If you sustain a work-related illness or injury, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Injured workers who experience lasting medical issues may be able to apply for a benefit known as permanent partial disability (PPD). To help determine the amount of compensation due, a doctor measures how much of a worker’s overall body function is impaired due to the injury and assigns a percentage value known as the impairment rating.
Our qualified workers’ compensation attorneys understand Toledo assessment of impairment ratings* and can protect your rights while identifying any potential issues that could impact compensation.
*It is important to note that although this page focuses on Toledo, impairment ratings and PPD benefits are determined at the state level and apply statewide.
When you suffer an injury at work, you may be entitled to a range of workers’ compensation benefits for the duration of your recovery. The state’s workers’ compensation laws cover most employees who are injured on the job or become ill on the job, as employers with even a single employee are legally required to purchase workers’ compensation coverage.
A PPD impairment assessment only occurs if you file an application requesting a permanent partial disability evaluation. This type of compensation can be pursued 26 weeks after the date of injury if no compensation is paid in the claim or 26 weeks after the last payment of compensation in the claim. This means that assessments take place when the worker’s medical condition has stabilized and is not expected to significantly improve with additional medical treatment. This allows for an accurate evaluation of the worker’s long-term limitations.
A BWC physician conducts the impairment rating evaluation and should use standardized guidelines to determine their rating. The assessment may include an evaluation of the affected body part, range of motion, strength, and other relevant factors. An impairment rating translates a medical condition into a numerical percentage.
This approach provides a standardized way to assess the impact of an injury on a person’s ability to perform daily activities. The purpose of an impairment rating assessment in Toledo is to determine the percentage of a person’s overall bodily function that has been permanently affected by an injury. The rating then helps calculate the appropriate level of workers’ compensation they should receive moving forward. The permanent partial disability benefit is paid as a one-time lump sum.
Depending on the impairment rating, workers may be eligible for permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits; however, the application processes are separate. PPD is a common benefit that many injured workers qualify for, and a person can still work while receiving it. PTD, on the other hand, supports individuals who are permanently and totally unable to work due to their injury, and it is awarded much less frequently.
Different doctors may interpret the same medical information differently, resulting in inconsistent impairment ratings for the same injury. Certain aspects of the evaluation process can be subjective, such as assessing pain levels or the impact of an injury on daily activities, and these judgments can influence the impairment rating.
When a physician determines the severity of a permanent injury and assigns a percentage value to it, this ultimately helps determine the amount of workers’ compensation benefits awarded to the injured worker. Not only may impairment ratings fail to fully account for the extent of an injury’s impact, but workers have reported facing challenges when an employer or the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation hires doctors to potentially assign lower impairment ratings to reduce the cost of claims.
If you believe your evaluation and subsequent assessment of impairment rating did not accurately reflect the severity of your injury, you may need advice from a Toledo lawyer. An attorney can help you understand your rights and options for challenging the rating and assist you in securing a consultation with a qualified medical professional for a second opinion on your impairment level.
If you disagree with your impairment rating, consider consulting a local lawyer who can help you explore your legal options. However, it’s critical to act quickly—if you do not appeal the BWC’s decision within the required time frame, it could become final. Unfortunately, we cannot revisit cases years later to try to obtain additional compensation if the appeal deadline has passed. That said, if a new medical condition is officially recognized after a PPD payment has been issued, you may be eligible for an additional award.
Our diligent team of attorneys at Schaffer & Associates can analyze medical records and expert opinions to ensure the Toledo assessment of impairment ratings accurately reflect the limitations caused by your injury. Our lawyers can also negotiate with the insurance company or represent you in hearings to challenge the assessment and advocate for a higher rating.
If you have questions about filing a permanent partial disability application or disputing your impairment rating, contact Schaffer & Associates and request your confidential legal consultation.