For Illinois work injuries on or after September 1, 2011, permanent partial disability is set using five factors, and the first is a physician's written impairment report under Section 8.1b. There is no Commission form: the physician reports the level of impairment using the most current AMA Guides, with measurements such as lost range of motion, lost strength and measured atrophy consistent with the injury.
A physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches prepares the whole report, whether as the treating doctor or as a Section 12 examiner. No other party completes any part.
The issuer sets what the letter or report must contain; check its current rules before you write it.
Permanent partial disability impairment report (Section 8.1b)
There is no form to fill: the program asks for a letter or report with the content it sets. Vero Scribe writes the visit note it draws on, so the details are ready when you write it.
A form is listed only after its name and number were confirmed on the issuing agency’s or insurer’s own website, or in the form itself. Each entry links to that source. The list was last checked in October 2026. Forms and their requirements change without notice, so check the official page for the current version before you complete one.
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Section 8.1b(a) requires a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches. The report must state the level of impairment in writing, include objective measurements such as range of motion, strength and atrophy, and use the most current edition of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.
No. It is one of five factors, alongside occupation, age at injury, future earning capacity, and disability evidence corroborated by treating records. The statute says no single factor is the sole determinant, and the Commission must explain its weighting in a written order.
Commission guidance to arbitrators says an impairment report does not have to be submitted with a settlement contract, and an arbitrator is not barred from finding disability when no rating is in evidence. The Commission notes this guidance is not a rule of general applicability.