IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT IMPAIRMENT RATINGS
Claimants are eligible for impairment ratings under Part E of the EEOICP. The worker is eligible if he or she was employed as a DOE employee. AWE workers are not eligible for impairment ratings.
Impairment ratings are medical evaluations of how the covered medical condition is affecting the worker’s life now. The rating is based on medical reference book called “The Guide to Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition.”
Often claimants are unaware of the ability to have an impairment rating. If the claimant does not affirmatively request the impairment rating the Department of Labor will not pursue the evaluation.
An impairment rating must be done by a qualified doctor. Most of the time a claimant’s personal care physician is not qualified with the medical credentials to conduct an impairment rating.
A claimant has the ability to choose between a private qualified physician and a doctor contracted with the Department of Labor (CMC) to do the impairment rating.
Consequential conditions are critical to impairment ratings. A consequential condition can be things like the negative effects of medications used for treating the illness, the spreading of a cancer or loss of body functions as a result of the covered illness. If a consequential condition is not first approved by the Department of Labor it cannot be considered as a part of the impairment rating.
Failing to identify all the consequential conditions can have a significant impact on the compensation awarded based on the impairment rating. Often without the consequential conditions the percentage of impairment is much lower. As a result of the lower percentage of impairment the money award will also be much lower.
A claimant is eligible for a subsequent impairment rating every two years. If the claimant does not affirmatively request the subsequent impairment rating the Department of Labor will not pursue the evaluation.
If a claimant is approved under Part E for an occupational illness the impairment rating determines the amount of compensation received from the Department of Labor. A claimant approved and compensated under Part B is also eligible for an impairment rating if the employment was at a DOE facility.
Compensation for impairment ratings is determined based on the percentage of impairment. The doctor determines a number percentage of the workers impairment. (Example: 50% whole body impairment). That number is then multiplied by 2500 to determine the compensation amount. (50 x 2500 = 125,000). The claimant’s compensation amount is $125,000.
Claimants are eligible for impairment ratings under Part E of the EEOICP. The worker is eligible if he or she was employed as a DOE employee. AWE workers are not eligible for impairment ratings.
Impairment ratings are medical evaluations of how the covered medical condition is affecting the worker’s life now. The rating is based on medical reference book called “The Guide to Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition.”
Often claimants are unaware of the ability to have an impairment rating. If the claimant does not affirmatively request the impairment rating the Department of Labor will not pursue the evaluation.
An impairment rating must be done by a qualified doctor. Most of the time a claimant’s personal care physician is not qualified with the medical credentials to conduct an impairment rating.
A claimant has the ability to choose between a private qualified physician and a doctor contracted with the Department of Labor (CMC) to do the impairment rating.
Consequential conditions are critical to impairment ratings. A consequential condition can be things like the negative effects of medications used for treating the illness, the spreading of a cancer or loss of body functions as a result of the covered illness. If a consequential condition is not first approved by the Department of Labor it cannot be considered as a part of the impairment rating.
Failing to identify all the consequential conditions can have a significant impact on the compensation awarded based on the impairment rating. Often without the consequential conditions the percentage of impairment is much lower. As a result of the lower percentage of impairment the money award will also be much lower.
A claimant is eligible for a subsequent impairment rating every two years. If the claimant does not affirmatively request the subsequent impairment rating the Department of Labor will not pursue the evaluation.
If a claimant is approved under Part E for an occupational illness the impairment rating determines the amount of compensation received from the Department of Labor. A claimant approved and compensated under Part B is also eligible for an impairment rating if the employment was at a DOE facility.
Compensation for impairment ratings is determined based on the percentage of impairment. The doctor determines a number percentage of the workers impairment. (Example: 50% whole body impairment). That number is then multiplied by 2500 to determine the compensation amount. (50 x 2500 = 125,000). The claimant’s compensation amount is $125,000.
