Which provision requires considering the nature of the physical injury and the injured employee's diminished ability to compete in an open labor market?

• A. LC 4660 requires considering the nature of the physical injury and diminished ability to compete in an open labor market.
• B. The Schedule for rating disabilities is prima facie evidence.
• C. A PD rating is a numeric representation expressed as a whole number percentage.
• D. Specific impairments and work limitations are assigned standard ratings in the schedule.

Answer: (A)

Labor Code 4660 requires that, when determining the degree of permanent disability, we don’t rely on impairment alone. It mandates considering the nature of the physical injury and the injured employee’s diminished ability to compete in the open labor market. This means the final disability rating reflects not just the medical impairment but also how effectively the injury reduces the person’s earning capacity in real-world employment, given age, education, skills, and job opportunities.

The other points describe parts of how ratings are structured—such as the schedule providing a base impairment, or a PD rating being a numeric percentage, or specific impairments having standard ratings—but they don’t embody the requirement to evaluate the injury’s impact on employability in the labor market.