7Purpose and design of the Tables

7  Purpose and design of the Tables

(1)     In applying the Tables, regard must be had to the principles set out in subsections (2) and (3).

Purpose and general design principles

(2) The Tables:

(a) unless otherwise authorised by law, are only to be applied to assess whether a person satisfies the qualification requirement in paragraph 94(1)(b) of the Act;

(b) are function based rather than diagnosis based;

(c) describe functional activities, abilities, symptoms and limitations; and

(d) are designed to assign ratings to determine the level of functional impairment and not to assess conditions.

Note: impairment is defined in section 5 to mean a loss of functional capacity affecting a person’s ability to work that results from the person’s condition.

Scaling system and descriptors

(3) In the Tables:

(a) subject to section 13, where a descriptor applies in relation to an impairment, an impairment rating can be assigned to that impairment;

Note: For impairment rating and descriptor see section 5.

(b) the first line of each descriptor, which is formatted in italics, describes the level of impact of the impairment to be identified by reference to the particular functional activities, abilities, symptoms and limitations contained in the numbered paragraphs below it, if any; and

(c) the introduction to each Table sets out further rules with which to apply the Tables and rate an impairment.