DWD 80.12(2)(b)
(b) The location of the office of the treating practitioner or practitioner appointed by the department under the provisions of s.
102.17 or
102.13 (3), Stats.; and
DWD 80.12 History
History: Cr.
Register, August, 1976, No. 248, eff. 9-1-76; r. and recr.
Register, September, 1982, No. 321, eff. 10-1-82.
DWD 80.14(1)(1) Transcripts of testimony taken or proceedings had before the department will be furnished to the applicant or respondent or their attorneys in accordance with the following provisions:
DWD 80.14(1)(a)
(a) After the commencement of an action to review an order of the commission in circuit court, a copy of the hearing record will be furnished to the plaintiff or other parties upon payment to the department of the reporter's fees set forth in s.
757.57 (5), Stats., and not as set forth in s.
757.57 (2), Stats.
DWD 80.14(1)(b)
(b) Transcripts of the hearing may not be provided until after commencement of an action in circuit court.
DWD 80.14(1)(c)
(c) Upon proper showing of financial inability to pay for copies of such testimony or proceedings, the department in its discretion will furnish copies of the same on such terms as may be agreed upon.
DWD 80.14 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (1) (a) and (b),
Register, October, 1965, No. 118, eff. 11-1-65; am.
Register, November, 1970, No. 179, eff. 12-1-70; am. (1) (a),
Register, April, 1971, No. 184, eff. 5-1-71; r. and recr. (1) (a) and (b),
Register, September, 1982, No. 321, eff. 10-1-82.
DWD 80.14 Note
DWD 80.15 Payments after an order.
DWD 80.20(1)(1) The following rules shall govern the issuance, suspension, or revocation of licenses to appear before the department in compensation matters under the provisions of s.
102.17 (1) (c), Stats.
DWD 80.20(1)(a)
(a) Permission to appear at a single hearing may be issued by the department through any examiner upon application evidencing qualifications provided by statute and the department's rules. Such permission may be given to appear in 3 cases before the issuing of license. When appearance has been made in 3 cases, license shall be required, which shall be issued only upon execution and filing with the department of application upon form prescribed by the department.
DWD 80.20(1)(b)
(b) Before license shall be issued applicant shall have appeared in representation of a party before the department on at least 3 formal hearings.
DWD 80.20(1)(c)
(c) The following conditions shall operate as grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of license.
DWD 80.20(1)(c)1.
1. Charging of excessive or unconscionable fees, misrepresentation of clients, dishonesty, fraud, sharp practice, neglect of duty, or other improper conduct in the representation of a party before the department, unless satisfactorily explained or excused by the department on the grounds of subsequent good conduct.
DWD 80.20(1)(c)2.
2. Disbarment from the practice of law, or resignation by request of properly constituted authorities, unless there has been subsequent reinstatement and continuance in good standing.
DWD 80.20(1)(c)3.
3. Contumacious conduct in hearing, gross discourtesy toward department representatives, or failure to conform to rulings or instructions of the department or its representatives.
DWD 80.20(1)(c)4.
4. Intentional or repeated failure to observe provisions of the compensation act or rules of procedure adopted by the department.
DWD 80.20(1)(c)5.
5. Any other gross evidence of lack of good moral character, fitness or act of fraud, or serious misconduct.
DWD 80.20 History
History: 1-2-56; am.
Register, April, 1975, No. 232, eff. 5-1-75; am. (1) (intro.),
Register, September, 1986, No. 369, eff. 10-1-86.
DWD 80.21
DWD 80.21
Reports by practitioners and expert witnesses. DWD 80.21(1)(1) Upon the request of the department, any party in interest to a claim under
ch. 102, Stats., shall furnish to the department and to all parties in interest copies of all reports by practitioners and expert witnesses in their possession or procurable by them.
DWD 80.21(2)
(2) In cases involving nonscheduled injuries under s.
102.44 (2) or
(3), Stats., any party in interest to a claim under the act shall, upon the request of the department, also furnish to the department and to all parties in interest any reports in their possession or reasonably available to them relating to the loss of earning capacity as set forth in
s. DWD 80.34.
DWD 80.21(3)
(3) Any party who does not comply with the request of the department under
sub. (1) or
(2) shall be barred from presenting the reports or the testimony contained therein at the hearing.
DWD 80.21(4)
(4) No testimony or reports from expert witnesses on the issue of loss of earning capacity may be received unless the party offering the evidence has notified the department and the other parties of interest of the party's intent to provide the testimony or reports and the names of expert witnesses involved as required under the provisions of s.
102.17 (7), Stats.
DWD 80.21 History
History: 1-2-56; am.
Register, April, 1975, No. 232, eff. 5-1-75; am. (1), cr. (2), (3) and (4),
Register, September, 1982, No. 321, eff. 10-1-82;
CR 02-094: r. and recr. (4)
Register November 2002 No. 563, eff. 12-1-02.
DWD 80.22
DWD 80.22
Use of physicians' reports as evidence. DWD 80.22(1)(1) Matters stated in such report which would not be competent or material evidence if given as oral testimony shall not be competent or material as prima facie evidence if objection is made, except as corroborated by competent and material oral testimony.
DWD 80.22(2)
(2) Use of reports shall be permitted in any case in which claim for compensation is made, provided the reporting doctor is available for cross examination.
DWD 80.22(3)
(3) An applicant shall be informed of the provisions of s.
102.17 (1) (d), Stats., and the department's rules and also that a form for reporting will be supplied to the applicant upon request.
DWD 80.22(4)
(4) Report shall be submitted to the department upon a form prescribed by the department and shall be verified or certified. The department may require additional or supplementary reports. Upon failure of the applicant to submit such reports within the time specified prior to hearing, all reports previously filed may, in the discretion of the department, be excluded as evidence.
DWD 80.22(5)
(5) Reports shall be filed with the application for adjustment of claim or as soon thereafter as possible. Reports not filed with the department 15 days prior to the date of hearing shall not be acceptable as evidence except upon good cause for failure so to file, established to the satisfaction of the department.
DWD 80.22(6)
(6) Simultaneously with the filing of a WKC-16B form or a verified report of a vocational expert with the department, a party shall serve copies upon all other parties in interest. Service upon the designated representative of a party shall be deemed service upon the party. Service upon the insurance carrier for an employer shall be deemed service upon the employer. However, if a party does not have a representative, the department may elect to make service upon other parties.
DWD 80.22 History
History: 1-2-56; am. (intro. par.), (7) and (4),
Register, October, 1965, No. 118, eff. 11-1-65; am.
Register, April, 1975, No. 232, eff. 5-1-75; am. (3) and r. and recr. (6),
Register, September, 1982, No. 321, eff. 10-1-82; am. (intro.),
Register, September, 1986, No. 369, eff. 10-1-86; reprinted to restore dropped copy in (1),
Register September 2005 No. 597.
DWD 80.23
DWD 80.23
Common insurance of employer and third party. In all cases where compensation becomes payable and the insurance carrier of an employer and of a third party shall be the same, or if there is common control of the insurer of each, the insurance carrier of the employer shall promptly notify the parties in interest and the department of that fact.
DWD 80.23 History
History: 1-2-56; am.
Register, April, 1975, No. 232, eff. 5-1-75.
DWD 80.25
DWD 80.25
Loss of hearing. The department adopts the following standards for the determination and evaluation of noise induced hearing loss, other occupational hearing loss and accidental hearing loss:
DWD 80.25(1)
(1) Harmful noise. Hearing loss resulting from hazardous noise exposure depends upon several factors, namely, the overall intensity (sound pressure level), the daily exposure, the frequency characteristic of the noise spectrum and the total lifetime exposure. Noise exposure level of 90 decibels or more as measured on the A scale of a sound level meter for 8 hours a day is considered to be harmful.
DWD 80.25(2)
(2) Measurement of noise. Noise shall be measured with a sound level meter which meets ANSI standard 1983 and shall be measured on the "A" weighted network for "slow response." Noise levels reaching maxima at intervals of one second or less shall be classified as being continuous. The measurement of noise is primarily the function of acoustical engineers and properly trained personnel. Noise should be scientifically measured by properly trained individuals using approved calibrated instruments which at the present time include sound level meters, octave band analyzers and oscilloscopes, the latter particularly for impact-type noises.
DWD 80.25(3)
(3) Measure of hearing acuity. The use of pure tone air and bone conduction audiometry performed under proper testing conditions is recommended for establishing the hearing acuity of workers. The audiometer should be one which meets the specifications of ANSI standard 53.6-1969 (4). The audiometer should be periodically calibrated. Preemployment records should include a satisfactory personal and occupational history as they may pertain to hearing status. Otological examination should be made where indicated.
DWD 80.25(4)
(4) Formula for measuring hearing impairment. For the purpose of determining the hearing impairment, pure tone air conduction audiometry is used, measuring all frequencies between 500 and 6,000 Hz. This formula uses the average of the 4 speech frequencies of 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 Hz. Audiometric measurement for these 4 frequencies averaging 30 decibels or less on the ANSI calibration does not constitute any practical hearing impairment. A table for evaluating hearing impairment based upon the average readings of these 4 frequencies follows below. No deduction is made for presbycusis.
DWD 80.25(5)
(5) Diagnosis and evaluation. The diagnosis of occupational hearing loss is based upon the occupational and medical history, the results of the otological and audiometric examinations and their evaluation.
DWD 80.25(6)
(6) Treatment. There is no known medical or surgical treatment for improving or restoring hearing loss due to hazardous noise exposure. Hearing loss will be improved in non-occupational settings with the use of a hearing aid. Since a hearing aid relieves from the effect of injury the cost is compensable where prescribed by a physician.
DWD 80.25(7)
(7) Allowance for tinnitus. In addition to the above impairment, if tinnitus has permanently resulted due to work exposure, an allowance of 5% loss of hearing impairment for the affected ear or ears shall be computed.
DWD 80.25(9)
(9) Method for determining percent of hearing impairment. DWD 80.25(9)(a)(a) Obtain for each ear the average hearing level in decibels at the 4 frequencies, 500, 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 Hz.
DWD 80.25(9)(b)
(b) See Table for converting to percentage of hearing impairment in each ear.
DWD 80.25(9)(c)
(c) To determine the percentage of impairment for both ears, multiply the lesser loss by 5, add the greater loss and divide by 6. Following are examples of the calculation of hearing loss:
-
See PDF for table 
2. Calculation of hearing handicap:
Smaller number (better ear)
8% 5 = 40
Larger number (poorer ear)
40% 1 = 40
Total 80 B 6 = 13.33% loss
Therefore, a person with the hearing threshold levels shown in this audiogram would have a 13.33% hearing handicap.
-
See PDF for table
2. Hearing handicap:
Smaller number (better ear)
88% 5 = 440
Larger number (poorer ear)
100% 1 = 100%
Total 540 6 = 90% loss
Therefore, the hearing handicap is 90%.
DWD 80.25 History
History: 1-2-56; am.
Register, January, 1960, No. 49, eff. 2-1-60; am.
Register, October, 1965, No. 118, eff. 11-1-65; r. and recr.
Register, September, 1972, No. 201, eff. 10-1-72; am. (1) to (4), r. (5), renum. (6) and (7) to be (5) and (6), cr. (7) and am. (8),
Register, September, 1975, No. 237, eff. 10-1-75; am. (intro.), (2) to (4), (6), (8) and (9),
Register, September, 1986, No. 369, eff. 10-1-86.
DWD 80.26
DWD 80.26
Loss of vision; determination. The following rules for determining loss of visual efficiency shall be applicable to all cases settled after December 1, 1941, irrespective of the date of injury, except that, in the examples for computations of compensation payable and of the percentage of permanent total disability, the computation of the percentage of visual impairment must be applied to the provisions of the worker's compensation act as they existed at the date of the injury.
DWD 80.26(1)
(1) Maximum and minimum limits of the primary coordinate factors of vision. In order to determine the various degrees of visual efficiency, a) normal or maximum, and b) minimum, limits for each coordinate function must be established; i.e., the 100% point and the 0% point.
DWD 80.26(1)(a)
(a) Maximum limits. The maximum efficiency for each of these is established by existing and accepted standards.
DWD 80.26(1)(a)1.
1. Central visual acuity. The ability to recognize letters or characters which subtend an angle of 5 minutes, each unit part of which subtends a 1 minute angle at the distance viewed is accepted as standard. Therefore a 20/20 Snellen or A.M.A. and a 14/14 A.M.A. are employed as the maximum acuity of central vision, or 100% acuity for distance vision and near vision respectively.
DWD 80.26(1)(a)2.
2. Field vision. A visual field having an area which extends from the point of fixation outward 65, down and out 65, down 55, down and in 45, inward 45, in and up 45, upward 45, and up and out 55 is accepted as 100% industrial visual field efficiency.
DWD 80.26(1)(a)3.
3. Binocular vision. Maximum binocular vision is present if there is absence of diplopia in all parts of the field of binocular fixation, and if the 2 eyes give useful binocular vision.
DWD 80.26(1)(b)
(b) Minimum limits. The minimum limit, or the 0% of the coordinate functions of vision, is established at that degree of deficiency which reduces vision to a state of industrial uselessness.
DWD 80.26(1)(b)1.
1. Central visual acuity. The minimum limit of this function is established as the loss of light perception, light perception being qualitative vision. The practical minimum limit of quantitative visual acuity is established as the ability to distinguish form. Experience, experiment and authoritative opinion show that for distance vision 20/200 Snellen or A.M.A. Chart is 80% loss of visual efficiency, 20/380 is 96% loss, and 20/800 is 99.9% loss, and that for near vision 14/141 A.M.A. Reading Card is 80% loss of visual efficiency, 14/266 is 96% loss, and 14/560 is 99.9% loss. Table 1 shows the percentage loss of visual efficiency corresponding to the Snellen and other notations for distant and for near vision, for the measurable range of quantitative visual acuity.
DWD 80.26(1)(b)2.
2. Field vision. The minimum limit for this function is established as a concentric central contraction of the visual field to 5. This degree of contraction of the visual field of an eye reduces the visual efficiency to zero.
DWD 80.26(1)(b)3.
3. Binocular vision. The minimum limit is established by the presence of diplopia in all parts of the motor field, or by lack of useful binocular vision. This condition constitutes 50% motor field efficiency.
DWD 80.26(1)(c)
(c) Where distance vision is less than 20/200 and the A.M.A. Chart is used, readings will be at 10 feet. The percentage of efficiency and loss may be obtained from this table by comparison with corresponding readings on the basis of 20 feet, interpolating between readings if necessary. In view of the lack of uniform standards among the various near vision charts, readings for near vision, within the range of vision covered thereby, are to be according to the American Medical Association Rating Reading Card of 1932.
DWD 80.26(2)
(2) Measurement of coordinate factors of vision and the computation of their partial loss. DWD 80.26(2)(a)1.1. Central visual acuity shall be measured both for distance and for near, each eye being measured separately, both with and without correction. Where the purpose of the computation is to determine loss of vision resulting from injury, if correction is needed for a presbyopia due to age or for some other condition clearly not due to the injury (see section on miscellaneous regulations), the central visual acuity "without correction", as the term is used herein, shall be measured with a correction applied for such presbyopia or other preexisting condition but without correction for any condition which may have resulted from the injury. The central visual acuity "with correction" shall be measured with correction applied for all conditions present.
DWD 80.26(2)(a)2.
2. The percentage of central visual acuity efficiency of the eye for distance vision shall be based on the best percentage of central visual acuity between the percentage of central visual acuity with and without correction. However, in no case shall such subtraction for glasses be taken at more than 25%, or less than 5%, of total central visual acuity efficiency. If a subtraction of 5%, however, reduces the percentage of central visual acuity efficiency below that obtainable without correction, the percentage obtainable without correction shall be adopted unless correction is nevertheless necessary to prevent eye strain or for other reasons.
-
See PDF for table -
See PDF for table DWD 80.26(2)(a)3.
3. The percentage of central visual acuity efficiency of the eye for near vision shall be based on a similar computation from the near vision readings, with and without correction.
DWD 80.26(2)(a)4.
4. The percentage of central visual acuity efficiency of the eye in question shall be the result of the weighted values assigned to these 2 percentages for distance and for near. A onefold value is assigned to distance vision and a twofold value to near vision. Thus, if the central visual efficiency for distance is 70% and that for near is 40%, the percentage of central visual efficiency for the eye in question would be:
-
See PDF for table DWD 80.26(2)(a)5.
5. The Snellen test letters or characters as published by the Committee on Compensation for Eye Injuries of the American Medical Association and designated "Industrial Vision Test Charts" subtend a 5 minute angle, and their component parts a 1 minute angle. These test letters or the equivalent are to be used at an examining distance of 20 feet for distant vision (except as otherwise noted on the Chart where vision is very poor), and of 14 inches for near vision, from the patient. The illumination is to be not less than three foot candles, nor more than ten foot candles on the surface of the chart.
