For a chemical burn to the upper extremity with 5% WPI, what is the corresponding rating?

• A. 0%
• B. 5%
• C. 11%
• D. 13%

Answer: (D)

Understanding impairment ratings means translating the whole person impairment (WPI) into a regional impairment for the affected body part using the AMA Guides tables. A chemical burn to the upper extremity with 5% WPI is not read as the limb’s final rating by itself; instead, you consult the upper-extremity impairment table to convert that WPI into a regional impairment percentage. For the upper extremity, a 5% WPI corresponds to a 13% impairment rating of the arm. The higher limb rating reflects how even a modest whole-person impairment from a burn can translate into meaningful functional impact in a specific limb, due to factors like scar contracture, range of motion loss, and strength limitations. The other numbers don’t align with the standard regional conversion: 0% would imply no limb impairment, 5% would just mirror the WPI, and 11% isn’t the standard upper-extremity conversion for a 5% WPI.