Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151:reg:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 0 (pt 8/12)
Character Range: 428052–430913

No age adjustment permitted for this table

Both the objective and subjective components of a disfiguring condition are to be taken into account when applying Table 17.1. The objective component is the actual physical and/or temporal extent of the disfiguring condition as perceived by others. The subjective component is the veteran's own emotional and behavioural reactions to the disfigurement.

The two components will generally be aligned with one another. If the veteran has a noticeable condition that is objectively disfiguring but does not embarrass the veteran to the extent to which an average person of the same age, occupational and residential circumstances would be embarrassed, the assessment should be based on the average person's degree of embarrassment. The veteran's denial of his or her condition should not be taken into account when applying Table 17.1.

Step 2: If non-accepted conditions have contributed to the disfigurement, apply Chapter 19 (Partially Contributing Impairment) to adjust the rating determined in Step 1.

If non-accepted conditions have contributed to the disfigurement, Table 19.1 in Chapter 19 (Partially Contributing Impairment) is to be applied to adjust the impairment rating for the accepted conditions.

The rating obtained in this step (or in Step 1 if partially contributing impairment is not applicable) is the final rating for disfigurement, and is to be included in the final combining of all impairment ratings.

Part C: Impairment Ratings: Combining, Apportioning, Partially Contributing

CHAPTER 18

COMBINED VALUES CHART

INTRODUCTION

After impairment ratings have been obtained for all accepted conditions they must be combined to a single value known as the combined impairment rating. The combining is not to be done by simple addition but is to be done by applying Table 18.1 (Combined Values Chart). The values in Table 18.1 (Combined Values Chart) are derived from the formula:

where "A" and "B" are the impairment ratings to be combined.

This formula embodies a principle of combining ratings. The principle derives from the concept of whole person impairment (see page X). The following example illustrates the combining principle:

Example

Suppose a veteran has three accepted conditions. If the first assessed condition attracts 60 points the veteran will get a rating of 60. This rating implies that the whole person is 60% impaired. That leaves 40% to be further apportioned among other conditions. If the second condition assessed attracts 30 points, the total impairment rating will not be 60 + 30 = 90, but 60 + 12 = 72. The 12 represents 30% of the 40 that remained of the whole person after the initial 60 was awarded. Now the whole person of the veteran is 72% impaired. If the third condition assessed attracts 10 points, the total impairment rating will be 60