For an injury on or after January 1, 2005, the maximum whole person impairment under AMA guides is:

• A. Adjusted for diminished future earnings capacity
• B. Adjusted for occupation and age
• C. 100%
• D. Increased based on pain-related impairment assessment if necessary

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that whole person impairment (WPI) is a medical rating expressed as a percentage of total body loss, and the AMA Guides cap this at 100%. For injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2005, the impairment rating is taken from the AMA Guides and represents the extent of functional loss. No matter how many injuries or symptoms, the WPI cannot exceed 100% because that would imply more than total loss of function.

Adjustments for diminished future earnings capacity or for age and occupation are not part of the impairment calculation itself; they come into play when converting impairment into a permanent disability rating for compensation, which is a separate step. Pain considerations may influence functional assessment in some cases, but they do not push the WPI beyond the 100% cap. So the maximum whole person impairment under AMA Guides is 100%.