Part Part 18 - Guide to Determining Impairment and Compensation

CHAPTER 18

COMBINED VALUES CHART

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:

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" style="width:144.15pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">Combined value of A and B</td><td rowspan="2" style="width:21.25pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">=</td><td rowspan="2" style="width:56.7pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">[A + B (1 -</td><td style="width:21.25pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">A</td><td rowspan="2" style="width:175pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">)] rounded to nearest integer</td></tr><tr><td style="width:21.25pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">100</td></tr></tbody></table> ```

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 + 12 + 3 = 75. The 3 represents 10% of the 28 that remained of the whole person after 72 was awarded for the first two conditions. Now the whole person of the veteran is 75% impaired.

Combining two or more impairment ratings into a single value.

Follow the steps below to combine two or more impairment ratings into a single value (the combined impairment rating).

<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" style="width:66.7pt; padding-right:2.8pt; padding-left:2.8pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">35 + 20 × (1 -</td><td style="width:22.75pt; padding-right:2.8pt; padding-left:2.8pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">35</td><td rowspan="2" style="width:310.25pt; padding-right:2.8pt; padding-left:2.8pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">) = 35 + 20 × (1 - 0.35) = 35 + 20 × 0.65 = 35 + 13 = 48</td></tr><tr><td style="width:22.75pt; padding-right:2.8pt; padding-left:2.8pt; vertical-align:top; background-color:#e5e5e5">100</td></tr></tbody></table> ```

STEP 1	Take the highest (or equal highest) of the ratings to be combined. Find that rating in the column on the extreme left hand side of the chart in Table 18.1. The row in which this number is written is “The Row” for purposes of Step 3.
STEP 2	Take the next highest (or equal highest) of the ratings to be combined. Find that rating in the very bottom row of the chart. The column above this number is “The Column” for purposes of Step 3.
STEP 3	Find the intersection of The Row and The Column. The number written on the intersection is the combined value of the two ratings. If only two ratings are to be combined, then this figure is the “Combined Impairment Rating”.
STEP 4	This step is only to be used if more than two ratings are to be combined.Take the result obtained in Step 3. Find that result in the column on the extreme left hand side of the chart. The row in which this number is written is “The Row” for purposes of Step 6.
STEP 5	Take the highest (or equal highest) of the remaining ratings to be combined. Find that rating in the very bottom row of the chart. The column above this number is “The Column” for purposes of Step 6.
STEP 6	Find the intersection of The Row and The Column. The number written on the intersection is the combined value of the three ratings. If only three ratings are to be combined, then this figure is the “Combined Impairment Rating”.
STEP 7	This step is only to be used if more than three ratings are to be combined.To combine more than three ratings, reapply the instructions in steps 4, 5, and 6 to the remaining ratings. Always take the value obtained by performing Step 6 and combine that with the highest (or equal highest) of the remaining values. Continue until all ratings have been combined into a single value. This figure is the “Combined Impairment Rating”.
STEP 8	The individual impairment ratings for the various conditions being assessed are not to be rounded before they are combined using the chart in Table 18.1.If the combined impairment rating is not a multiple of five, it should be rounded to the nearest multiple of five. (For purposes of the preceding sentence, “0” is a multiple of five.) Figures ending on “3” or “4” or “8” or “9” should be rounded up, figures ending on “1” or “2” or “6” or “7” should be rounded down. (This also applies when the only impairment rating a veteran obtains = 2. In that case the combined impairment rating = 0.)

Part 18

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Example

Example