DRE Cervical & DRE Lumbar... (California)

[rosellavera]

I have an ortho report that gives the injured worker a WPI to her neck
under DRE Cervical Category II of 8%. The doctor then gives the injured
worker a WPI to her lumbar spine using DRE Lumbar Category III of 13%.
Then he indicates that the total WPI is 21%. My question is when I'm
trying to rate the WPI the calculator asks for the chapter I am
using....i.e. whether its cervical or lumbar. Do I use the lumbar and rate
it as WPI of 21% because it is the larger of the two?

Thank you for any help you can provide me....

-Rose

[stewshe]

Rose,

My understanding is that you run out separate cervical and lumbar "strings" and then combine using the combined values chart.

The fact that the doc has said the total WPI is "21%" is simply not relevant.

Stew

[rosellavera]

Thanks Stew, that's what I thought so I rated it both ways...using the combine value chart I arrived to a 18% WPI; using the 21% WPI and rating it just using the DRE for lumbar spine I arrived at 23%...but rather take the lesser of the rating if I'm doing it right.

BTW, congratulations on your retirement. Hope you enjoy your free time.

Rose

[davidd]

Stew is correct - and if you're using the WCC calculator you can use the specific chapter/table combination that the doc is supposed to give you per regulations, or you can ignore that drop down and input the values separately using the impairment code drop downs.

In any event, cervical and lumbar are different "parts" that are combined. The doc's pronouncement of a 21% WPI is irrelevant, and is incorrect.

[rosellavera]

Thanks, David....I always use your calculators because when I compare the results to the ratings issued by the DEU they are almost 100% accurate.

-Rose

[postscript2]

Hi Rose,

When rating for multiple WPI's, you must rate each one completely out for the FEC, Age, Occupation, etc. and obtain a final rating. Then you take each rating and use the Multiple Disability Chart to get the final rating, WPI.

Never take what a physician says at face value. You have to look at the chapter referenced and ensure that it is correct and certainly never ever add two WPI together. Ultimately the rating will be lower every time if you just add the WPIs and pick a body part. The FEC alone will almost always raise a rating, while age of course, can bring it down if under the age of 45. I can't locate my rating book right now, or I'd rate it for you.

LCS