When both instability and thigh atrophy are present, the overall disability rating should be determined by which of the following?

• A. The lower rating
• B. The sum of both ratings
• C. The greater rating
• D. The average

Answer: (C)

When two impairments affect the same body part, the overall disability is driven by the more severe limitation rather than added together. This avoids double-counting overlapping functional losses.

Instability shows a major functional deficit in joint stability, while thigh atrophy signals muscle weakness accompanying that impairment. They reflect the same overall impairment to the limb, so the rating should reflect the higher (more severe) level of disability rather than summing or averaging the two.

In contrast, if the conditions affected different parts, they could be combined, but for the same body part the greater rating is used.