Workers' Compensation Guidelines for Determining Impairment

Workers' Compensation Guidelines for Determining Impairment

First Edition, November 22, 2017

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Forward

Legislation enacted in April 2017 [WCL?15(3)(x)] directed the Board to consult with "representatives of labor, business, medical providers, insurance carriers, and self-insured employers regarding revisions to permanency impairment guidelines, including permitting review and comment by such representatives' chosen medical advisors...", to adopt revised guidelines for the evaluation of medical impairment and determination of permanency with respect to injuries which are amenable to a schedule loss of use award pursuant to paragraphs (a) through (v) of subdivision 3 of section 15 of the WCL. As the law directs, these Guidelines are to be "...reflective of advances in modern medicine that enhance healing and result in better outcomes." [WCL?15(3)(x)] Therefore, these revised permanency guidelines supersede those sections of the Board's 2012 Impairment Guidelines concerning medical evaluation of injuries amenable to a schedule loss of use (chapters 1 through 8 of the 2012 Guidelines), as well any other provision of the 2012 Impairment Guidelines which are inconsistent with these Guidelines.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction......................................................................................................6 1.1 Types of Disability Under the Workers' Compensation Law ....................................6 1.2 Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) ...................................................................6 1.3 Role of Examining Medical Providers......................................................................6 1.4 Types of Final Evaluation Examinations..................................................................7 1.5 Schedule Awards ....................................................................................................8 1.6 Non-Schedule Awards (Classification) ....................................................................8 1.7 Abbreviation Codes.................................................................................................9

Chapter 2: Upper Extremities ? Thumb and Fingers........................................................10 2.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Thumb and Fingers.............................10 2.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................10 2.3 Maximum Rating of Body Part...............................................................................10 2.4 Thumb ..................................................................................................................11 2.4 (A) Thumb Range of Motion..................................................................................11 2.4 (B) Calculating Loss of Use of Thumb...................................................................13 2.4 (C) Thumb Special Considerations .......................................................................15 2.5 Fingers..................................................................................................................15 2.5 (A) Finger Range of Motion...................................................................................15 2.5 (B) Calculating Loss of Use of Finger....................................................................16 2.5 (C) Finger Special Considerations ........................................................................17 2.6 Loading.................................................................................................................18 2.7 Amputation ...........................................................................................................20

Chapter 3: Upper Extremities ? Hand and Wrist ..............................................................22 3.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Hand and Wrist...................................22 3.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................22 3.3 Wrist Range of Motion ..........................................................................................22 3.4 Calculating Loss of Use ........................................................................................24 3.5 Special Considerations .........................................................................................25 3.6 Amputation ...........................................................................................................25

Chapter 4: Upper Extremities - Elbow..............................................................................26 4.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Elbow .................................................26 4.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................26 4.3 Elbow Range of Motion.........................................................................................26 4.4 Calculating Loss of Use ........................................................................................27 4.5 Special Considerations .........................................................................................27

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4.6 Amputation ...........................................................................................................28 Chapter 5: Upper Extremities - Shoulder .........................................................................29

5.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Shoulder .............................................29 5.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................29 5.3 Shoulder Range of Motion ....................................................................................29 5.4 Calculating Loss of Use ........................................................................................30 5.5 Special Considerations .........................................................................................32 5.6 Amputation ...........................................................................................................33 Chapter 6: Hip and Femur..................................................................................................34 6.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Hip and Femur....................................34 6.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................34 6.3 Hip Range of Motion .............................................................................................35 6.4 Calculating Loss of Use ........................................................................................36 6.5 Special Considerations .........................................................................................38 6.6 Amputation ...........................................................................................................40 Chapter 7: Knee and Tibia...............................................................................................41 7.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Knee and Tibia ...................................41 7.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................41 7.3 Knee Range of Motion ..........................................................................................41 7.4 Calculating Loss of Use ........................................................................................42 7.5 Special Considerations .........................................................................................43 7.6 Amputation ...........................................................................................................45 Chapter 8: Lower Extremities ? Ankle and Foot...............................................................46 8.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Ankle and Foot ...................................46 8.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................46 8.3 Ankle Range of Motion..........................................................................................47 8.4 Calculating Loss of Use of the Foot ......................................................................48 8.5 Special Considerations .........................................................................................49 8.6 Amputation ...........................................................................................................49 Chapter 9: Lower Extremity ? Great and Lesser Toes .....................................................50 9.1 Objectives for Determining Impairment for Toes ...................................................50 9.2 Methods Available to Assess Permanent Impairment ...........................................50 9.3 Maximum Rating of Body Part...............................................................................50 9.4 Great Toe .............................................................................................................51 9.4 (A)Calculating Loss of Use of Great Toe...............................................................51 9.5 Smaller Toes (Second, Third, Fourth & Fifth) ........................................................52

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9.5 (A) Calculating Loss of Use of Smaller Toes .........................................................52 9.6 Amputations and Loading .....................................................................................53 Chapter 10: Central Nervous System Conditions, Peripheral Nerve Injuries and Entrapment / Compression Neuropathies............................................................................54 10.1 Central Nervous System - Cranial Nerves............................................................54 10.2 Peripheral Nervous System ..................................................................................55 10.3 Entrapment / Compression Neuropathies .............................................................56 Chapter 11: Visual System/Auditory System/Facial Scars and Disfigurement................59 11.1 Visual System Introduction....................................................................................59 11.1.1 Criteria and Methods for Evaluating Permanent Impairment .................................59 11.2 Loss of Hearing.....................................................................................................62 11.2.1 Occupational Loss of Hearing ...............................................................................62 11.2.2 Traumatic Loss of Hearing ....................................................................................62 11.3 Facial Scars and Disfigurement ............................................................................63 APPENDIX A ......................................................................................................................64

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