This benefit is based on a determination by a treating doctor that because of your industrial injury or disease, you have a ratable permanent impairment that will interfere with your earning capacity after you have concluded treatment under your workers' compensation claim.
PPD
Rating:
The procedures for rating Permanent Partial Disability are
the same whether it is a new claim or a reopening. Ratings must be done by a
doctor or chiropractor on the Nevada rating panel rotating list controlled by
the Division of Industrial Relations (DIR). A medical provider must write that
you are in "stable and ratable" condition. This means that despite treatment,
you are at maximum medical improvement and the injury or disease is medically
stable. PPD Ratings are usually described as a percentage of the "whole person".
For example, a rating provider might write that an injured worker is 12% or 20%
impaired. This is based on the idea that a whole unimpaired person is rated at
100%.
(NRS
616C.490)(NAC
616C.103)
Note: The rating should take into account all your physical
impairments and all the body parts that were hurt because of your work injury.
PPD is paid for physical impairment due to work injury or disease.
Get a
Second Opinion:
If you disagree with the impairment evaluation,
you may ask the DIR for another rater. DIR will then give the name of the next
rater on the rotating list. The injured worker must pay for the second
comparison rating but may be entitled to reimbursement if the second rating gives a higher percentage disability than the first.
(NRS
616C.100)
Lump Sum Benefit Amount:
The insurer
may offer you a lump sum award for your permanent disability. The percentage of
disability rating, your average monthly wage, your age, and whether you received
Temporary Total Disability payments, are used in calculating your award. If one
element is incorrect then your award amount could be incorrect.
(NRS
616C.495)
One Benefit at a Time:
You cannot
receive more than one benefit for the same claim, in the same time period,
whether Temporary Total Disability, Permanent Partial Disability, Temporary
Partial Disability, Permanent Total Disability, or Rehabilitation Maintenance.
(NRS
616C.405)
PPD and Claim Closure:
If the insurer
plans to close your claim they must first send you written notice. Included with that
notice, the insurer must either provide you with a date for a PPD evaluation or
explain why it finds you have no possibility of permanent impairment. You may
dispute claim closure through the State Hearings Division.
(NRS
616C.235)
If you wish to appeal the percentage of physical
impairment, or which body parts or conditions are covered, or any other pending
issue on your claim, Do NOT Take a lump sum settlement, because that ends
litigation of most issues.