Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151:reg:70:p15
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023C00151
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 70 (pt 15/25)
Character Range: 238061–241152

function (Tables 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and 6.1.3)

Gastrointestinal impairment is measured by loss of the abilities to ingest food, to maintain nutrition and to excrete the waste products of digestion.  Impairment of these functions will be manifested by:

        difficulty in chewing and swallowing;

        nutritional deficiency and loss of weight; and

        faecal incontinence or constipation.

Impairment of each function is to be rated independently of the others. Separate ratings are to be given for each affected function.

If the gastrointestinal loss of function is due to a malignant condition, the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 14 (Malignant Conditions) are to be followed.

If the gastrointestinal loss of function is intermittent in nature or has a significant intermittent component, Chapter 15 (Intermittent Impairment) is to be applied.

If the gastrointestinal loss of function is very severe or causes marked debility, Chapter 16 (Activities of Daily Living) is to be applied.

In particular, severely impaired liver function is to be rated by reference to Chapter 16 (Activities of Daily Living).

Other Impairment (Tables 6.1.4 to 6.1.12)

Tables 6.1.4 to 6.1.12 give specific impairment ratings for various gastrointestinal conditions, based largely on the presence of symptoms.  Each of the nine tables refers to a different region or aspect of the gastrointestinal tract or to one of the associated organs of digestion. If, for the same gastro-intestinal condition, ratings can be given both from one of the Functional Loss tables and from a gastrointestinal Other Impairment table, the higher rating is to be chosen.

If multiple accepted conditions contribute to any of the ratings obtained from any of Tables 6.1.1, 6.1.2 or 6.1.3, Chapter 20 (Apportionment) is to be applied as required before making any comparison with a rating from one of the gastrointestinal Other Impairment tables.

Calculation of the impairment rating for gastrointestinal conditions

Follow the steps below to calculate the impairment due to accepted gastrointestinal conditions.

(Each step is elaborated in the following pages.)

STEP 1  Determine one or more ratings for loss of gastro­intestinal function.                                         Page 95
STEP 2  Determine any Other Impairment ratings that are applicable.                                                   Page 98
STEP 3  Compare the functional impairment rating with the relevant Other Impairment rating. Take the higher rating.   Page 102

Step 1: Determine one or more ratings for loss of gastrointestinal function.

There are three tables relating to gastrointestinal functional loss:
   Table 6.1.1   Loss of gastrointestinal function: ingestion of food
   Table 6.1.2   Loss of gastrointestinal function: maintenance of nutrition
   Table 6.1.3   Loss of gastrointestinal function: faecal excretion

A gastrointestinal condition may cause a loss of function under more than one of the above tables. In that case a rating is to be selected from each applicable table.

If more than