Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151:reg:70:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 70 (pt 2/25)
Character Range: 195603–198510

a different, but still psychiatric, diagnostic label.

If substance abuse is an accepted condition in its own right, it is to be assessed by applying Tables 4.1 to 4.8.

If substance abuse is not an accepted condition in its own right but the veteran has an accepted psychiatric condition and substance abuse is a clinical feature of that condition, then substance abuse is to be assessed as part of the accepted psychiatric condition (by applying Tables 4.1 to 4.8) only if the substance abuse was present and part of the veteran's psychiatric condition when it was originally accepted.

If substance abuse is a clinical feature of the veteran's accepted psychiatric condition during the assessment period but was not present and part of that condition when it was originally accepted, then substance abuse can only be assessed if it is claimed and accepted as war-caused or defence-caused.

See also the Emotional and Behavioural Medical Impairment Worksheet at pages 83-84.

Calculation of the impairment rating for psychiatric conditions

Follow the steps below to calculate the impairment rating of accepted psychiatric conditions:

(Each step is elaborated in the following pages.)

STEP 1  Determine an impairment rating from each of Tables 4.1 to 4.8.                                                 Page 74
STEP 2  Find the highest three impairment ratings from Tables 4.3 to 4.8.                                              Page 74
STEP 3  Add together:                                                                                                  Page 75
         the impairment rating from Table 4.1;
         the rating from Table 4.2; and
        the three impairment ratings obtained at Step 2.
STEP 4  If the veteran has non-accepted psychiatric conditions, apply Chapter 19 (Partially Contributing Impairment).  Page 75

Step 1: Determine a rating from each of Tables 4.1 to 4.8.

Each table addresses a different parameter of psychiatric functioning. The various parameters are described in text placed below the tables.

The examples given in the descriptions of the parameters are not exhaustive. Similar factors may be considered.

While there is some overlap between the various categories, the purpose of considering the condition under the eight headings is to ensure that a wide range of the possible effects of the psychiatric condition are taken into account in arriving at a final impairment rating for the psychiatric condition.

Step 2: Find the three highest impairment ratings from Tables 4.3 to 4.8.

If all or some of the highest impairment ratings are the same, then it does not matter which of these ratings is chosen. For example, if a veteran rates 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2 from Tables 4.3 to 4.8, then the three highest are 2, 2 and 2. If a veteran rates 6, 2, 2, 2, 0 and 0 from Tables 4.3 to 4.8, then the three highest are 6, 2 and 2.

Not all