What is a VA Psych Evaluation?

If you or someone you love has a mental health condition, you understand its toll on daily life. A VA psych evaluation is essential to determine whether your mental health condition relates to your service time. 

A VA psych eval can be important in determining your final disability rating, including your due compensation. Diagnosing mental health conditions isn’t always easy because there isn’t always something tangible to examine. 

However, a psych evaluation allows you to let your voice be heard and detail how your condition has impacted your daily life. 

How Do I Get a VA Psych Evaluation?

You can schedule a VA psych evaluation with a VA healthcare provider or a civilian doctor who can assess and diagnose your condition. 

We can also help with the process. Telemedica has licensed psychologists who can offer professional opinions and complete a psych or VA mental health evaluation. 

While they don’t guarantee a diagnosis or that the VA will agree with them, they will provide an Independent Medical Opinion (IMO) that provides evidence of mental health conditions and how they have affected your life. 

Since our psychologists don’t work for the VA, they can provide an unbiased opinion of your diagnoses and recommend a service-connection. Still, the final decision lies in the VA’s hands. 

How Do I Prepare for a Psych Evaluation?

We understand the idea of a VA psych evaluation can be overwhelming, but you can prepare yourself in several ways. For example, don’t schedule anything else on the day of your psych evaluation to keep your focus on the appointment. 

In addition, take time to reflect on the primary ways your condition has affected your life. Whether you seek advice from Telemedica or the VA, you want to have a few vital points to make your claim. 

You don’t have to prepare pages of reasons to discuss. Sometimes less is more when it comes to proving your VA claim. 

Questions Asked During a Psych Evaluation

During your psych evaluation, the psychologist will discuss your life before, during, and after the military. Since it can be sensitive, take the time beforehand to reflect on how your condition has impacted your daily life. 

Examples of VA mental health evaluation questions include:

• Current symptoms 
• Personal and family history of mental health issues 
• Medical history
• Social history 

You must be honest during your psych evaluation, especially since this could be your only chance at showing the VA the impact of your mental health condition. Your psych eval can help determine the severity of your mental health condition, leading to potential benefits. 

How the VA Evaluates Mental Health Conditions

When you submit a claim for a specific mental health condition, the VA will process the claim and thoroughly review all medical and non-medical evidence surrounding your claim. A psych evaluation helps the VA determine several factors, including:

• Whether your time in the service caused the condition
• The severity of your condition
• The impact of your condition on daily life

Typically, the VA will schedule a compensation & pension (C&P) exam to determine the severity of your condition. The VA refers to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV or DSM-5) when determining the actual evaluation of the mental health condition. 

Once diagnosed, eligible veterans are assigned ratings from the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. 

Do I Need a Psych Evaluation to Receive a Disability Rating?

Most mental health conditions require a psych eval to assess the situation better and assign a suitable disability rating. Generally, not all disabilities require a psych evaluation; however, it could increase your chances of getting military disability benefits. 

What Happens After a Psych Evaluation?

After completing your psych evaluation, the VA will review your claim and follow up with critical questions. They will mail you a decision letter once they have decided on your claim. 

The time it takes to receive a decision can vary based on its complexity and other factors, but you can check the status online. 

If you decide to complete your psych evaluation with Telemedica, we will provide you with an IMO, which you can present to the VA as part of your claim. 

How Telemedica Can Help With Your Psych Evaluation

Telemedica’s licensed psychologists can help provide you with an IMO and will directly upload it to the secure online portal. Our psychologists are doctors in psychology and can provide their professional opinion on your condition. 

You can contact us with any questions; we will gladly assist you.