Legal Question in Workers Comp in Iowa

9% shoulder impairment

I am a CNA and I got hurt at work, I had surgery on my shoulder and the doctor gave me my MMI, It was 9% shoulder, my lawyer is going by 6% body as a whole, how much should I be asking for?


Asked on 1/10/08, 7:44 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Stephen Lombardi Lombardi Law Firm

Re: 9% shoulder impairment

If you want a second opinion then you should call or write me through our firm website. This is a public viewed website, I believe and you may be exposing privileged information. Just knowing the permanent impairment rating, the injured area of the body and that you are a CNA is not enough to value a case. I've done this for 26 years and have never rated a nonscheduled injury case with so little information. If any lawyer does express and opinion with so little information, they are guessing and the opinion is in all likelihood worthless. In general there are factors to consider, age, education level, how long the healing period took, work restrictions placed by the doctor, the restrictions you believe you have for working using the shoulder and why you believe that it is restricted, previous limitations, how your employer has treated you since the injury, are you back to work doing the same job, were accommodations made, your weekly compensation rate, whether it is correctly calculated then a thorough reading of the competing medical opinions. I'm curious, hasn't your attorney educated you about what counts towards the evaluation? If not, then check out my website and blog. Steve Lombardi

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Answered on 1/11/08, 7:32 am


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