Which statement best distinguishes impairment from disability in workers' compensation terminology?

• A. Disability refers to the impairment itself.
• B. Impairment is a loss or abnormality of function; disability is the impact on the ability to work.
• C. Impairment is wage loss.
• D. Disability is the same as impairment.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how impairment and disability differ in workers’ compensation. Impairment means a loss or abnormality of body function or structure caused by an injury or disease. Disability, however, describes how that impairment affects a person’s ability to work—what they can or cannot do on the job, and the impact on their overall work capacity. So you can have an impairment without a disability if the job can be done with accommodations or without affecting work tasks, and disability isn’t simply equal to impairment because it also depends on how the impairment translates into work limitations and actual ability to earn. Wage loss can result from disability, but impairment itself isn’t wage loss.