Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151:front:0:p11
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151
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made as an interim payment.  Interim payments are made until the Commission is satisfied that the condition has stabilised at an impairment level.

If the condition worsens after the last payment is made the person may claim additional compensation for the worsening and further periodic payments or lump sums can be made.

Apportionment of impairment ratings

It is sometimes necessary, for an accepted condition, to compare an impairment rating derived from one table with an impairment rating derived from another table. When two or more conditions contribute to the impairment ratings from either or both tables, and comparison is necessary, the method called "apportionment" is to be applied before making the comparison.

Details of the application of apportionment are given in Chapter 20.

Apportionment between tables

If a condition can be rated using both a functional loss table and an "Other Impairment" table, only the higher of the two ratings is to be given to the veteran.

Paired organ policy

The paired organ policy applies to eyes, kidneys etc and is described in detail in Chapter 21 of this Guide.

Impairment for specific disabilities

The Act provides only for impairment and does not convert that rating into a degree of incapacity like the VEA requires.  Instead the impairment and lifestyle ratings determine a factor, not a degree of incapacity.  Incapacity applies to ability to perform military service or a civilian occupation. Therefore, Chapter 24, "Degree of incapacity for specific disabilities" of GARP V, has been omitted.  Instead impairment ratings are based only on the Tables from Chapter 1 to 21 of this Guide.

MEDICAL IMPAIRMENT

PART A: SYSTEM SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT

CHAPTER 1

CARDIORESPIRATORY IMPAIRMENT

INTRODUCTION

Cardiorespiratory impairment results from conditions that affect the function of the heart or lungs. The procedures described in this chapter are to be applied in assessing most conditions of the heart and lungs, and will usually also be appropriate for conditions affecting the function of the thorax or diaphragm, lesions of the nerves that supply the muscles of respiration, and conditions such as anaemia. The principal exception is any condition which is predominantly intermittent in nature and which would be better assessed by applying Chapter 15 (Intermittent Impairment).

Different procedures (described in Chapter 2) are to be applied to assess hypertension and non-cardiac vascular conditions (such as aortic aneurysm and varicose veins).

In general, cardiorespiratory impairment is to be measured by reference to exercise tolerance. Exercise tolerance is quantified in terms of METs (see pages 11–12). However, if a respiratory component is present, measurements of lung function, such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and maximal expiratory flow (MEF 25–75) are to be used in addition to exercise tolerance.