If an employee has more than one injury, which statement describes how disability should be calculated?

• A. Consolidate into a single disability rating.
• B. Apportion the disability between the two injuries.
• C. Close the file and stop benefits.
• D. Transfer the case to the Uninsured Employer's Fund.

Answer: (B)

When more than one injury is involved, disability must be allocated between the injuries rather than lumped into one rating. You use medical evidence to determine how much each injury contributes to the total impairment, and then assign that portion of disability to the work-related injuries. The portion not caused by the industrial injury (such as a pre-existing condition) is accounted for separately and does not count toward the work injury award. This apportionment keeps benefits fair and accurate, paying only the portion of disability attributable to the workplace injuries. Consolidating into a single rating would obscure each injury’s separate impact, while the other options don’t describe how disability is calculated.