Part Part 17 - Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation

CHAPTER 17

DISFIGUREMENT AND SOCIAL IMPAIRMENT

This chapter is to be applied when assessing conditions that cause disfigurement and embarrassment.

Only one rating may be determined by applying this chapter for any condition or combination of conditions. The rating determined by applying this chapter is to be combined with any other ratings for the disfiguring condition or combination of conditions determined under other chapters.

Widespread skin conditions that cause avoidance of ordinary public places should also be assessed under Chapter 11 (Skin Impairment).

“Severe facial disfigurement” and “very severe facial disfigurement” are also mentioned in Chapter 24 (Degree Of Incapacity For Specific Disabilities).

Calculation of the impairment rating for disfigurement.

Follow the steps below to calculate the impairment rating due to disfigurement.

STEP 1	Determine the impairment rating from Table 17.1 for the effect of all accepted conditions that cumulatively lead to disfigurement.	Page 184
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.	Page 186

Step 1: Determine the impairment rating from Table 17.1 for the effect of all accepted conditions which cumulatively lead to disfigurement.

For the purposes of Table 17.1, the following definitions apply:

“disfiguring condition” means any noticeable condition that causes the sufferer embarrassment in ordinary public places and may include, but is not limited to, the following :

facial scarring;
exfoliative skin disorders;
disorders of gait or posture;
involuntary facial expressions, or unusual or grotesque involuntary bodily movements;
disorders of speech;
vile odours which cannot be overcome by the use of deodorants or the application of normal oral hygiene;
deficits of the visual field which may cause the veteran to lurch into people through not seeing them;
painful conditions which may cause the veteran to cry out involuntarily (for example, in response to a sudden pain in a joint); and
severe pruritic conditions which cause the veteran to scratch even though normal behaviour in a public place would recommend restraint.

“ordinary public places” includes suburban streets, shopping centres, public transport, theatres, clubs and many sporting venues, but does not include places where a great part of the skin is customarily bared such as swimming pools and beaches.

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">Functional Loss Table 17.1</td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><img src="image.005.png" width="35" height="45" alt=""></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="width:497.85pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">DISFIGUREMENT</td><td style="border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; vertical-align:top"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">Impairment Ratings</td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">Criteria</td></tr><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">NIL</td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><ul style="margin:0pt; padding-left:0pt"><li class="Bullet" style="margin-left:9.6pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-indent:0pt; padding-left:4.55pt; font-family:serif; font-size:10pt">A visible condition that the veteran does not consider to be disfiguring.</li><li class="Bullet" style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:9.65pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-indent:0pt; padding-left:4.55pt; font-family:serif; font-size:10pt">A noticeable condition that is not significantly disfiguring and which causes negligible or slight embarrassment such as some acne scars on face, or minor limps, or a slight stoop.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">TWO</td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><ul style="margin:0pt; padding-left:0pt"><li class="Bullet" style="margin-left:9.6pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-indent:0pt; padding-left:4.55pt; font-family:serif; font-size:10pt">A noticeable condition. For example, severe acne scars, a unilateral squint, an intermittent stutter or stammer.</li><li class="Bullet" style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:9.65pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-indent:0pt; padding-left:4.55pt; font-family:serif; font-size:10pt">A noticeable condition which causes significant embarrassment and may cause avoidance of some normal activities. For example, an ungainly gait, a gross stoop, a persistent stutter or stammer, or an unsightly skin disorder.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">FIVE</td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">A very noticeable condition which causes marked embarrassment to some people in ordinary social contacts and causes avoidance of some normal activities. For example, a severe skin disorder of the face and/or hands, or a gross and persistent stutter or stammer.</td></tr><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">TEN</td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"><ul style="margin:0pt; padding-left:0pt"><li class="Bullet" style="margin-left:9.6pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-indent:0pt; padding-left:4.55pt; font-family:serif; font-size:10pt">A very noticeable condition which causes marked embarrassment and results in the avoidance of many normal activities. For example, moderate facial disfigurement.</li><li class="Bullet" style="margin-top:3pt; margin-left:9.65pt; margin-bottom:3pt; text-indent:0pt; padding-left:4.55pt; font-family:serif; font-size:10pt">A severe and marked condition which causes embarrassment and causes much avoidance of many public places and social intercourse. For example, severe facial disfigurement.</li></ul></td></tr><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">FIFTEEN</td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">A particularly severe and marked condition which causes extreme embarrassment and results in avoidance of public places and social intercourse to as great a degree as possible. For example, very severe facial disfigurement.</td></tr><tr><td style="width:93.85pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top"></td><td colspan="2" style="width:394.05pt; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.03pt; padding-left:5.03pt; vertical-align:top">Only one rating is to be selected from this table for any condition or group of conditions which contribute to disfigurement.</td></tr><tr style="height:0pt"><td style="width:104.65pt"></td><td style="width:404pt"></td><td style="width:0.85pt"></td></tr></tbody></table> ```

Part 17

Get a plain-English read of Part 17

Part C Impairment Ratings: Combining, Apportioning, Partially Contributing

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