Permanent disability rating tool

Legal information only. Impairment ratings are assigned by physicians following state-specific medical guidelines. This tool explains the process only and cannot assign or verify a rating. A workers compensation attorney or independent medical evaluator confirms your specific rating. See our full disclaimer.

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What is a permanent impairment rating, exactly?

A permanent impairment rating is a percentage a doctor assigns to describe how much a body part or your whole person has been permanently affected by an injury, assessed once you reach maximum medical improvement - the point where your condition has stabilized and further treatment isn't expected to improve it. Most states rely on the American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, though the exact edition and rules vary.

This single number often drives a large share of your workers comp settlement value, which is why disputes over ratings are common. If you disagree with your rating, most states allow you to request an independent medical evaluation, and confirming your underlying claim eligibility is worth revisiting if the rating process reveals gaps in your original claim.

Who assigns the impairment rating?

Typically your treating physician assigns the initial rating, though states differ on whether that doctor must be specially certified in impairment rating methodology. If you disagree with the rating, most states let you request a second opinion from an independent medical examiner, sometimes chosen by you, sometimes by the state workers comp agency, or sometimes jointly.

Why do impairment ratings get disputed so often?

Rating methodology involves genuine medical judgment, not a purely mechanical formula, so 2 qualified doctors can reasonably reach different percentages for the same injury. Insurance-affiliated doctors are sometimes viewed as more conservative in their ratings than independent evaluators, which is part of why a second opinion frequently produces a higher number.

What's the difference between scheduled and whole-person impairment?

Many states use a "schedule" that assigns specific benefit amounts to injuries of certain body parts, like a finger, hand, or eye, regardless of how the injury affects your overall body. Injuries to the spine or those causing widespread effects are usually rated instead as a percentage of "whole person impairment," which typically uses a different calculation for benefits than the scheduled system.

Frequently asked questions about permanent disability ratings

In most states, yes. If you disagree with your treating doctor's rating, you can typically request an independent medical evaluation, though the process and who selects the evaluator varies by state. A second opinion is one of the most effective ways to challenge a rating that seems inconsistent with your actual limitations.

Only after you reach maximum medical improvement, meaning your doctor believes your condition has stabilized and further treatment won't meaningfully change it. This can take anywhere from a few months to well over a year depending on the injury. Rating too early, before your condition has fully stabilized, risks an inaccurate and often lower percentage.

Generally yes, since the rating is one of the primary inputs into the permanent disability portion of a settlement, but it's not the only factor. Your wage level, ability to return to work, and state-specific benefit formulas all interact with the rating percentage, so 2 people with identical ratings can still receive different settlement amounts.

Generally, once you settle your claim based on a specific rating, that number is locked in unless your settlement agreement specifically leaves the door open for reopening based on worsened condition. This is another reason rushing to settle before you're confident in your rating's accuracy can be costly if your condition later worsens.

No. States use different editions of the AMA Guides, and some use entirely their own state-specific rating systems instead. This means an identical injury can be rated and valued differently depending purely on which state's workers comp system applies to your claim, which matters if you work across state lines.