DISABILITY

EVALUATION

Dr. Ramhari Meena

Vice-Principal, Physiotherapy
M.G.M. Medical College-Indore (M.P.)
Disability Evaluation
 The evaluation and treatment of impairment
and disability are central to the practice of
physiatry / Physiotherapy.
 This is playing an increasingly important
role in the physiatric practice, particularly
in musculoskeletal system
key purposes ( First)
 provide the physiatrist with an overview of
the various major disability systems within
the country with respect to definitions,
entitlement, benefits, and their respective
roles for the physiatrist as disability
examiner
key purposes ( Second)

 to familiarize the physiatrist with the

application of Guides to the Evaluation of
Permanent Impairment, to the practice of
musculoskeletal impairment rating.
key purposes ( Third)

 To illustrate the role and relationship of

work fitness determinations to the process
of disability evaluation.
key purposes ( Fourth)
 to highlight the disability-related processes
of independent medical evaluation and life
care planning that the physiatrist can be
expected to undertake
key purposes ( Fifth)
 To address the complex issue of chronic
pain as it relates to disability evaluation
Disability system
(Tort Law)
 A tort, by definition, is a “breech of duty
that gives rise to an action for damages”
 Historically, the claimant was required to
bring a civil suit against his or her employer
alleging and proving negligence or some
fault of the employer that directly resulted
in harm or damage to the employee

Ranavaya MI. Impairment, disability and compensation in the United

States. An overview. Disability 1996;5:1–20.
 Definitions
Workers’ compensation generally recognizes four
categories of disability as follows:

 Temporary total disability

 Temporary partial disability
 Permanent total disability
 Permanent partial disability

Kemp JD, Pope MH. Workers’ compensation. In: Pope MH, Andersson GB,
Frymoyer JW, et al., eds. Occupational low back pain: assessment,
treatment, and prevention. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, 1991:296–304
 Temporary total disability
 Renders an employee completely incapable of
returning to work and earning wages on a
temporary basis.
 Where it exists, the employee is expected to make
some recovery.

 The employee must be evaluated by a physician

who provides work restrictions during the time
period and to the extent that they remove the
employee from any gainful occupation.