Bilateral factor

[Top Dog]

I understand the bilateral factor, but are you able to receive multiple factors. Example left and right shoulder and then left and right knee.  Then the question on paired muscle group what is that all about. Thanks .

[toddt]

38 CFR § 4.26 - Bilateral factor

(b) The correct procedure when applying the bilateral factor to disabilities affecting both upper extremities and both lower extremities is to combine the ratings of the disabilities affecting the 4 extremities in the order of their individual severity and apply the bilateral factor by adding, not combining, 10 percent of the combined value thus attained.

(c) The bilateral factor is not applicable unless there is partial disability of compensable degree in each of 2 paired extremities, or paired skeletal muscles.

Paired muscle groups:     https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/38/4.55

[Carl the Engineer]

All bilaterals are added first to get the factor to add before proceeding to the rest.  Highest ratings first.

In my case, right shoulder, right elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, left achilles and bilateral plantar fasciitis are all added together first to get the factor.

Then we go to the single disabilities. Highest ratings first, but really doesn't matter, I've tried both ways..

Again, in my case, heart, heart, neck, back, heart and tinnitus.

And then round up if its a 5 or more, round down if its 4 or less.

Boom, there it is,

Hamslice

Then you play the chess game to get you to the next level, in my case, a 40 or 2 20's or 1 20 bilat and a 10, etc., etc., etc.