Va Rating For Alcohol Abuse

Dear Veteran heres the brutal truth about VA disability claims.

Va rating for alcohol abuse. For VA claims purposes there are 3 possible categories of disabilities involving alcohol or drug abuse. Axis I is for clinical disorders such as mental health and substances Axis II is personality disorders Axis III is medical conditions and Axis IV is social stressors Axis V was general functional ratings which is no longer used. 124 Alcohol abuse is considered willful misconduct even though the simple drinking of alcoholic beverage is not of itself willful misconduct. It is important for the VA to recognize that alcohol and substance abuse are NOT moral problems in those with mental illness but are as much a part of the disease process as any other symptom.

The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Myth Explained. Alcohol Use Disorders and Alcohol-Induced Disorders. War Veterans with PTSD and alcohol problems tend to binge drink. Veterans met the criteria for substance use disorder between 2004 and 2006.

Rating agencies must be thoroughly familiar with this manual to properly implement the directives in 4125 through 4129 and to apply the general rating formula for mental disorders in 4130. Serious and sustained alcohol abuse can bring on fits or seizures. It is even more important for veterans with substance abuse problems to receive the treatment and care that they need and deserve. VA substance abuse programs offer drug and alcohol abuse treatment residential live-in rehabilitation peer support and other programs at medical centers around the country.

Keep in mind however there if alcohol abuse is a service-connected disability and the veteran develops conditions secondary to his alcohol abuse such as cirrhosis the veteran may be able to receive a separate compensation rating for cirrhosis. In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan about 1 in 10 returning Veterans seen in VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs. One of the biggest myths perpetuated within the VA claims system is that veterans cannot service connect their alcohol or drug abuseVeterans may obtain service connection for their alcoholism or drug use in certain circumstancesThey cannot do so on a direct basis. 1 The first category is PRIMARY alcoholism or drug abuse disability that develops during service.

According to our data 810 80 of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VAThis means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month. Pay particular attention to the difference between PRIMARY and SECONDARY DISABILITES. Again these can be serious enough to significantly limit the quality of life. Alcohol-Related Disorders are divided into two categories.

The Alcohol-Induced Disorders are considered under Section B or Section C in the Entitlement Considerations of this Entitlement Eligibility Guideline. Alcohol Use Disorder is the primary condition for which entitlement may be granted. The Source of the Myth that you cant Service Connect a Veterans Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Instead alcohol abuse is constituted by both the length of time that the behavior continues and whether the behavior is done in excess.

In 1990 Congress enacted a law that said that the VA could not pay service connected disability compensation if the injury was the result of the Veterans alcohol and drug abuse specifically willful abuse during service. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. If youre a Veteran struggling with substance abuse or other substance use problems find out how to get help. Axes are different diagnoses levels.

Many psychiatrists and psychologists will diagnose a veteran with a mental health and a substance use or abuse disorder including alcohol under what is known as an Axis I. Here is how the VAs Rating for Mental Disorders works. While these can be similar to epileptic fits sufferers are not considered to be epileptic. Binge drinking is when a person drinks a lot of alcohol 4-5 drinks or more in a short period of time 1-2 hours.

Prevalence of Substance Abuse Disorder Among Veterans The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA estimates that 71 percent of all US.