WAC 182-508-0070 PEP Step IV--Determining the severity of multiple impairments. (Emergency rule effective 2/29/12.)

(1)  If an individual has more than one impairment, the agency or the agency's designee decides the overall severity rating by deciding if the individual's impairments have a combined effect on their ability to be gainfully employed.  Each diagnosis is grouped by affected organ or function into one of thirteen "body systems."  The thirteen body systems consist of:

(a)  Musculo-skeletal;

(b)  Special senses and speech;

(c)  Respiratory;

(d)  Cardiovascular;

(e)  Digestive;

(f)  Genito-urinary;

(g)  Hemic and lymphatic;

(h)  Skin;

(i)  Endocrine and obesity;

(j)  Neurological;

(k)  Mental disorders;

(l)  Neoplastic; and

(m)  Immune systems.

(2)  The agency or the agency's designee follows these rules when there are multiple impairments;

(a)  The agency or the agency's designee groups each diagnosis by body system.

(b)  When an individual has two or more diagnosed impairments that limit work activities, the agency or the agency's designee assigns an overall severity rating as follows:

Client Condition	Severity Rating
(i)  All impairments are in the same body system, are rated two and there is no cumulative effect on basic work activities.	2
(ii)  All impairments are in the same body system, are rated two and there is a cumulative effect on basic work activities. (iii)  All impairments are in different body systems, are rated two and there is a cumulative effect on basic work activities.	3
(iv)  Two or more impairments are in different body systems and are rated three. (v)  Two or more impairments are in different body systems; one is rated three and one is rated four.	4
(vi)  Two or more impairments in different body systems are rated four.	5

 

(c)  The agency or the agency's designee denies incapacity when the overall severity rating is two.

(d)  The agency or the agency's designee approves incapacity when the overall severity rating is five.