Workers’ Compensation Impairment Ratings in Colorado Springs

Monument Occupational Medicine provides workers’ compensation impairment rating evaluations in Colorado Springs for individuals with work-related injuries or occupational illnesses. Anjmun Sharma, MD, is a Colorado Level II Accredited Physician with extensive experience evaluating permanent impairment and workers’ compensation cases. Contact our office to schedule an impairment rating evaluation.

About Workers’ Compensation Impairment Ratings

Monument Occupational Medicine provides workers’ compensation impairment rating evaluations in Colorado Springs for individuals who have experienced work-related injuries or occupational illnesses. Anjmun Sharma, MD, is a Colorado Level II Accredited Physician with extensive experience in workers’ compensation evaluations. Dr. Sharma performs thorough medical record reviews and examinations to assess permanent impairment and provide objective, well-documented impairment ratings when appropriate.

Impairment Ratings Q&A

What Is a Workers’ Compensation Impairment Rating?

An impairment rating is a medical assessment used to quantify permanent loss of function resulting from a work-related injury or occupational illness.

The rating is expressed as a percentage and is determined using established impairment-rating criteria. Depending on the injury, the evaluation may involve a specific body part or consider whole-person impairment.

The medical impairment rating may then be used as part of the Colorado workers’ compensation process when determining applicable benefits.

When Is an Impairment Rating Performed?

An impairment evaluation is generally considered after an injured worker has reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI)—the point at which the medical condition has stabilized and further significant improvement is not reasonably expected from additional treatment.

If a permanent impairment remains after MMI, an appropriately qualified physician may evaluate the extent of that impairment and assign a rating when indicated.

What Does an Impairment Rating Measure?

An impairment rating evaluates permanent loss of function associated with an injury or medical condition.

Depending on the condition being evaluated, the examination may assess:

• Range of motion
• Strength
• Neurological function
• Sensory loss
• Functional limitations
• Loss of use of an affected body part
• Other objective medical findings relevant to the injury

The specific evaluation depends on the nature and location of the work-related condition.

What Happens During an Impairment Rating Evaluation?

Before the examination, Dr. Sharma reviews relevant medical records, diagnostic studies, treatment history, and documentation concerning the workplace injury or occupational illness.

During the evaluation, you’ll be asked about your injury, treatment, current symptoms, and remaining limitations. A focused physical examination is then performed based on the condition being evaluated.

When appropriate, Dr. Sharma calculates an impairment rating using the applicable medical criteria and documents his findings and conclusions in a detailed report.

Does the Physician Determine My Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

No. The physician’s role is to provide a medical assessment of permanent impairment.

The impairment rating may be used within the workers’ compensation system when benefits are calculated, but the examining physician does not determine the dollar amount of a workers’ compensation award.

This distinction is important because an impairment rating is a medical determination, while compensation is determined through the applicable workers’ compensation process.

What Is the Difference Between MMI and an Impairment Rating?

Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) describes the point at which a medical condition has stabilized and further significant improvement is not reasonably expected with additional treatment.

An impairment rating evaluates the permanent functional loss that remains after the worker reaches MMI.

A worker can therefore reach MMI and have no permanent impairment, or reach MMI with a permanent impairment that can be evaluated and rated.

Why Choose Monument Occupational Medicine?

Dr. Anjmun Sharma is a Colorado Level II Accredited Physician with extensive experience evaluating workplace injuries and workers’ compensation cases.

Monument Occupational Medicine provides impairment evaluations in Colorado Springs with an emphasis on:

• Thorough medical record review
• Objective physical evaluation
• Appropriate impairment-rating methodology
• Clear and detailed medical documentation
• Experience with Colorado workers’ compensation cases

Schedule an Impairment Rating Evaluation

For information about a workers’ compensation impairment rating evaluation in Colorado Springs, contact Monument Occupational Medicine.

Call 719-445-9852 to discuss scheduling and any medical records or documentation needed for your evaluation.