When an injury leaves lasting physical limitations, an important question in an injury claim is whether the person has a permanent impairment. A permanent impairment rating gives attorneys, insurers, and other decision-makers a standardized way to understand lasting functional loss.
In Medical Legal evaluations, a rating should be supported by medical history, examination findings, diagnostic imaging, treatment records, objective findings, and accepted impairment guidelines.
What Is a Permanent Impairment Rating?
A permanent impairment rating is a physician’s assessment of lasting loss or reduction of function after an injury or illness. It is generally expressed as a percentage and may describe impairment of a specific body part or the whole person, depending on the applicable method.
For example, a person may continue to experience reduced motion, weakness, sensory loss, nerve symptoms, or other limitations following a musculoskeletal injury. The physician evaluates the available evidence to determine whether ratable impairment is present.
Permanent Impairment vs. Disability
Impairment and disability are related, but they are not the same.
Permanent impairment refers to a medical loss of function. Disability is a broader concept that may consider how a condition affects work, daily activities, or other responsibilities. An impairment percentage does not automatically determine the legal value of an injury claim or compensation.
The physician provides an objective medical opinion. Attorneys, insurers, courts, and other parties consider that opinion with other evidence when evaluating the claim.
When Is an Impairment Rating Performed?
Permanent impairment is generally assessed after the patient has reached maximum medical improvement, often called MMI. This means the condition has stabilized enough that substantial additional recovery is not expected with further treatment.
Evaluating impairment too early may not reflect the long-term outcome because recovery can continue after an injury, procedure, therapy, medication changes, or other treatment.
What Does a Medical Legal Impairment Evaluation Include?
A thorough Medical Legal evaluation often includes:
- Review of medical records and prior treatment
- Review of diagnostic imaging and test results
- Detailed injury and symptom history
- Physical and neurological examination
- Assessment of range of motion, strength, sensation, and function
- Consideration of pre-existing conditions
- Analysis of causation and apportionment
- Review of current functional limitations
- Application of appropriate impairment rating guidelines
The goal is to connect the impairment rating to documented medical findings rather than assumptions.
How Are Permanent Impairment Ratings Determined?
Physicians may use recognized systems, including applicable editions of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment or other jurisdiction-specific guidelines.
The appropriate method can depend on the claim, jurisdiction, diagnosis, and body system involved. A clear evaluation explains the medical findings, methodology, and how the final impairment percentage was reached.
Why Impairment Ratings Matter in Injury Claims
A well-supported rating can provide useful medical evidence about the long-term effects of an injury. It may help clarify:
- Whether an injury caused permanent functional loss
- The severity of remaining impairment
- How the condition affects physical function
- Whether pre-existing conditions contributed
- The relationship between the injury and ongoing symptoms
- Future medical needs and treatment considerations
- Potential effects on work capacity and quality of life
Because injury claims may involve different medical opinions, clear documentation matters. A credible report should explain the findings supporting the rating as well as factors that may affect the opinion.
Why Objective Medical Legal Analysis Matters
Permanent impairment ratings should be based on evidence, regardless of whether the evaluation was requested by a plaintiff or defense attorney. Objective medical legal analysis considers the mechanism of injury, medical history, diagnostic findings, treatment response, pre-existing conditions, and current function.
Michael Jaffe MD provides independent medical evaluations, medical expert services, causation analysis, and impairment ratings for personal injury and other medical-legal matters. His approach emphasizes objective review of records, imaging, history, examination findings, and accepted impairment guidelines.
Discuss a Permanent Impairment Evaluation With Michael Jaffe MD
If an injury claim involves questions about permanent functional loss, causation, future medical needs, or the meaning of an impairment rating, a detailed physician evaluation can help clarify the medical issues.
Contact Michael Jaffe MD to discuss medical legal impairment rating services, independent medical evaluations, or expert medical analysis for a personal injury or civil litigation matter. Due to his work with the Utah Labor Commission’s Medical Panels, Dr. Jaffe does not accept industrial or workers’ compensation IMEs.