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- Purpose and Scope. This Chapter provides a list of reference
or resource materials which may prove useful in researching claims-related or
program-related issues. These documents, which should be available to DLHWC
claims examining staff, supplement the standard reference documents, i.e., the
LHWCA, the regulations pertaining to the LHWCA, and this Procedure Manual.
- Reference/Resource Materials.
- Longshore Desk Book. This book was created by the BRB as a
book of first reference to assist the BRB and its staff in deciding cases under
the LHWCA, as amended, and its extensions. It takes a section-by-section
approach to the Act and contains numerous BRB and court citations. (Note,
however, that the decisions therein do not necessarily comport with the
Directors administrative construction).
- Benefits Review Board Service - Longshore Reporter. The
multi-volume BRBS - Longshore Reporter, published by Matthew Bender
& Company, provides comprehensive coverage of published BRB and court
opinions and decisions, and some ALJ decisions, in LHWCA cases.
- The Law of Workmen's Compensation. This treatise by Arthur
Larson presents and discusses the primary principles and rules of workers'
compensation. Generally, these principles and rules are common to the vast
majority of workers' compensation laws. While this treatise focuses primarily
on state workers' compensation laws (which generate the greatest amount of case
law), significant federal court decisions concerning the LHWCA are included.
- The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. This manual
discusses numerous medical conditions, disorders and diseases, generally in
terms of their etiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
- Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. This
reference guide is published, and revised from time to time, by the American
Medical Association. It is used by physicians for rating the physical
impairment of various organ systems. These ratings are used as the basis of PPD
awards under the Act in hearing loss and retiree cases, and are also relevant
(though not conclusive) in determining the extent of loss of use
under the schedule provisions of section 8(c)(19).
- Subject-Word Index. The Preface contains a subject-word index
with appropriate reference to the PM, the LHWCA, and the regulations.
- Definitions and Abbreviations. Chapter 0-601 contains the
definition of terms frequently used in the processing of Longshore cases;
however, it does not include terms which are specifically defined in the Act or
the regulations, or which are defined or extensively discussed elsewhere in the
PM. Chapter 0-602 contains a list of abbreviations frequently used in the LHWCA
PM.
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