mental health rating increased from 70%? TIA

What about those of us who have lived broken for 20 years without getting help, muscling through, crying in our cars, avoiding all stress, avoiding people? Those of us who can't show we have been to an MD? Do we even try to get help from the VA?

The part that is unclear is the 25%. This system is similar to Paragraphs A and B of SSA'S Listings for SSDI. However, there is no mention of 25% in those listings.

When is this going to take affect?

I'm irritated as a spouse of a veteran. My husband has a few psych reports proving my husband should have been approved for 100%. We appealed the rating he has now but under this administration, it's still on a desk somewhere and it has been 4 years! No veteran should have to go through this. They deserve better.

If one is 100% P&T will they adjust a percentage if it goes up? I’m 70% and this says it could go to 100 for just the one disability? If so this would put me in an SMC home bound status, but I think they don’t change if unless you submit a request, which would be nuts if you’re P&T.

When is this go into affect? The new regulation.I just had my C&P on the 8th of December

Veterans stop stressing if you already have a current rating! Also chill out PT will not be taken or changed due to this

Will the VA automattically increase your condition from your Medical Nexus on File?

If my c&p exam is this month for PTSD will this affect me ? I been studying the old way still social and occupational impairment

Will this affect people who have an intent to file but haven’t fully filed? Hope that question makes sense lol

Is this rating criteria effective now? Also if one already has a rating, will it automatically adjust based on this criteria or would you need to apply for in increase?

I’m at 70% I filed for TDIU. Should I withdraw that claim since it would appear that I would be rated at 100% under this system?

How do you know for sure that these changes are coming?

So are suicidal ideations no longer factored in?

Once again if you’re already rated don’t worry! You will be grandfathered in on everything new!

This is a good change.

Best way to file for an increase if I’m at 70% for mental health? Would it be automatic or do I have to file a new claim?

I am going to a c and p shortly for a ptsd I hope they use the old system

So if a veteran is at 70 percent for mental health, will the percentage remain the same if these proposed changes go into effect or will the va come in and adjust the rating?

What is the ICD-10 CM F3.3 diagnostic code mean?And if I see that in my health records does that mean anything?

So if I’m already rated at 70% how do I know what level I landed at? Could I possibly be rated at 100% now and not know and will the VA change my rating percentage for me if I qualify for the 100% MH? Or is the something I need to apply for. I don’t wanna apply for it if I don’t fall in a level 4

@TheCivDiv is this criteria now in place? I am planning when I should do a intent to file a claim. I currently have 70 percent and I am now jobless and do not leave my house. I like to be alone even family frustrates me.

When does the new ratings go into effect?

I was looking to see if you had a link to this document. When are these changes supposed to take effect, or is this just proposed changes? You took the information and made it as clear as can be. This could be a good change for a lot of people.

So are they increasing an already rated ptsd claim if warranted?

How does it work if you are on medication, and a lot of your symptoms go away. But if you go off medication for even a week you start falling apart and not eating, sleeping, and having suicidal thoughts? Would they still consider you not disabled because you are able to function as long as you are on powerful psychiatric medication?

so will it be harder to go up in percentage with changes

What happens if your effective date 6-26-2002 for 80% IU Permanent and Total

Just to confirm - I am already 💯 service connected for mental health issues and I am P&T - this is ONLY for new claims?

How will this impact those of us who have recently (within the last few months) been rated with PTSD and other mental health issues (if at all)? Do you know?

This is going to be huge for mental health. I it’s going to be way easier to get 70% or higher now

Did my claims via BDD (Dec ‘23) and I retire 1 May. Will I be affected or no? Thanks!

Looks very similar to TBI DBQ

What if you’re in process? Filed, completed C&P, but awaiting decision?

I have seen vets say they hurt their knees and was service connected and go off and play basketball. Seen vets ask primary care doctors to lie for them so they make more money.

This may seem like a silly question but would VA provided marriage counseling probably be held as medical evidence for a mental health claim? Me and my wife saw a counselor for some time and he was able to see some of the hardships we experience.

VA got something right, I'm scared!

Do you think they would adjust our rating automatically if applicable or only if we put in for an increase?

What website is this? Thank you

i have mine tomorrow and im stupid nervous. i just hope for 70%

This has changed to mirror TBI criteria.

Is it confirmed or proposed?

Looks like they took away suicidal ideation, I just got rated at 70% , highly depressed and other things. I wonder why they took away suicidal ideation. ?

All honorably discharged veterans should get E-1 base pay for life or their disability rating, whichever is higher. All 100 percent P&T should automatically get SSDI

Obviously still pending approval, correct?

What if you are 100%

I have 4 level 3s.... 1 level 2 rated at 70% WTF

This proposed change is being aligned with American psychology psychology, and the VA like the rest of the government has old school thinking this now catching up to modern times and agree what modern medicine has established, the VA has no intentions on purpose to reduce or take away, anybody’s level of compensation just getting in line with modern times as I like to put it the problem with the government is that relies on old-school, thinking some of some good and some of it not good and it’s about time that the VA alone Congress had decided to come out and recognize the modernization of medicine itself, and the way things should be in line to the actual prognosis, only a small percentage that actually have mental disorders from mild to severe, but those were severe disorders are actually person of being bipolar or mostly extreme PTSD or experience or experience traumatic situation not only be being showed out or under fire harm by another fellow Person the enemy, such as rape, torture, verbal abuse all sorts of things affect a person we are thinking of mentally thinking, and sometimes it brings out the worse of the person so much anger has been built up inside of them the military tends to take a blind eye towards such situations Which makes it worse on the person sell the person is not coming out of military the way they were when they came in only worse may be better, but it all depends on the individual. Everybody has a unique life experience, and each individual has way of hand coping or handling situations, all comes down to the individual

Is there a change for sexual trauma?

If you have a rating stop worrying… also, this seems to make a LOT more sense.

Some good news, I'm actually in the process of increasing my PTSD rating now.