California Disability Retirement Attorneys

Functional Capacity Evaluations in California Disability Retirement Cases

For public employees in California who can no longer perform their job duties due to a disabling medical condition, disability retirement may provide critical income and benefits during a difficult time. One of the most important pieces of evidence in many disability retirement cases is the functional capacity evaluation—a comprehensive assessment that objectively measures what an individual can and cannot physically do. Understanding how these evaluations work can help applicants prepare effectively and present the strongest possible case.

The experienced California disability retirement attorneys at Cantrell Green help public employees through the often complex process of securing disability retirement benefits. With knowledge spanning both the medical and legal dimensions of these cases, the legal team provides guidance tailored to each client’s unique circumstances.

A functional capacity evaluation can significantly influence whether a disability retirement application is approved or denied. Retirement boards and administrative law judges rely heavily on this objective evidence when making their determinations.

What Is a Functional Capacity Evaluation in Disability Retirement Cases?

A functional capacity evaluation is a series of standardized tests and clinical observations conducted by a trained evaluator—typically a physical therapist or occupational therapist with specialized certification. The evaluation measures an individual’s ability to perform physical tasks such as lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, sitting, walking, bending, reaching, and climbing. It also assesses endurance, coordination, balance, and tolerance for sustained activity over time.

The evaluator compiles the results into a comprehensive report describing the worker’s demonstrated functional abilities and limitations. This report becomes part of the evidentiary record in disability retirement proceedings and is used to determine whether the employee can perform the essential duties of their position.

At Cantrell Green, our experienced California disability retirement attorneys will explain what clients should expect during a functional capacity evaluation and how to approach the process.

How Functional Capacity Evaluations Are Used in Disability Retirement Cases

In California disability retirement cases, the retirement system must determine whether the applicant is substantially incapacitated from performing the duties of their position. For safety members—such as police officers, firefighters, and correctional officers—the analysis typically focuses on whether the employee can perform the usual and customary duties of a member of their classification. For miscellaneous members, the inquiry centers on the specific duties of the employee’s particular job assignment.

A functional capacity evaluation provides objective, measurable data that retirement boards and administrative law judges use to assess the extent of incapacity. The evaluation’s findings are compared against a detailed job analysis or job description to determine whether the employee’s physical limitations prevent them from performing essential job functions.

The California disability retirement attorneys at Cantrell Green can help ensure that your functional capacity evaluation results are properly presented and given appropriate weight in the retirement process.

Preparing for a Functional Capacity Evaluation in Disability Retirement

Proper preparation can help ensure that a functional capacity evaluation accurately reflects an applicant’s true abilities and limitations. Employees should get adequate rest before the appointment and wear comfortable clothing and supportive footwear that allow for a full range of movement. Bringing a list of current medications, along with any relevant medical records or imaging studies, helps the evaluator understand the context of the limitations.

During the evaluation, employees should give their best effort on each task while being completely honest about pain, discomfort, or difficulty. Evaluators are trained to detect signs of inconsistent effort, and results that appear unreliable can seriously undermine the evaluation’s credibility. The goal is to demonstrate genuine functional capacity without pushing beyond safe limits or minimizing real symptoms.

The attorneys at Cantrell Green counsel their clients on how to approach their functional capacity evaluation honestly and effectively to support their disability retirement applications.

Challenges with Functional Capacity Evaluations in Disability Retirement Cases

While functional capacity evaluations are valuable tools, they are not without limitations. Some evaluators may underestimate functional restrictions, particularly for conditions that fluctuate in severity or involve chronic pain that is inherently difficult to measure objectively. Additionally, an evaluation captures an individual’s function on a single day and may not fully reflect how they would perform over the course of an entire workweek.

Retirement systems and their medical consultants sometimes interpret evaluation results in ways that favor denial. An applicant may test within normal ranges for certain isolated tasks during a controlled evaluation but still be unable to sustain those activities for eight hours a day, five days a week.

The California disability retirement attorneys at Cantrell Green understand these challenges and advocate for accurate interpretation of functional capacity evaluation results that reflects the real-world demands of the job.

Disputing Functional Capacity Evaluation Results in Disability Retirement

If a retirement board relies on a functional capacity evaluation that the applicant believes is inaccurate or incomplete, there are ways to challenge the findings. Additional medical evidence from treating physicians, specialists, or pain management experts can provide context that the evaluation may have missed. In some circumstances, requesting a second evaluation from a different provider may be appropriate.

During administrative hearings, the evaluator’s methodology and conclusions can be questioned through cross-examination or rebutted with expert testimony. Demonstrating that the evaluation failed to account for specific job demands or did not adequately consider documented medical limitations can undermine its persuasive value.

At Cantrell Green, our skilled disability retirement attorneys help clients build a complete evidentiary record that accurately reflects their functional limitations and supports their claims.

Functional Capacity Evaluations and Industrial Disability Retirement

For public safety employees seeking industrial disability retirement, functional capacity evaluations take on added significance. Industrial disability retirement requires demonstrating not only that the employee is substantially incapacitated but also that the disabling condition was caused by the performance of job duties. The evaluation results help establish the nature and extent of the work-related functional limitations.

Industrial disability retirement carries important additional benefits, including a higher percentage of final compensation and favorable tax treatment under federal law. Because the stakes are particularly high in these cases, ensuring that the functional capacity evaluation accurately documents work-related limitations is essential.

The California disability retirement attorneys at Cantrell Green are highly skilled in assisting public employees with industrial disability retirement claims and work to ensure that all relevant medical evidence—including functional capacity evaluations—fully supports their applications.

The Value of Legal Representation in Disability Retirement Cases

Disability retirement cases involve a complex intersection of medical evidence, administrative procedures, and legal standards that can be overwhelming for applicants to manage on their own. An experienced attorney can coordinate with medical providers, review functional capacity evaluations for accuracy and completeness, and present the case effectively before retirement boards or administrative law judges.

Legal representation becomes especially valuable when initial applications are denied and appeals become necessary. Having an advocate like the dedicated and compassionate California disability retirement attorneys at Cantrell Green significantly increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Disability Retirement Attorneys | California

If you are a public employee considering disability retirement or facing a denied application, you do not have to go through this process alone. The California disability retirement attorneys at Cantrell Green are committed to helping clients understand functional capacity evaluations and how they affect disability retirement decisions. With experience guiding employees through medical evaluations and administrative proceedings, the team is prepared to advocate for you. Contact Cantrell Green today to schedule a consultation and take the next step toward securing the benefits you deserve.

California Disability Retirement Attorney Free Consultation: 562-622-4800

This article is general in nature only and may or may not reflect the rules, laws or regulations governing how your public retirement system is administered. If you have question about a specific public employee retirement system, find your system, below – or call our California disability retirement attorneys at: 562-622-4800