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Spine Impairment and Spinal Disability A Disability Rating addresses the issue of the patients inability to complete any substantial gainful activity successfully that the patient was previously able to complete before their injury and subsequent impairment. For example, a fireman whose main job task is lifting has had an injury to his low back and has a Spinal Impairment Rating of 30%. His Spinal Disability Rating is 25% for the job task of lifting. The Disability Rating is also used with the Impairment Rating to help third parties understand the patients disability in the form of a numerical percentage(15%, 40%, 85% etc.). An Impairment Rating helps third parties such as attorneys, judges, courts and insurance companies understand the extent of a patients injuries. The Impairment Rating is a medical assessment of a patients physical or anatomical deficit or loss use of function, represented by a percentage value for each deficit or functional loss, expressed in terms of the whole person. The Impairment Rating also assists to translate a medical injury or condition into a numerical percentage(25%, 60%, 75% etc.) so that non-medical personnel can understand how much of the patients body is impaired. For example, an insurance company claims adjuster may not understand the clinical significance of a L4/L5 disc herniation with L5 radiculopathy, but they are more likely to understand the corresponding 10% - 13% permanent impairment rating to the patient in terms of the whole person. This common understanding is beneficial to the patient and insurance company in effectuating an appropriate settlement.
The Impairment Rating and Disability Rating are calculated by performing a general physical, a general orthopedic, regional orthopedic and neurological examinations of the patient in the doctors office.
Spinal Disability Can Be Documented In The Following Ways: 1) The percentage of spinal disability you have. 2) Your work classifications and job preclusion's. 3) Your pre-injury capacity lost. 4) Standard word descriptions for your spinal disability rating. 5) Your spinal functional capacity assessment. 6) Any work restrictions. *The above include a prognosis and diagnosis with your report*
QUESTION: How do I know if I need a Spinal Disability Evaluation or Spinal Impairment Rating? ANSWER: Your injury or injuries have lasted for a continuous period of not less than 12 months and have left you with one or more of the following in any category 1 through 5. 1) You cannot or have the reduced ability when you are doing one or more of the following: sitting, walking, standing, climbing stairs, eliminating, bathing, eating and drinking, carrying small articles, opening doors, reading and writing. 2) You cannot work at your present occupation or you need to change your occupation. 3) You have the decreased ability for such tasks as lifting, carrying, pulling, pushing, holding, climbing, running, etc. 4) You have pain. Whether it's in the form of aching, burning, numbness, pin and needles, stabbing, tingling or headaches. 5) You have been diagnosed with, but not limited to, one or more of the following: fractured vertebra, fractured pelvis, scoliosis, disc thinning, disc herniation, HNP, disc protrusion, disc bulge, reduced range of motion, foramina compression, segmental instability, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis with residuals, spondylolisthesis with residuals, compressed vertebra, chronic headaches, block vertebra, hemivertebra, lumbarization with residuals, sacralization with residuals, spina bifida with residuals, tropism with residuals or Klippel-Feil malformation.
Dr. Gerald R. Lapinsky, Chiropractic Physician, D.C., C.S.D.E., D.A.B.D.A.
Spinal Impairments can cause 1) Some people experience excruciating lower back pain 3) Sometimes, headaches are common with spinal impairments. Due to the wide variety of symptoms, it is important to
Back pain is the number one reason
Contact InformationDr. Gerald R. Lapinsky, Chiropractic Physician, D.C., C.S.D.E., D.A.B.D.A.
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GENERAL DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this web site is not intended to alleviate, improve, maintain or cure medical and/or non-medical condition(s). This material does not constitute medical and/or legal advice. By using this web site, the user understands that they are not entering into a doctor and patient relationship. A doctor and patient relationship is only entered when a person completes the Terms of Acceptance and the appropriate paperwork and has a face-to-face meeting with Dr. Gerald R. Lapinsky, Chiropractic Physician, D.C., C.S.D.E., D.A.B.D.A. This web site is intended for informational purposes only. Consult a licensed physician for specific recommendations and treatment. The subscriber agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dr. Gerald R. Lapinsky, Chiropractic Physician, D.C., C.S.D.E., D.A.B.D.A. and/or DisabilityEvaluation.com and its individual contributors from any claims resulting from the use of the service or any other circumstances and/or which damages the subscriber or any other party. We reserve the right to make changes to this web site at any time without notice. We also reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
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Impairment Ratings
