[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 38, Volume 1]

[Revised as of July 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 38CFR4.14]



[Page 367]

 

            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF

 

                CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

 

PART 4_SCHEDULE FOR RATING DISABILITIES--Table of Contents

 

                   Subpart A_General Policy in Rating

 

Sec. 4.14  Avoidance of pyramiding.



    The evaluation of the same disability under various diagnoses is to 

be avoided. Disability from injuries to the muscles, nerves, and joints 

of an extremity may overlap to a great extent, so that special rules are 

included in the appropriate bodily system for their evaluation. Dyspnea, 

tachycardia, nervousness, fatigability, etc., may result from many 

causes; some may be service connected, others, not. Both the use of 

manifestations not resulting from service-connected disease or injury in 

establishing the service-connected evaluation, and the evaluation of the 

same manifestation under different diagnoses are to be avoided.