--- title: "Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 7, Section A Compensation for Paired Organs or Extremities Under 38 CFR 3.383" document: "M-21-1" section: "Part VIII, Subpart iv, Chapter 7, Section A" canonical: "https://veteranai.co/va-regulations/m21-1/viii.iv.7.a-compensation-for-paired-organs-or-extremities-under-38-cfr-3" source: "https://www.knowva.ebenefits.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_ssnew/help/customer/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001018/content/554400000177486/M21-1-Part-VIII-Subpart-iv-Chapter-7-Section-A-Compensation-for-Paired-Organs-or-Extremities-Under-38-CFR-3383" updated: "2026-09-07T14:37:40.937039Z" --- May 13, 2015 ### VIII.iv.7.A.1.a. Basis for Awarding Compensation for Certain Paired Organs or Extremities Under 38 U.S.C. 1160 Compensation is payable under [38 U.S.C. 1160]() for disabilities involving certain paired organs or extremities, one service-connected (SC) and the other non-service-connected (NSC), provided the NSC disability is not the result of the Veteran’s own willful misconduct. **References:** For more information on * special consideration for certain paired organs and extremities, see [38 CFR 3.383](), and * prohibitions against duplication of benefits, see [M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 7.B.1](). ### VIII.iv.7.A.1.b. Criteria for Establishing Entitlement Consider compensation under [38 U.S.C. 1160]() for the following: * impairment of vision in one eye as a result of SC disability and impairment of vision in the other eye as a result of NSC disability * rated at a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in each eye, or * with a peripheral field of vision for each eye of 20 degrees or less. * loss, or loss of use (L/LOU), of one kidney as a result of SC disability and involvement of the other kidney as a result of NSC disability * deafness compensable to a degree of 10 percent or more in one ear due to SC disability, and deafness that meets the provisions of [38 CFR 3.385]() in the other ear due to NSC disability * L/LOU of one hand or one foot as a result of SC disability and L/LOU of the other hand or foot as a result of NSC disability, and * permanent SC disability of one lung rated 50 percent or more disabling, in combination with NSC disability of the other lung. **Note:** Compensation may be paid under [38 U.S.C. 1160]() if compensation is being paid for one of the aforementioned conditions under [38 U.S.C. 1151]() and there is manifestation of the specific NSC disability under [38 U.S.C. 1160](). ### VIII.iv.7.A.1.c. Effective Dates for Provisions of the Law Use the table below to determine effective dates for the provisions of law that created the criteria establishing entitlement to compensation under [38 U.S.C. 1160](). | **The criteria for establishing entitlement based on …** | **Became effective …** * impairment of vision in one eye due to SC disability, and * impairment of vision in the other eye due to NSC disability * August 28, 1962, for blindness in each eye, and * December 26, 2007, for * visual acuity of 20/200 or less in each eye, or * a peripheral field of vision for each eye of 20 degrees or less. * L/LOU of one kidney due to SC disability, and * involvement of the other kidney due to NSC disability * August 28, 1962, for severe involvement of NSC kidney, and * October 28, 1986, for any involvement of NSC kidney. * total deafness in one ear due to SC disability, and * total deafness in the other ear due to NSC disability | December 1, 1965. * deafness compensable to a degree of 10 percent or more in one ear as a result of SC disability, and * deafness in the other ear that meets the provisions of [38 CFR 3.385]() as a result of NSC disability | December 6, 2002. * L/LOU of one hand or foot due to SC disability, and * L/LOU of the other hand or foot due to NSC disability | October 28, 1986. **Note:** Entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) for these disabilities under [38 U.S.C. 1114(t)]() was effective October 1, 1978, through October 27, 1986. * permanent SC disability of one lung, rated 50 percent or more disabling, and * NSC disability of the other lung | October 28, 1986. **Reference:** For more information on the history of SMC for certain paired organs, see [M21-1, Part VIII, Subpart iv, 4.B](). ### VIII.iv.7.A.1.d. Eligibility for Other Benefits Based on Paired Organs or Extremities Entitlement to disability compensation for a Veteran based on paired organs or extremities under [38 U.S.C. 1160]() creates eligibility for the following benefits * Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and * Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) under [38 U.S.C. Chapter 35](). **Note:** Compensation entitlement under [38 U.S.C. 1160]() does not create entitlement to * special allowance to a surviving dependent under [38 U.S.C. 1312]() * specially adapted housing (SAH) under [38 U.S.C. 2101(a)](), or * special home adaptation grant (SHA) under [38 U.S.C. 2101(b)](). **References:** For more information on * special allowance under [38 U.S.C. 1312](), see [M21-1, Part XII, Subpart ii, 2.A]() * SAH and SHA entitlement, see [M21-1, Part XIII, Subpart i, 2.B](), and * DEA entitlement based on entitlement under [38 U.S.C 1160](), see [_Kimberlin v. Brown_]() _,_ 5 Vet.App. 314 (1993).