What percentage of whole person impairment does a 100% upper extremity impairment equate to?

• A. 20%
• B. 50%
• C. 60%
• D. 75%

Answer: (C)

In assessing impairment for workers' compensation and disability claims, the concept of whole person impairment is essential. When it comes to upper extremity impairment, specific standards are typically used to translate these impairments into whole person percentages.

A 100% impairment of the upper extremity is regarded as complete loss of function in that limb. The upper extremities, which include the arms and hands, are generally assigned a specific percentage of the whole person. In many evaluation systems, the upper extremity is allocated about 60% of the total whole person impairment. This means that if a person has a 100% impairment of the upper extremity, it translates into a 60% impairment of the whole person.

Understanding this allocation is crucial for accurately determining benefits and compensation in related cases, and reinforces the importance of evaluating impairments in relation to overall function rather than in isolation.