Impairment Vs. Functional Loss

In a workplace accident, anything can happen. You could suffer a minor injury such as a scrape or sprain. Some people suffer more serious injuries such as broken bones and deep cuts. In more severe cases, a person may suffer from an impairment or functional loss.

In workers’ compensation cases, understanding the difference between impairment and functional loss is critical because it affects how disability benefits are calculated.

Disability has three dimensions: impairment, activity limitation, and participation restrictions. Impairment is the medical loss of function in a body part (such as a torn ligament), while functional loss (disability) is the impact of that impairment on your ability to perform your job or daily activities (such as not being able to walk or lift heavy objects).

You can have an impairment without a disability (if you can still work), but a disability (inability to work) stems from an impairment that causes significant functional limitations. Here is what you need to know.

Impairment

An impairment refers to the medical evaluation of a body part’s permanent abnormality or loss of use. It measures the structural or anatomical damage caused by a workplace injury, such as the loss of a limb, limited range of motion, or nerve damage.

An assessment is often done using medical guidelines, such as the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.  A worker who loses 50% use of their right knee due to a work accident may be assigned a 50% permanent impairment rating for that knee.

Functional Loss

Functional loss measures the impact of the impairment on the worker’s ability to perform job duties or activities of daily living. It looks at practical limitations, not just the medical condition.

Functional loss is assessed by examining how the injury affects work tasks, mobility, and self-care. Using the example above, the same worker with 50% knee impairment may experience a 30% functional loss if they can still perform most job tasks with some accommodations.

Key Differences for Insurance

Impairment rating refers to a percentage reflecting the medical severity of the physical damage, often based on American Medical Association guides. Disability refers to a legal determination that the functional limitations prevent you from working, often requiring a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) to show exactly what you cannot do.

This matters because you can have a high impairment rating but not be considered disabled if you can still perform your job duties. Disability insurance pays when the functional loss (disability) prevents you from earning a living, not just because you have an injury (impairment).

Contact Us for More Information About Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Impairment and functional loss are two terms that you may come across if you have been seriously injured in a workplace accident. It is important to understand them so you can have an idea of how your compensation is calculated.

Injured at work? A White Plains workers’ compensation lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon can guide you through the process. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling (914) 228-1770.

Source:

cdc.gov/disability-and-health/about/index.html