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¡ì15(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¡ì15(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 ¨C 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 ¨C 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 ¨C 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 ¨C 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:
11.1
Visual System/Auditory System/Facial Scars and Disfigurement ................ 59
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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