What are assigned standard ratings in the schedule?

• A. Pain levels
• B. Age and job tenure
• C. Medical cost estimates
• D. Specific impairments and work limitations are assigned standard ratings in the schedule

Answer: (D)

Standard ratings in this schedule are assigned to specific impairments and work limitations. In California’s permanent disability rating system, each recognized impairment or restriction has a predefined percentage of whole-person impairment. This creates a consistent, standardized basis for calculating disability awards. Pain levels, age and job tenure, or medical cost estimates aren’t what the schedule uses to assign these ratings, so they don’t determine the impairment percentages. The focus on specific impairments and work limitations provides uniformity in the resulting benefits.