Functional Impact Statements for ADLs or IADLs

The examiner can use the Veteran's or Servicemember's reports of difficulties performing ADLs or IADLs for functional impact statements.

ADLs	IADLs
ADLs include: eating, feeding, or both bathing dressing toileting continence transferring (uses an ambulatory aid, such as walker or cane, or needs assistance to get out of a bed) getting in or out of bed, or both (may require the assistance of another person or a mechanical lift) Examiners should also consider whether a claimant requires assistance to don or remove a prosthesis and document when assistance is required.	IADLs include: using a telephone shopping food preparation housekeeping laundry mode of transportation responsibility for own medications ability to handle finances

ADLs

IADLs

ADLs include:

eating, feeding, or both
bathing
dressing
toileting
continence
transferring (uses an ambulatory aid, such as walker or cane*, or needs assistance to get out of a bed)
getting in or out of bed, or both (may require the assistance of another person or a mechanical lift)

*Examiners should also consider whether a claimant requires assistance to don or remove a prosthesis and document when assistance is required.

IADLs include:

using a telephone
shopping
food preparation
housekeeping
laundry
mode of transportation
responsibility for own medications
ability to handle finances

Example Functional Impact Statements

Example 1: This Veteran reports he can take care of his basic needs of eating, dressing, bathing, etc. However, he is unable to drive because his neck pain prevents him from being able to appropriately turn his neck. He is also unable to perform housekeeping tasks for more than 20-30 minutes at a time because he develops low-back pain.

Example 2: Veteran John Smith reports independence with all of his ADLs but needs help with his finances and with driving as he forgets to pay his bills in a timely manner and has difficulty with route finding. In addition he reports he is having difficulty with work as he is not completing tasks because he is easily distracted.