In impairment rating examples, the 30-year-old with an 8% impairment results in a 15% rating. Which option lists the correct rating?

• A. 9%
• B. 11%
• C. 15%
• D. 19%

Answer: (C)

Permanent disability rating isn’t just the impairment percentage. In California, the impairment rating is adjusted for the worker’s age to reflect the impact on earning potential over the remaining working years. Younger workers with the same impairment typically receive a higher PD rating because more years of earning capacity are affected. In this example, a 30-year-old with 8% impairment is assigned a permanent disability rating of 15% according to the age-adjusted rating schedule. So 15% is the proper PD rating for that scenario. The other numbers would correspond to different ages or different points on the schedule, but given the stated age and impairment, 15% is the correct rating.