B23/1994 THE FOURTH EDITION OF THE GUIDE TO THE ASSESSMENT OF RATES OF VETERANS' PENSIONS (GARP IV)

DATE OF ISSUE:

THE FOURTH EDITION OF THE GUIDE TO THE ASSESSMENT OF RATES OF VETERANS' PENSIONS (GARP IV)

PURPOSE

1.The purpose of this instruction is to advise those officers, such as DMOs, DOs, Claims Assessors and Claims Investigators who are involved in the assessment of accepted disabilities of the imminent introduction of the fourth edition of the Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veterans' Pensions (GARP IV).  This instruction also advises of new data collection procedures and interim administrative arrangements that need to be followed in the short term in the investigation, assessment and determination of rates of pension.

GARP IV

2.The Minister has approved the draft of GARP IV, and the document is to come into operation 4 July 1994.

3.State Program Managers (Benefits) have been issued copies of the draft of GARP IV.  Printed copies of GARP IV are to be delivered to each Branch Office in the week beginning 27 June 1994.

4.While the principles of assessment provided for in GARP IV are broadly consistent with those of GARP 3, there are a number of changes which affect the assessment of certain conditions.  Such changes being:

• the inclusion of Age Adjustment Tables to be used in the assessment of musculo-skeletal and hearing conditions

• the revising of the benchmark impairment values in the Loss of Psychiatric Function and Skin Impairment Tables

• the inclusion of certain gender specific tables for certain female conditions which were not adequately covered under GARP 3

• the inclusion of a supplementary Disfigurement Table which is to be used as a "safety net" in the assessment of conditions which cause disfigurement

• the inclusion of the concept of apportionment which is to be used to assess overlapping effects of certain disabilities.

TRAINING

5.As the principles of assessment provided for in GARP IV are, in the main, consistent with those of GARP 3, officers who are competent in the use of this document should not find difficulty in assessing conditions under GARP IV.  However training specific to GARP IV will be provided to all users of the document in the coming weeks.

NEW DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES

6.Due to the changes in the method of assessing musculo-skeletal disorders in GARP IV the current GARP medical examination forms dealing with the range of movement in joints are not appropriate when more than one joint in the upper limb and more than one joint in the lower limb together are involved. Attached are new Medical

Examination forms for assessment of such cases.  Stocks of these forms will be issued to all Branch Offices shortly. It may also be judicious to issue a covering letter to alert LMOs on matters where the new form is to be used.

7.Due to Age Adjustment, those officers dealing with the gathering of data in respect to hearing loss cases are to note that both bone conduction and air conduction information up to 8000Hz is required for proper diagnosis and assessment.

8.Consideration should be given to the review of outstanding musculo-skeletal and hearing loss cases to determine whether further information needs to be requested to properly assess these matters under GARP IV.

WORKSHEETS

9.The current Respiratory Impairment Worksheet, Combined Cardio-Respiratory Worksheet are no longer appropriate are not to be used.   The current Hearing Impairment Worksheet should only be used in cases where the assessment involves younger veterans and the age adjustment is not a factor.  It should be noted that the current Visual Impairment Worksheet remains appropriate and its use is to be continued.  Departmental approved Worksheets specific to GARP IV are to be issued as soon as they are available.

INTERIM ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE ASSESSMENT AND DETERMINATION OF OUTSTANDING CASES.

10.Taking into consideration that all entitlement and assessment cases determined from 4 July 1994 are subject to the assessment principles provided for in GARP IV, managers should structure workflow and case classifications accordingly.

Further enquiries should be directed to Jeff Kelly (06)2896569

A W ASHFORD

NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR (BENEFITS)

THESE ATTACHMENT PAGES HAVE BEEN RE-KEYED TO ENABLE THEM TO BE INCLUDED ON THE GENERAL

File No.

Veteran's Christian or given names — Veteran's surname

Please record the ranges of movement of all affected joints by completing the relevant sections of the following table:-

Right hipLeft hip

Range of movement — Range of movement

No or minor loss No or minor loss

Loss of 1/4 normal range Loss of 1/4 normal range

Loss of 1/2 normal range Loss of 1/2 normal range

Loss of 3/4 normal range Loss of 3/4 normal range

Ankylosis (record angle) Ankylosis (record angle)

Comment on joint stability — Comment on joint stability

Right kneeLeft knee

Range of movement — Range of movement

No or minor loss No or minor loss

Loss of 1/4 normal range Loss of 1/4 normal range

Loss of 1/2 normal range Loss of 1/2 normal range

Loss of 3/4 normal range Loss of 3/4 normal range

Ankylosis (record angle) Ankylosis (record angle)

Comment on joint stability — Comment on joint stability

Right ankleLeft ankle

Range of movement — Range of movement

No or minor loss No or minor loss

Loss of 1/4 normal range Loss of 1/4 normal range

Loss of 1/2 normal range Loss of 1/2 normal range

Loss of 3/4 normal range Loss of 3/4 normal range

Ankylosis (record angle) Ankylosis (record angle)

Comment on joint stability — Comment on joint stability

File No.

Veteran's Christian or given names — Veteran's surname

Please record the ranges of movement of all affected joints by completing the relevant sections of the following table:-

Right shoulderLeft shoulder

Range of movement — Range of movement

No or minor loss No or minor loss

Loss of 1/4 normal range Loss of 1/4 normal range

Loss of 1/2 normal range Loss of 1/2 normal range

Loss of 3/4 normal range Loss of 3/4 normal range

Ankylosis (record angle) Ankylosis (record angle)

Comment on joint stability — Comment on joint stability

Right elbowLeft elbow

Range of movement — Range of movement

No or minor loss No or minor loss

Loss of 1/4 normal range Loss of 1/4 normal range

Loss of 1/2 normal range Loss of 1/2 normal range

Loss of 3/4 normal range Loss of 3/4 normal range

Ankylosis (record angle) Ankylosis (record angle)

Comment on joint stability — Comment on joint stability

Right wristLeft wrist

Range of movement — Range of movement

No or minor loss No or minor loss

Loss of 1/4 normal range Loss of 1/4 normal range

Loss of 1/2 normal range Loss of 1/2 normal range

Loss of 3/4 normal range Loss of 3/4 normal range

Ankylosis (record angle) Ankylosis (record angle)

Comment on joint stability — Comment on joint stability