The evaluation should be inclusive of a complete history of the condition under evaluation, including reference to treatment, response to treatment, and pre- existing conditions or aggravating factors when present.The evaluation shall include a thorough physical examination of the body system or systems involved. Objective findings (appropriate to the specific organ involved) should include observation, palpation, auscultation, and measurements where indicated for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. This should include obser- vation of postural and structural abnormalities, palpation of neuromuscular struc- tures and note of tender areas found in consistent clinical distribution correspond- ing to subjective complaint. Rigidity, spasm or loss of range-of-motion of joints should be noted if present.Range of motion should be determined by using a measuring device such as a goniometer or inclinometer for extremities. Consistency and validity are neces- sary for determining the values obtained in joint range-of-motion evaluation. Joint measurements should be performed twice and produce comparable figures varying less than ten percent of the maximum value for the involved part.In order for an opinion of no impairment for joint range of motion, the evaluator must record the specified ranges of motion of the involved joint.
THE BASIC RULES The following rules are provided in order for the evaluator to properly execute an impairment rating based on the 1996 Florida Uniform Permanent Impairment Rating Schedule. These rules can be applied to all systems of the body.
| 1.
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The final impairment value, whether the result of a single or combined
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impairment, shall be rounded off to the nearest whole number.
| 2.
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Only upper extremities have a preferred or dominant side. When the non-
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preferred side is evaluated, 10% of the upper-extremity rating is subtracted before conversion to whole person.
| Example:
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40% impairment of left (non-preferred) upper extremity
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| 10% of 40% = 4%
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| 40% minus 4% = 36%
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| 36% upper extremity = 22% whole person
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For evaluation purposes, the lower extremities do not have a preferred side.
| 3.
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All impairments for one extremity are combined before conversion to whole
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person.
| 4.
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Ankylosis—with fixed loss of motion in more than one plane for the same joint
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or area, the largest value is used for rating impairment.
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