Injured Workers, in their Workers’ Compensation Claim, may be evaluated by a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) or an Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME.)
With respect to these Evaluations, Injured Workers are required to fill out a variety of forms. The DWC-AD Form 100 is one of those forms. It is the “Employee’s Disability Questionnaire.”
This article will discuss the “Employee’s Disability Questionnaire,” the questions that are asked, and how an Injured Workers’ case can be impacted the form.
Why is the DWC-AD 100 A Disability Evaluation Unit (DEU) Form?
QME reports or AME reports are sent to the Disability Evaluation Unit (DEU) are often sent to the DEU for a rating. Ratings determine Injured Workers’ Permanent Disability Percentages.
The form’s questions assist the DEU with information that impacts the rating formula.
What Is the Form’s Purpose?
The form is intended to “aid the doctor in determining your permanent impairment or disability.”
Who Gives the Injured Worker the Form?
Generally, the form may be sent to the Injured Worker in advance of the QME or AME evaluation. Sometimes, the evaluator’s offices will provide it to the worker.
What Happens to the Form?
The evaluator includes the form as part of their report. Insurance Companies, Attorneys and Injured Workers will receive it. For Unrepresented Injured Workers, the report, with the form, will be sent to the DEU for a rating.
What Questions Are Asked?
General identification information are requested which include providing your name, your social security number, your mailing address, your date of birth, and your date of injury.
You will also be asked your Employer’s Name, and the nature of Employer’s Business. You will be asked for the insurance company’s claim number(s.)
There are questions about the evaluation. You will also be asked how the Evaluator was selected. This can be by panel, agreement or sometimes at the request of a Workers’ Compensation Judge. They will ask evaluation details including the name of the doctor and the date of the examination.
Your will be asked about your job duties at the time of injury.
You will be asked about the disability caused by your injury. Note: Since this is form is attached to the QME report, it is your one opportunity to write down your unedited and unfiltered complaints. Judges, Insurance Companies, and Attorneys will be able to view your form and compare them to the QME’s reporting.
You will be asked about how the injury affects your work. Note: again, this is your one opportunity to write down to tell everyone involved your unedited and unfiltered opinion.
You will be asked as to whether you had a disability as a result of another injury or illness, If so, they ask you when and to describe it.
Why Are These Answers Important?
Your questionnaire’ answers assist the DEU with generating a Permanent Disability Rating. The for helps the DEU specifically with two issues: Occupational Group Number and Apportionment.
The Occupational Group Number can change a disability rating. It can cause it so go up, go down or remain the same.
The DEU will use the form to address apportionment. The questions provides information for the Disability Evaluation Unit so that they may make an annotation concerning apportionment. Apportionment determines how much of the disability relates to the injury. DEU ratings will often contain notes on apportionment.
What If I Need Advice?
If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for over 27 years. Contact us today for more information.