This question is used to determine whether the assessment currently being undertaken is:
- the first assessment under s 24 and s 27;
- an interim assessment under s 25; or
- a second or subsequent assessment (a “reassessment”) of the degree of permanent impairment in a case where a final assessment has already been made and compensation has been paid to the client in respect of impairment arising from the one injury.
If this calculation is a reassessment, any compensation paid in respect of earlier determinations of the degree of permanent impairment will be taken into account in determining the amount of compensation as a result of the reassessment. The manner in which the deduction is calculated is set out in s 25(4) which states:
25(4)Where Comcare has made a final assessment of the degree of permanent impairment of an employee, no further amounts of compensation shall be payable to the employee in respect of a subsequent increase in the degree of impairment, unless the increase is 10% or more.
In the case of a hearing loss where the date of injury is on or after 1 October 2001, a reassessment is made under s 25(5):
25(5)If Comcare has made a final assessment of the degree of permanent impairment of an employee constituted by a hearing loss, no further amounts of compensation are payable to the employee in respect of a subsequent increase in the hearing loss, unless the subsequent increase in the degree of binaural hearing loss is 5% or more.