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Workers' Compensation Law, Representing Injured Workers

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Proportional Scheduled Loss of Use (SLU) Calculations

Calculating Scheduled Loss (SLU) Values When Range of Motion (ROM) Measurements Are Between The Values Stated In the Permanency Guidelines.

The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board 2018 Impairment Guidelines (published Nov 2107), provide, “Schedule loss of use percentages for ranges of motion values above/below those depicted here should be adjusted proportionally.” The Board does not provide a formula or tell us how to make these proportional adjustments/calculations.

Below is a simple-to-use calculation tool, which performs this calculation for you. Please read the directions below, for a step-by-step instructions. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

Proportional SLU Calculation Tool

 To use this tool:

  1. Enter the body part in the red “Body Part” cell below, by clicking on the cell and typing in the body part (E.g. shoulder). The red cells can be edited; the other cells cannot be edited.
  2. Enter the range of motion being measured (E.g. abduction).
  3. Enter the claimants measured range of motion in the cell below ROM. (E.g. If the Claimant had a measured 110 degrees of abduction enter 110).
  4. Using the 2018 Impairment Guidelines, in the “Guideline ROM A” cell enter the range of motion corresponding to the range of motion just above the measured ROM. (E.g. If the claimant had 110 degrees of abduction, the next ROM greater than 110 degrees is 135 degrees).
  5. In the “Guideline SLU A” cell, enter the SLU percentage corresponding to the Guideline ROM you entered in step 4 above. (E.g. Since 135 degrees of motion equals a 20% SLU, enter 20%).
  6. In the “Guideline ROM B” cell, enter the range of motion corresponding to the range of motion below the measured ROM and in the “Guideline SLU B” cell enter the corrisponding SLU value from the guidelines.
  7. Once all the red cells are have been filled in, the proportional SLU value will be displayed.
  8. The large cell at the bottom, provides a breakdown of each step of the calculation. If you select that cell you can copy (control-c) it and paste (control-v) it into a memorandum of law or report.
  9. Enjoy.