Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01332:front:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01332
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 18081–21078

Impairment and Functional Loss tables are not to be combined for the same condition. Exceptions to this rule are expressly indicated in particular chapters. When ratings from both types of table can be applied, the higher rating is to be chosen.

    Lifestyle effects

    Lifestyle effects are to be assessed by applying Tables 22.1 to 22.5 in Chapter 22 in accordance with that chapter.

    The tables

    Types of Tables. There are five types of tables in the Guide. They are "Functional Loss", "Other Impairment", "Scale", "Procedural", and "Lifestyle". Each table carries its type identification and number in the top left hand corner.

    Some chapters are divided into parts. The tables in these chapters carry a number in three segments (separated by full stops):

                         Table
7.1.1

                 Chapter Table
Number

 Part
Number

Number

    Tables in chapters not divided into parts carry a number in two segments:

                         Table
1.1

Chapter Table
Number Number

Gender Use. Some tables are for men only, some for women only, and others (the majority) are not gender specific. Each table is clearly marked in the top right hand corner:

                 + the symbol means that the table is only to be used for the assessment of female veterans;

+ the symbol  means that the table is only to be used for the assessment of male veterans;

 + the symbol                   means that the table may be used for either male or female
                 veterans.

 Age Adjustment. Some tables incorporate age dependent criteria.  Some other tables have no such criteria and require subsequent age adjustment by applying tables provided for that purpose.

 Each table is clearly marked in the bottom left hand corner with instructions on age adjustment for ratings derived from that table.

 Non-system specific assessments

 There are five chapters describing alternate methods of assessing certain conditions. They are:
 + Chapter 13         Negligible Impairment
+ Chapter 14         Malignant Conditions
+ Chapter 15         Intermittent Impairment
+ Chapter 16         Activities of Daily Living
+ Chapter 17         Disfigurement and Social Impairment

 A condition may be assessable under both system specific chapter(s) and non-system specific chapter(s), for example, carcinoma of the lung or epilepsy.

 As a general rule, ratings from Chapters 14, 15, and 16 are not to be combined with any impairment ratings for the same condition derived from one or more system specific chapters. The impairment ratings from the system-specific chapters and the non-system specific chapters are to be compared and the higher impairment rating is to be selected.

 Ratings from Chapters 13 and 17 are to be dealt with differently. Any applicable ratings from Chapters 13 and 17 are to be combined with any applicable ratings from other chapters in the final combining of all ratings.

 Conditions and their sequelae

 Only the clinical