In terms of disability, what does evaluating for apportionment primarily assess?

• A. Worker's compensation claims
• B. Extent of workplace injuries
• C. Disability caused by previous conditions
• D. Contributions of ongoing medical issues

Answer: (C)

Evaluating for apportionment primarily assesses disability caused by previous conditions. Apportionment involves determining the degree to which a current disability or medical issue is attributable to past injuries or pre-existing conditions, as opposed to new injuries arising from the workplace. This is crucial in the context of workers' compensation claims because it helps to fairly allocate responsibility for a worker's disability among various contributing factors.

For example, if an employee has a history of back problems prior to a workplace injury, the assessment of apportionment will look at how much of the employee’s current disability is due to the recent incident compared to the pre-existing condition. This helps in calculating compensation and benefits accurately by attributing only the new factors to the employer’s liability while considering the existing health conditions of the worker.

Understanding apportionment is important for both employers and employees, as it can significantly affect the outcome of disability claims and the allocation of financial responsibility in cases where multiple health issues are involved.