OAR 436-035-0007: Temporary rule language in effect until 10/04/2026. General Principles

(1) Eligibility for impairment. (a) Eligibility, generally. A worker is eligible for an award for impairment if: (A) The worker suffers permanent loss of use or function of a body part or system; (B) The loss is established by a preponderance of medical evidence based upon objective findings of impairment; and (C) The loss is due to the compensable injury. (b) Apportionment. A worker’s award for impairment is limited to the amount of impairment caused by the compensable injury subject to the following: (A) If the loss of use or function of a body part or system is entirely caused by the compensable injury, the worker is eligible for the full award provided for the loss under the rating standards in this division of rules. (B) If the loss of use or function of a body part or system is partly caused by the compensable injury, the following provisions apply: (i) The worker is eligible for an award for impairment for: (I) The portion of the loss due to the compensable injury; (II) The portion of the loss caused by a condition that does not qualify as a pre-existing condition but that existed before the initial injury in an initial injury or omitted condition claim, before the onset of the accepted new medical condition in a new condition claim, or before the onset of the accepted worsened condition in an aggravation claim; and (III) The portion of the loss caused by a condition that qualifies as a pre-existing condition, but is not part of a denial of a combined condition. (ii) The worker is not eligible for an award for impairment for the portion of the loss caused by: (I) A superimposed condition; (II) A pre-existing condition, as defined by OAR 436-035-0005(11) and ORS 656.005(24), if the pre-existing condition was accepted as part of a combined condition and there is a subsequent denial of the combined condition, unless the pre-existing condition is otherwise compensable under ORS 656.225; or (III) A combined condition denied in its entirety. (C) If the loss of use or function of a body part or system is not caused in any part by the compensable injury, the loss is not due to the compensable injury and the worker is not eligible for an award for impairment. (2) Eligibility for work disability. An award for impairment is modified by the factors of age, education, and adaptability if the worker is eligible for an award for work disability. A worker is eligible for an award for work disability if: (a) The worker is eligible for an award for impairment; (b) An attending physician has not released the worker to the job held at the time of injury; (c) The worker has not returned to the job held at the time of injury; and (d) The worker is unable to return to the job held at the time of injury because the worker has a permanent work restriction that is caused in any part by the compensable injury. (3) When a new or omitted medical condition has been accepted since the last arrangement of compensation, the extent of permanent disability must be redetermined. (a) Redetermination includes the rating of the new impairment attributed to the accepted new or omitted medical condition and the reevaluation of the worker’s social-vocational factors. The following applies to claims with a date of injury on or after Jan. 1, 2005: (A) When there is a previous work disability award and there is no change in the worker’s restrictions but impairment values increase, work disability must be awarded based on the additional impairment. (B) When there is not a previous work disability award but the accepted new or omitted medical condition creates restrictions that do not allow the worker to return to regular work, the work disability must be awarded based on any previous and current impairment values. (b) When performing a redetermination of the extent of permanent disability under this section, the amount of impairment caused by a condition other than the accepted new or omitted condition is not re-evaluated and is given the same impairment value as established at the last arrangement of compensation. (4) When a worker has a prior award of permanent disability under Oregon workers’ compensation law, disability is determined under OAR 436-035-0015 (offset) for purposes of determining disability only as it pertains to multiple Oregon workers’ compensation claims. (5) Establishing impairment. (a) Impairment is established based on objective findings of the attending physician under ORS 656.245(2)(b)(C) and OAR 436-010-0280. (b) On reconsideration, when a medical arbiter is used, impairment is established based on objective findings of the medical arbiter, except where a preponderance of the medical evidence demonstrates that different findings by the attending physician are more accurate and should be used. (c) A determination that loss of use or function of a body part or system is due to the compensable injury is a finding regarding the worker’s impairment. (d) A determination that loss of use or function of a body part or system is due to the compensable injury must be established by the attending physician or medical arbiter. (6) Objective findings made by a consulting physician or other medical providers (e.g., occupational or physical therapists) at the time of closure may be used to determine impairment if the worker’s attending physician concurs with the findings. (7) If there is no measurable impairment under these rules, no award of permanent partial disability is allowed. (8) Pain is considered in the impairment values in these rules to the extent that it results in valid measurable impairment. For example: The medical provider determines that giveaway weakness is due to pain attributable to the compensable injury. If there is no measurable impairment, no award of permanent disability is allowed for pain. To the extent that pain results in disability greater than that evidenced by the measurable impairment, including the disability due to expected waxing and waning of the worker’s compensable injury, this loss of earning capacity is considered and valued under OAR 436-035-0012 and is included in the adaptability factor. (9) Methods used by the examiner for making findings of impairment are the methods described in these rules and further outlined in Bulletin 239 , and are reported by the provider in the form and format required by these rules. (10) Range of motion is measured using the goniometer , except when measuring spinal range of motion; then an inclinometer must be used. Reproducibility of abnormal motion is used to validate optimum effort. (a) For obtaining goniometer measurements, center the goniometer on the joint with the base in the neutral position. Have the worker actively move the joint as far as possible in each motion with the arm of the goniometer following the motion. Measure the angle that subtends the arc of motion. To determine ankylosis, measure the deviation from the neutral position. (b) There are three acceptable methods for measuring spinal range of motion: the simultaneous application of two inclinometers, the single fluid-filled inclinometer, and an electronic device capable of calculating compound joint motion. The examiner must take at least three consecutive measurements of mobility, which must fall within 10% or 5 degrees (whichever is greater) of each other to be considered consistent. The measurements must be repeated up to six times to obtain consecutive measurements that meet these criteria. Inconsistent measurements may be considered invalid and that portion of the examination disqualified. If acute spasm is noted, the worker should be re-examined after the spasm resolves. (11) Validity is established for findings of impairment under the criteria noted in these rules and further outlined in Bulletin 239, unless the validity criteria for a particular finding is not addressed, or is determined by provider opinion to be medically inappropriate for a particular worker. Upon examination, findings of impairment that are determined to be ratable under these rules are rated unless the provider determines the findings are invalid. When findings are determined invalid, the findings receive a value of zero. If the validity criteria are not met but the provider determines the findings are valid, the provider must provide a written rationale, based on sound medical principles, explaining why the findings are valid. For purposes of this rule, the straight leg raising validity test (SLR) is not the sole criterion used to invalidate lumbar range of motion findings. (12) Except for contralateral comparison determinations under OAR 436-035-0011(3), loss of opposition determination under OAR 436-035-0040, averaging muscle values under OAR 436-035-0011(8), and impairment determined under ORS 656.726(4)(f), only impairment values listed in these rules are to be used in determining impairment. Prorating or interpolating between the listed values is not allowed. For findings that fall between the listed impairment values, the next higher appropriate value is used for rating. (13) Values found in these rules consider the loss of use, function, or earning capacity directly associated with the compensable injury. When a worker’s impairment findings do not meet the threshold (minimum) findings established in these rules, no value is granted. (a) Not all surgical procedures result in loss of use, function, or earning capacity. Some surgical procedures improve the use and function of body parts, areas, or systems or ultimately may contribute to an increase in earning capacity. Accordingly, not all surgical procedures receive a value under these rules. (b) Not all medical conditions or diagnoses result in loss of use, function, or earning capacity. Accordingly, not all medical conditions or diagnoses receive a value under these rules. (14) Waxing and waning of signs or symptoms related to a worker’s compensable injury are already contemplated in the values provided in these rules. There is no additional value granted for the varying extent of waxing and waning of the compensable injury. Waxing and waning means there is not an actual worsening of the condition under ORS 656.273.