AMA Guides
AMA GUIDES / Hernia Impairment Under Chapter 10, Table 7, Requires Palpable Defect
Appeal 191070
Among other injuries, the claimant sustained an abdominal hernia. When the DD performed an impairment evaluation, he was awarded a 1% impairment for the hernia pursuant to Chapter 10, Table 7 on page 10/247. This table establishes three different classes of impairment for hernia injuries. Every class requires the existence of a palpable defect in the supporting structure of the abdominal wall. The DD, in his exam findings, noted no palpable defect. Therefore, the assignment of impairment was not consistent with the AMA Guides and required reversal.
AMA GUIDES / Hip Range Of Motion Impairment Not Consistent With AMA Guides
Appeal 191777
The AP was remanding the case because the recording was not complete and the record needed to be re-created. Because they can only remand a case one time, the AP addressed the merits of the appeal regarding MMI & IR so that those issues could be addressed as well.
The claimant sustained a hip injury. His impairment rating was determined by evaluating his range of motion. It appeared that the DD’s rating included impairment for external rotation twice. Additionally, for most values measured, the DD assigned an incorrect impairment value for the corresponding range of motion measurement. The AP ordered the ALJ to seek clarification of the DD’s impairment rating in addition to re-creating the record.
