A medical estimate of permanent loss of bodily function.

"Medical estimate" means a doctor or other qualified evaluator uses exams, records, symptoms, and testing to assign a percentage to lasting damage after treatment has stabilized. "Permanent" does not mean you cannot improve at all; it means the condition is expected to leave some lasting limits. "Loss of bodily function" focuses on how a body part or system works, not just how much pain someone feels. That percentage is often based on the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, which many insurers, employers, and courts rely on.

For someone trying to recover after a wreck, fall, or work injury, an impairment rating can carry real weight. It may affect eligibility for permanent disability benefits, settlement value, work restrictions, and return-to-work planning. A higher rating can support a larger claim, but the number is not the whole story. Two people with the same rating may face very different day-to-day limits, especially in jobs that demand lifting, climbing, or long hours on the road.

In Kansas, impairment ratings are especially tied to workers' compensation. Under the Kansas Workers Compensation Act, ratings are generally determined using the Sixth Edition of the AMA Guides, as interpreted under Kansas law. Disputes over the rating can change the amount of benefits owed, so the doctor's explanation, the medical records, and any independent medical examination can matter as much as the percentage itself.