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Workers Compensation Legal Abbreviations Explained

A workers’ compensation claim is already a difficult process. Beyond the stress of injury and paperwork, you will also need to navigate a world of new world of legal and medical abbreviations. We’ve put together the following list of common abbreviations you will encounter during your workers’ comp claim. These abbreviations are frequently used in benefit letters, attorney correspondences, medical reports and documentation from the Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board.

  • A

    A Abrasion
    A & P Anterior and Posterior
    AA Applicant’s Attorney
    AADP American Association of Drugless Practitioners
    ACE2 Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2
    ACOEM American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
    AD Administrative Director
    ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
    ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
    ADJ Adjudication
    ADL Activities of Daily Living
    AED Automated External Defribrillator, Anti Epilepsy Drug
    AGP Aerosol Generating Procedure
    AHI Apnea/Hypopnea Index
    AHM Anaheim
    AI Apnea Index
    AIIR Airborne Infection Isolation Room (formerly known as negative pressure isolation room)
    AKA Above the Knee Amputation
    AKA Also known as
    ALC Alcohol
    ALJ Administrative Law Judge
    ALD Assisted Listening Device
    ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
    AMA American Medical Association
    AMA Guides American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 5th Edition
    AME Agreed Medical Examiner / Agreed Medical Evaluator
    ANA Santa Ana
    AOE/COE Arising out of and in the course and scope of employment
    AP Attending Provider
    APAP Auto-titrating, self-adjusting device
    APF Assigned Protection Factor
    APL Abductor Pollicis Longus
    APP Application for Adjudication of Claim
    APR Air-Purifying Respirator (particulate respirators, gas masks)
    APS Attending Physician’s Statement
    ARD Acute Respiratory Disease
    ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
    AROM Active Range of Motion
    ASR Air-Supplying Respirator
    ATFL Anterior Talofibular Ligament
    AVPU Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive
    AWP Average Wholesale Price
    AWV Average Wellness Visit
    AWW Average Weekly Wage

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  • B

    B Burning
    BAI Beck Anxiety Inventory
    BAK Bakersfield
    BCRC Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center
    BDI Beck Depression Inventory
    BGS Bone Growth Stimulator
    BHS Beck Hopelessness Scale
    BID “Bis in Die,” Twice a day
    BIW Twice a week
    BKA Below the Knee Amputation
    BLMC Banner Lassen Medical Center
    BMI Body Mass Index
    BP Blood Pressure
    BPH Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
    BPM Beats per Minute
    BUP Buprenorphine

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  • C

    C/B Complicated by
    C/S Cervical Spine
    C+R Compromise and Release
    CABG Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
    CABP Coronary Artery Bypass Procedure
    CAD Coronary Artery Disease
    CAL/OSHA California Department of Occupational Safety + Health Administration
    CALPERS California Public Employees’ Retirement System
    CALSTRS California State Teachers’ Retirement System
    CALVCB California Victim Compensation Board
    CAMTUS California Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule
    CAPR Controlled Air Purifying Respirator
    CART Computer-Aided Realtime Translation
    CBC Complete Blood Count
    CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    CCC California Compensation Case
    CCP Code of Civil Procedure
    CCPOA California Corrections Peace Officer Association
    CCR California Code of Regulations
    CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    CDL California Drivers License
    CF Conversion Factor
    CFRA California Family Rights Act
    CFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
    CHSWC Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation
    CIGA California Insurance Guarantee Association
    CLBP Chronic Low Back Pain
    CLIN Clinical
    CMIA Confidentiality Medical Information Act
    CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
    CNA Certified Nursing Assistant
    CNS Central Nervous System
    CNSLT Consult
    COB Coordination of Benefits
    COLA Cost of Living Adjustment
    CoLA County of Los Angeles
    COT Cotinine
    COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    COVID-19 Corona Virus Disease 2019 caused by SARS-CoV-2
    CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
    CPL Conditional Payment Letter
    CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
    CPT Current Procedural Terminology
    CQI Continuous Quality Improvement
    CR Creatinine
    CRPS Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
    CT Computerized Topography
    CT Cumulative Trauma
    CTB Catastrophic Time Bank
    CTE Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
    CTO Compensated Time Off
    CTS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
    CV Curriculum Vitae
    CVA Cerebral Vascular Accident
    CVC Combined Valve Chart
    CVO Central Valley Occupational
    CWCR California Worker’s Compensation Reporter

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  • D

    DA Defense Attorney
    DA District Attorney
    DC Doctor of Chiropractic
    DC Date of Consult
    DBE Diagnosed Based Estimate
    DDD Degenerative Disk Disease
    DEPO Deposition
    DEU Disability Evaluation Unit
    DFEC Diminished Future Earning Capacity
    DFEH Department of Fair Employment and Housing
    DFR Doctor’s First Report
    DHCS Department of Healthcare Services
    DIR Department of Industrial Relations
    DIR Director of Industrial Relations
    DM Diabetes Mellitus
    DME Durable Medical Equipment
    DO Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
    DOB Date of Birth
    DOH Date of Hire
    DOI Date of Injury
    DOL Date of Loss
    DOR Declaration of Readiness to Proceed
    DOS Date of Service
    DOSH Division of Occupational Safety and Health
    DPT Doctor of Physical Therapy
    DR Declaration of Readiness to Proceed
    DRE Diagnosed Related Estimate
    DRG Diagnosis-Related Groups
    DSM Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders
    DVT Deep Vein Thrombosis
    DWC Division of Workers Compensation
    DWC-1 Claim Form
    DWD Death Without Dependents Unit
    Dx Diagnosis

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  • E

    E Ecchymosis
    EAMS Electronic Adjudication Management System
    EBG California Drivers License
    EBM Evidence Based Medicine
    ECAB Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board
    ECMO Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
    EDD Employment Development Department
    EDDP 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine
    EDS Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
    EE Employee
    EEG Electroncephalogram
    EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
    EFJA Essential Functions Job Analysis
    EIDL Enhanced Industrial Disability Leave
    EHFRs Elastomeric Half-Facepiece Respirators
    EHW Employee Health & Wellness
    EKG Electrocardiogram
    EKHS EK Health Services
    EMG Electromyography
    ENT Ear Nose & Throat
    EOB Explanation of Benefits
    EOG Electro-oculogram
    EOMI Extra Ocular Movements Intact
    EOR Explanation of Review
    EPAP Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure
    ER Emergency Room
    ER Employer
    ESI Express Scripts Inc
    ESRD End-Stage Renal Disease
    ESS Epworth Sleepiness Scale
    ETOH Ethanol/Alcohol
    EUR Eureka

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  • F

    F & A Findings and Award
    FACS Fellow American College of Surgeons
    FAS Functional Acuity Score
    FCE Functional Capacity Evaluation
    FCR Flexor Carpi Radius
    FD Full Duty
    FDA Food and Drug Administration
    FDL Final Determination Letter
    FEC Future Earning Capacity
    FECA Federal Employees Compensation Act
    FEHA Fair Employment and Housing Act
    FELA Federal Employer’s Liability Act
    FEV1 Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second
    FFR Filtering Facepiece Respirator (includes N95 masks)
    FHX Family History
    FLMA Family and Medical Leave Act
    FM Future Medical
    FMC Future Medical Care
    FRE Fresno
    FRP Functional Restoration Program
    FTY Fentanyl
    FVC Forced Vital Capacity

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  • G

    GA General Anesthesia
    GAD Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale
    GAF Global Assessment of Functioning
    GAL Guardian Ad Litem
    GCS Glasgow Coma Scale
    GERD Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease
    GINA Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
    GL Glutaraldehyde

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  • H

    HA Hyaluronic Acid
    HAM-A Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
    HAM-D Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
    HCO Health Care Organization
    HCP Health Care Personnel
    HCPCS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
    HEENT Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
    HEP Home Exercise Program
    HEPA High Efficiency Particulate Air
    HICN Health Insurance Claim Number
    HIPPA Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act
    HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
    HMO Healthcare Maintenance Organization
    HNP Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
    HR Heart Rate
    HR Human Resources
    HX History

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  • I

    I & A Information and Assistance Office
    IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer
    ICAC International Chiropractic Association of California
    ICD International Classification of Diseases
    ICU Intensive Care Unit
    IDE Industrial Disability Evaluator
    IDL Industrial Disability Leave
    IDL/S Industrial Disability Leave with Supplementation
    IDR Industrial Disability Retirement
    IIP Injury Illness Prevention Program
    IMAGE Imaging (i.e. x-ray, scans)
    IMC Industrial Medical Council
    IME Independent Medical Examiner
    IME Independent Medical Evaluation
    IMR Independent Medical Review
    IMRO Independent Medical Review Organization
    IND Indemnity
    IOH Institution of Occupational Hygenists
    IP Interphalangeal Joint
    IPAP Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure
    IRO Independent Review Organization
    IT Intrathecal
    IW Injured Worker

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  • J

    JA Job Analysis
    JPA Joint Powers Authorities
    JSA Job Safety Analysis
    JVD Jugular Venous Distension

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  • K

    K One Thousand
    KDMC Kaweah Delta Medical Center
    KET Ketamine
    KFH Kern Foundation Hospital
    KUB Kidneys, Ureters and Urinary Bladder
    KCERA Kern County Employees Retirement Association
    KOJ Kaiser on the Job
    KPOJ Kaiser Permanente on the Job

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  • L

    L/S Lumbar Spine
    L Lesion
    LAB Laboratory
    LAC Laceration
    LACERA Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association
    LACERS Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System
    LAE Left Atrial Englargement
    LAO Los Angeles
    LBO Long Beach
    LBP Lower Back Pain
    LC Labor Code
    LDW Last Day Worked
    LDW Light Duty Work
    LEFS Lower Extremity Functional Scale
    LEI Lower Extremity Impairment
    LESI Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
    LTR Letter
    LHC Left Heart Catherterization
    LO Lights Out
    LOA Leave of Absence
    LOC Loss of Consciousness
    LOI Letter of Instruction
    LOS Length of Stay
    LOV Last Office Visit
    LP Life Pension
    LT Last Time
    LTLDA Limited Term Light Duty Assignment
    LVH Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
    LVN Licensed Vocation Nurse

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  • M

    M Male
    M/L Medical-Legal
    MAA Medical Access Assistant
    MAC Monitored Anesthesia Care
    MAE Mobile Assistive Equipment
    MAO Medical Assistive Equipment
    MBB Medical Branch Block
    MBI Medicare Beneficiary Provider
    MD Medical Doctor
    MDD Major Depressive Disorder
    MDE Multidisciplinary Evaluation
    MDM Medical Decision Making
    MDR Marina Del Rey
    MDT Multiple Disabilities Table
    MEEAC Medical Evidence Evaluation Advisory Committee
    MERS-Cov Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (emerged in 2012)
    MET Metabolic Energy Testing
    MI Myocardial Infarction
    MLOA Medical Leave of Absence
    MLST Multiple Sleep Latency Test
    MMI Maximum Medical Improvement
    MOA Memorandum of Agreement
    MOD Modified Duties
    MOU Memorandum of Understanding
    MPN Medical Provider Network
    MPQ McGill Pain Questionnaire
    MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    MSA Medicare Set-Aside
    MSA Merit Salary Adjustment
    MSC Mandatory Settlement Conference
    MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders
    MSP Medicare Secondary Payer
    MSPRP Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery Portal
    MTUS Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule
    MVA Motor Vehicle Accident

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  • N

    N Numbness Tingling
    NCM Nurse Case Manager
    NCPDP National Council of Prescription Drug Programs
    NCQA National Committeefor Quality Assurance
    NCV Nerve Conduction Velocity
    NDC National Drug Code
    NDI Neck Disability Index
    NDI Non Industrial Disability Insurance
    NKDA No Known Drug Allergies
    NKP No Known Problems
    NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
    NI Nitrate
    NIT Notice of Intention to Impose Sanctions
    NLT No Last Time
    NNT Number Needed to Treat
    NOAA Notice of Adverse Action
    NOR Notice of Representation
    NOV Next Office Visit
    NPD Noteworthy Panel Decision
    NREM Non-Rapid Eye Movement
    NSAID Non-Steriodal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

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  • O

    OA Osteoarthritis
    OAK Oakland
    OBN Outcomes Based Network
    OCERS Orange County Employees Retirement System
    OCR Optical Character Recognition
    OD Office of Director
    ODG Official Disability Guidelines
    ODI Oswestry 3.0 Disability Index
    OMFS Official Medical Fee Schedule
    OMSQ Orebro Musculoskeletal Questionnaire
    ONX Oxnard
    OP Occipitoposterior Position
    OR Operating Room
    ORM Ongoing Responsibility for Medicals
    ORTHO Orthopedic
    OSA Obstructive Sleep Apnea
    OSAS Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
    OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
    OSIP Office of Self-Insurance Plans
    OT Occupational Therapy
    OTC Over the Counter
    OTOC Ordered taken off calendar
    OV Office Visit
    OWCP Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs
    OWO Off Work Order
    OX Oxidants (Bleach)

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  • P

    P Pain
    P+P Policy and Procedure Manual
    P & S Permanent and Stationary
    PA Physician’s Assistant
    PAP Positive Airway Pressure
    PAPR Power Air Purifying Respirator
    PBM Pharmacy Benefit Management
    PCI Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
    PDMP Prescription Databases
    PDN Personal Benefit Network
    PDV Present-Day Value
    PC Priority Conference
    PD Permanent Disability
    PDA Permanent Disability Advance
    PDR Permanent Disability Rating
    PDRS Permanent Disability Rating Schedule
    PERL Public Employee’s Retirement Law
    PFJ Patellofemoral Joint
    PFT Pulmonary Function Test
    pH pH
    Ph. D. Doctor of Philosophy
    PHI Personal Health Information
    PI Permanent Intermittent
    PI Personal Injury
    PI Private Investigator
    PIC Peripherally Inserted Catheter
    PICC Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
    PIP Proximate Interphalangeal
    PJ Presiding Judge
    PMD Power Mobility Device
    PMFSH Past Medical,Social & Family History
    PMHx Past Medical History
    PO By month
    POA Power of Attorney
    POB Parts of Body
    POC Plan of Care
    POC Clinical Point of Care
    POM Pomona
    POR Proof of Representation
    POS Positive
    POV Power Operated Vehicles
    PPD Partial Permanent Disability
    PPE Personal Protective Equipment
    PPO Preferred Provider Organization
    PR-2 Progress Report
    PR-3 Permanent and Stationary Report
    PR-4 Permanent and Stationary Report
    PRN Pro Re Nata, when necessary
    PROs Peer Review Organizations
    PSD Proposed Settlement Date
    PSHx Past Sympotom History
    PSS Perceived Stress Scale
    PT Physical Therapy
    PTA Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty
    PTA Post Traumatic Amenesia
    PTC Pre-Trial Conference
    PTCS Pre-Trial Conference Statement
    PTD Permanent Total Disability
    PTHS Post Traumatic Head Syndrome
    PTP Primary Treating Physician
    PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
    PVD Peripheral Vascular Disease
    PAWLJ Presiding Workers Compensation Appeals Board Judge
    PWCJ Presiding Workers Compensation Judge

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  • Q

    QA Quality Assurance
    QIW Qualified Injured Worker
    QME Qualified Medical Examiner
    QTY Quantity

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  • R

    R Radiation
    R Rash
    RA Rated Age
    RAD Reactive Airwaves Disease
    RC Rotator Cuff
    RCP Respiratory
    RDG Redding
    RDOMP Reasonable Degree of Medical Probability
    Recon Reconsideration
    Reg. Regulation
    REM Rapid Eye Movement
    RFA Request for Authorization
    RFI Request for Information
    RHD Rheumatic Heart Disease
    RIV Riverside
    RN Registered Nurse
    RO Regional Office
    ROM Range of Motion
    ROS Review of Systems
    RR Respiratory Rate
    RSD Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
    RTW Return to Work
    RTWC Return to Work Coordinator
    RTWSS Return to Work Services Sector
    RU Rehabilitation Unit
    RU-91 Description of Employees’ Job Duties Form
    RU-94 Offer of Alternative or Modified Work Form
    Rx Prescription

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  • S

    S Without, Swell
    S + W Serious and Willful
    SA Sleep Apnea
    SAC Sacramento
    SAL Salinas
    SaO2 % of normal oxygen level in the blood
    SARS-CoV-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 previously provisionally named 2019 novel coronavirus or  2019-nCoV (Lai, Shih 2020) it is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Betacoronavirus (ß-coronavirus)
    SARS-CoV- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (emerged in 2002)
    SAS Sleep Apnea Syndrome
    SATF Substance Abuse Treatment Facility- Corcoran
    SAWW State Average Weekly Wage
    SBA Santa Barbara
    SBR San Bernardino
    SC Status Conference
    SCIF State Compensation Insurance Fraud
    SCL-90-R Symptom Checklist 90 Revised
    SCS Spinal Cord Stimulator
    SDI State Disability Insurance
    SDT Subpena Duces Tecum
    SFO San Francisco
    SG Specific Gravity
    SHx Symptom History
    SIBTF Subsequent Injuries Benefit Trust Fund
    SIF Subsequent Injuries Fund
    SIG Write, label
    SIJ Sacroiliac Joint
    SIU Special Investigations Unit
    SJDB Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit
    SJO San Jose
    SLB Short Leg Brace
    SLO San Luis Obispo
    SLR Straight Leg Raise
    SMART Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-Based
    SOAP Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
    SOL Statute of Limitations
    SNRI Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor
    SPB State Personnel Board
    SPC Single Point Cane
    SRO Santa Rosa
    SSA Social Security Administration
    SSD Social Security Disability
    SSDB Social Security Disability Benefits
    SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance
    SSI Social Security Income
    SSN Social Security Number
    SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
    STIP Stipulations and Request for Award
    STK Stockton
    STUDY Study (i.e. electrodiagnostic studies)
    Subro Subrogation
    SURG Surgery
    Sx Surgical

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  • T

    T Tender
    T/S Thoracic Spine
    TAT Turnaround Time
    TAV Telephone Appointment Visit
    TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
    TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine
    TD Temporary Disability Benefits
    TDP Transitional Duty Program
    TENS Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
    TF-CBT Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    TFCC Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex
    TIA Transient Ischemic Attack
    TID Three Times per Day
    TKR Total Knee Replacement
    TLSO Thoracolumbosacral Orthosis
    TMD Temporo Mandibular Joint Disorder
    TMJ Temporomandibular Joint
    TMST Treadmill Stress Test
    TMWA Temporary Modified Work Assignment
    TOC Transfer of Care
    TPA Third Party Administrator
    TPD Temporary Partial Disability
    TPI Trigger Point Injection
    TRA Tramadol
    TSA Total Settlement Amount
    TTD Total Temporary Disability
    TTP Tenderness to Palpation
    Tx Treatment
    TXMT Treatment

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  • U

    U Ulcer
    U & C Usual and Customary
    UDT Urine Drug Testing
    UAN Uniformed Assigned Name
    UEBTF Uninsured Employers Benefit Trust Fund
    UEF Uninsured Employers Fund
    UEI Upper Extremity Impairment
    UI Unemployment Insurance
    UIM Underinsured Motorist Coverage
    UMBI Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury
    UMC Uninsured Motorist Coverage
    UMP Uninsured Motorist Property Damage
    UNRLT Unrelated
    UR Utilization Review
    URO Utilization Review Organizations
    UTD Urine Drug Screening Test
    UTI Urinary Tract Infection

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  • V

    VNO Van Nuys
    VTED Venuous Thromboembolic Disease
    VR Vocational Rehabilitation
    VRMA Vocational Rehabilitation Maintenance Allowance
    VRTWC Vocational + Return to Work Counselor

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  • W

    WBAT Weightbearing as Tolerated
    WC Workers’ Compensation
    WCAB Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
    WCALJ Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judge
    WCIRB Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau
    WCJ Workers’ Compensation Judge
    WCMSA Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement
    WCMSAP WCMSA Portal
    WFL Within Functional Limits
    WHO Wrist Hand Orthosis, World Health Organization
    WMSD Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
    WNL Within Normal Limits
    WPI Whole Person Impairment
    WRAPP Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program
    WRCRC Workers’ Compensation Review Contractor

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  • X

    X Times
    XR X-Ray

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9.3Edward Jay Singer
Edward Jay SingerReviewsout of 22 reviews