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| | 10000SB0198sam002 | - 2 - | LRB100 04917 KTG 26558 a |
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| 1 | | include, but are not limited to: loss of range of motion; loss |
| 2 | | of strength; measured atrophy of tissue mass consistent with |
| 3 | | the injury; and any other measurements that establish the |
| 4 | | nature and extent of the impairment. The most current edition |
| 5 | | of the American Medical Association's "Guides to the Evaluation |
| 6 | | of Permanent Impairment" shall be used by the physician in |
| 7 | | determining the level of impairment. |
| 8 | | (b) In determining the level of permanent partial |
| 9 | | disability, the Commission shall base its determination on the |
| 10 | | following factors: (i) the reported level of impairment |
| 11 | | pursuant to subsection (a); (ii) the occupation of the injured |
| 12 | | employee; (iii) the age of the employee at the time of the |
| 13 | | injury; (iv) the employee's future earning capacity; and (v) |
| 14 | | evidence of disability corroborated by the treating medical |
| 15 | | records. No single enumerated factor shall be the sole |
| 16 | | determinant of disability. In determining the level of |
| 17 | | disability, the relevance and weight of any factors used in |
| 18 | | addition to the level of impairment as reported by the |
| 19 | | physician must be explained in a written order.
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| 20 | | (c) A report of impairment prepared pursuant to subsection |
| 21 | | (a), if none is offered, is not required for an arbitrator or |
| 22 | | the Commission to make an award for permanent partial |
| 23 | | disability or permanent total disability benefits or any award |
| 24 | | for benefits under subsection (c) of Section 8 or subsection |
| 25 | | (d) of Section 8 of this Act or to approve a Settlement |
| 26 | | Contract Lump Sum Petition. |