VA MATH et CETERA 7101

Hypertensive vascular disease (hypertension and isolated systolic hypertension): Diastolic pressure predominantly 130 or more.........................................................60 Diastolic pressure predominantly 120 or more.........................................................40 Diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more.................................................................................20 Diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, or; systolic pressure predominantly 160 or more, or; minimum evaluation for an individual with a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more who requires continuous medication for control...................................10

Note 1: Hypertension or isolated systolic hypertension must be confirmed by readings taken two or more times on at least three different days. For purposes of this section, the term hypertension means that the diastolic blood pressure is predominantly 90mm. or greater, and isolated systolic hypertension means that the systolic blood pressure is predominantly 160mm. or greater with a diastolic blood pressure of less than 90mm. 7006 Myocardial infarction: During and for three months following myocardial infarction, documented by laboratory tests ........................................................................100 Thereafter: With history of documented myocardial infarction, resulting in: Chronic congestive heart failure, or; workload of 3 METs or less results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent..................................................................................................100 More than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year, or; workload of greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent............................................................................................................60 Workload of greater than 5 METs but not greater than 7 METs results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or X-ray ...................................................................................30 Workload of greater than 7 METs but not greater than 10 METs results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; continuous medication required..........................................................................10

MOPH, Chandler, AZ Apr 09

1

7528 Malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system

100%

Note—Following the cessation of surgical, X-ray, antineoplastic chemotherapy or other therapeutic procedure, the rating of 100 percent shall continue with a mandatory VA examination at the expiration of six months. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of §3.105(e) of this chapter. If there has been no local reoccurrence or metastasis, rate on residuals as voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction, whichever is predominant. .§ 4.85 Evaluation of hearing impairment. (a) An examination for hearing impairment for VA purposes must be conducted by a state-licensed audiologist and must include a controlled speech discrimination test (Maryland CNC) and a puretone audiometry test. Examinations will be conducted without the use of hearing aids. (b) Table VI, “Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based on Puretone Threshold Average and Speech Discrimination,” is used to determine a Roman numeral designation (I through XI) for hearing impairment based on a combination of the percent of speech discrimination (horizontal rows) and the puretone threshold average (vertical columns). The Roman numeral designation is located at the point where the percentage of speech discrimination and puretone threshold average intersect. (c) Table VIa, “Numeric Designation of Hearing Impairment Based Only on Puretone Threshold Average,” is used to determine a Roman numeral designation (I through XI) for hearing impairment based only on the puretone threshold average. Table VIa will be used when the examiner certifies that use of the speech discrimination test is not appropriate because of language difficulties, inconsistent speech discrimination scores, etc., or when indicated under the provisions of §4.86. (d) “Puretone threshold average,” as used in Tables VI and VIa, is the sum of the puretone thresholds at 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hertz, divided by four. This average is used in all cases (including those in §4.86) to determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from Table VI or VIa. (e) Table VII, “Percentage Evaluations for Hearing Impairment,” is used to determine the percentage evaluation by combining the Roman numeral designations for hearing impairment of each ear. The horizontal rows represent the ear having the better hearing and the vertical columns the ear having the poorer hearing. The percentage evaluation is located at the point where the row and column intersect. (f) If impaired hearing is service-connected in only one ear, in order to determine the percentage evaluation from Table VII, the non-service-connected ear will be assigned a Roman Numeral designation for hearing impairment of I, subject to the provisions of §3.383 of this chapter. (g) When evaluating any claim for impaired hearing, refer to §3.350 of this chapter to determine whether the veteran may be entitled to special monthly compensation due either to deafness, or to deafness in combination with other specified disabilities. (h) Numeric tables VI, VIA*, and VII. MOPH, Chandler, AZ Apr 09

2

TABLE VI NUMERIC DESIGNATION OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT BASED ON PURETONE THRESHOLD AVERAGE AND SPEECH DISCRIMINATION

% of discrimination

Puretone Threshold Average 0-41

42-49

50-57

58-65

66-73

74-81

82-89

90-97

98+

92-100

I

I

I

II

II

II

III

III

IV

84-90

II

II

II

III

III

III

IV

IV

IV

76-82

III

III

IV

IV

IV

V

V

V

V

68-74

IV

IV

V

V

VI

VI

VII

VII

VII

60-66

V

V

VI

VI

VII

VII

VIII

VIII

VIII

52-58

VI

VI

VII

VII

VIII

VIII

VIII

VIII

IX

44-50

VII

VII

VIII

VIII

VIII

IX

IX

IX

X

36-42

VIII

VIII

VIII

IX

IX

IX

X

X

X

0-34

IX

X

XI

XI

XI

XI

XI

XI

XI

TABLE VIA* NUMERIC DESIGNATION OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT BASED ONLY ON PURETONE THRESHOLD AVERAGE

Puretone Threshold Average 0-41 I

42-48 II

49-55

56-62

63-69

70-76

III

IV

V

VI

77-83

84-90

VII

VIII

91-97 IX

98-104 105+ X

XI

*This table is for use only as specified in §§4.85 and 4.86.

MOPH, Chandler, AZ Apr 09

3

TABLE VII PERCENTAGE EVALUATION FOR HEARING IMPAIRMENT(DIAGNOSTIC CODE 6100)

Poorer Ear XI

100*

X

90

80

IX

80

70

60

VIII

70

60

50

50

VII

60

60

50

40

40

VI

50

50

40

40

30

30

V

40

40

40

30

30

20

20

IV

30

30

30

20

20

20

10

10

III

20

20

20

20

20

10

10

10

0

II

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

0

0

0

§4.86 Exceptional patterns of hearing impairment. (a) When the puretone threshold at each of the four specified frequencies (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz) is 55 decibels or more, the rating specialist will determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from either Table VI or Table VIa, whichever results in the higher numeral. Each ear will be evaluated separately. (b) When the puretone threshold is 30 decibels or less at 1000 Hertz, and 70 decibels or more at 2000 Hertz, the rating specialist will determine the Roman numeral designation for hearing impairment from either Table VI or Table VIa, whichever results in the higher numeral. That numeral will then be elevated to the next higher Roman numeral. Each ear will be evaluated separately. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 1155)

MOPH, Chandler, AZ Apr 09

4

5003

Arthritis, degenerative (hypertrophic or osteoarthritis):

Degenerative arthritis established by X-ray findings will be rated on the basis of limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes for the specific joint or joints involved (DC 5200 etc.). When however, the limitation of motion of the specific joint or joints involved is noncompensable under the appropriate diagnostic codes, a rating of 10 pct is for application for each such major joint or group of minor joints affected by limitation of motion, to be combined, not added under diagnostic code 5003. Limitation of motion must be objectively confirmed by findings such as swelling, muscle spasm, or satisfactory evidence of painful motion. In the absence of limitation of motion, rate as below: With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations ........................................................................................................20 With X-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups............................................................................10 Note (1): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be combined with ratings based on limitation of motion. Note(2): The 20 pct and 10 pct ratings based on X-ray findings, above, will not be utilized in rating conditions listed under diagnostic code 5013 to 5024, inclusive.

§4.40 Functional loss. Disability of the musculoskeletal system is primarily the inability, due to damage or infection in parts of the system, to perform the normal working movements of the body with normal excursion, strength, speed, coordination and endurance. It is essential that the examination on which ratings are based adequately portray the anatomical damage, and the functional loss, with respect to all these elements. The functional loss may be due to absence of part, or all, of the necessary bones, joints and muscles, or associated structures, or to deformity, adhesions, defective innervation, or other pathology, or it may be due to pain, supported by adequate pathology and evidenced by the visible behavior of the claimant undertaking the motion. Weakness is as important as limitation of motion, and a part which becomes painful on use must be regarded as seriously disabled. A little used part of the musculoskeletal system may be expected to show evidence of disuse, either through atrophy, the condition of the skin, absence of normal callosity or the like.

§4.45 The joints. As regards the joints the factors of disability reside in reductions of their normal excursion of movements in different planes. Inquiry will be directed to these considerations: (a) Less movement than normal (due to ankylosis, limitation or blocking, adhesions, tendon-tie-up, contracted scars, etc.).

MOPH, Chandler, AZ Apr 09

5

(b) More movement than normal (from flail joint, resections, nonunion of fracture, relaxation of ligaments, etc.). (c) Weakened movement (due to muscle injury, disease or injury of peripheral nerves, divided or lengthened tendons, etc.). (d) Excess fatigability. (e) Incoordination, impaired ability to execute skilled movements smoothly. (f) Pain on movement, swelling, deformity or atrophy of disuse. Instability of station, disturbance of locomotion, interference with sitting, standing and weight-bearing are related considerations. For the purpose of rating disability from arthritis, the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle are considered major joints; multiple involvements of the interphalangeal, metacarpal and carpal joints of the upper extremities, the interphalangeal, metatarsal and tarsal joints of the lower extremities, the cervical vertebrae, the dorsal vertebrae, and the lumbar vertebrae, are considered groups of minor joints, ratable on a parity with major joints. The lumbosacral articulation and both sacroiliac joints are considered to be a group of minor joints, ratable on disturbance of lumbar spine functions.

MOPH, Chandler, AZ Apr 09

6