What should be checked before relying on a WPI figure?
Check maximum medical improvement, the body area, objective findings, the NSW Guideline chapter and any NSW modification before relying on a percentage.
Can this page calculate your percentage?
No. WPI depends on an assessor, maximum medical improvement, objective findings and the NSW Guidelines. This page is general information only.
Permanent impairment assessment
How permanent impairment is assessed for Cardiovascular system, heart, arteries and stable cardiac function
Cardiovascular impairment WPI should be assessed through the relevant NSW Guideline body-system chapter and objective specialist evidence. A diagnosis or exposure history alone is not enough to predict a percentage.
What injuries can happen to this body part?
- Cardiac injury, myocardial event or vascular injury alleged to be work-related
- Traumatic vascular damage or post-operative cardiovascular consequence
- Occupational exposure or exertion issue where cardiology evidence explains causation
- Stable treatment consequences affecting exercise tolerance or vascular function
Symptoms and findings that matter
- Cardiologist reports and objective testing
- Exercise tolerance, imaging, ECG/echo or vascular studies where relevant
- Medication and treatment stability at MMI
- Non-work risk factors, pre-existing disease and apportionment issues
- Whether the condition is stable at MMI
- Whether the impairment is work-related or partly from non-work causes
- Whether the correct body-system chapter has been used
What investigations are usually relevant?
- Treating specialist report and final impairment assessment at maximum medical improvement
- Imaging, pathology, audiology, ophthalmology, respiratory, nerve or functional testing that fits the body system
- Operative reports, discharge summaries, rehabilitation records and objective clinical measurements where relevant
How WPI is assessed for this body part
- Cardiovascular impairment WPI should be assessed through the relevant NSW Guideline body-system chapter and objective specialist evidence. A diagnosis or exposure history alone is not enough to predict a percentage.
- Assessment source: NSW Guidelines Chapter 1 general rules, and the body-system chapter identified in the source links for this page. AMA5 is used only where adopted and not modified by NSW.
- The assessor should explain maximum medical improvement, the body-system chapter, the method selected, any NSW modification, and why the objective findings fit that method.
How movement affects the assessment
- ROM is usually not the central method for this body system unless a musculoskeletal injury is also being assessed.
- Functional impact still matters for treatment, work capacity and claim strategy, but the WPI method follows the relevant body-system chapter.
Cardiovascular WPI source checks
Cardiac or vascular testingCardiovascular assessment usually depends on objective testing such as ECG, echocardiogram, stress testing, vascular imaging or specialist examination.
Stable post-treatment resultA cardiac event, vascular injury or procedure does not set a fixed WPI. The stable residual function and treatment outcome matter.
Causation and contributionWork-related contribution, pre-existing disease, constitutional risk and non-work factors should be addressed rather than assumed.
Capacity and WPI are differentA worker may have real work restrictions even where the permanent impairment method is technical and specialist-driven.
Practical WPI examples
- A cardiac event or vascular injury requires careful causation and specialist evidence before WPI is considered.
- Reduced exercise tolerance should be linked to objective cardiac or vascular findings rather than assumed from fatigue alone.
- Work incapacity and WPI are different questions, even if the same specialist reports are relevant.
Evidence checklist
- A clear diagnosis and the body area being assessed
- Records showing the condition has reached maximum medical improvement, if that is the issue
- Specialist reports, imaging reports and treating notes relied on by the assessor
- Objective findings on examination, not only symptoms described by the injured person
- A work and treatment chronology explaining the injury, treatment, surgery and recovery path
- Any previous injury, degeneration, congenital issue or non-work cause that needs apportionment considered
- Cardiology reports
- ECG, echocardiogram or stress test results
- Vascular imaging
- Hospital records
- Medication history
- Risk-factor and non-work contribution material
- Work-capacity evidence about exertional limits
What usually does not increase WPI
- Assuming a scan result automatically gives a WPI percentage
- Confusing pain, disability or inability to work with permanent impairment
- Ignoring maximum medical improvement before arranging an assessment
- Using an AMA5 table without checking whether the NSW Guidelines modify or replace it
- Double counting the same impairment through two methods when the Guidelines require one method
- Predicting WPI from the diagnosis name alone
- Using a musculoskeletal table where the body-system chapter is the correct method
Assessment source
Assessment source: Assessment source: NSW Guidelines Chapter 1 general rules, and the body-system chapter identified in the source links for this page. AMA5 is used only where adopted and not modified by NSW.
This section is source-backed general information. It is not a WPI assessment and is not legal advice.
- SIRA NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment: Source for the NSW assessment framework, MMI, AMA5 adoption, NSW modifications and exclusions.
- SIRA cardiovascular system chapter, Chapter 15: Source for heart, artery and cardiovascular impairment assessment in NSW workers compensation.
Related injury and claim pages
- Common injury evidence hub
- Work injury claims NSW
- Claim process
- Compensation and entitlements
- Ask about an impairment issue
- NSW Injury Claim Evidence, Documents and Templates - This library helps injured people organise incident, medical, income, correspondence and daily-impact records into a clear working file, without presenting any checklist or template as an official form.
- NSW Injury Claims by Location - NSW Injury Claims accepts enquiries from across NSW. The claim pathway depends on how the injury happened, while phone, online and electronic document handling can make an initial enquiry possible without creating a false impression of premises in every region.
- Endocrine System WPI Assessment NSW - Other body systems permanent impairment assessment guide with NSW Guideline source notes.
Need a practical claim check?
If an impairment percentage, medical assessment or insurer decision is affecting your NSW injury claim, send the decision or report for a practical review. This is general information only and does not guarantee any result.
Request a free claim checkAssessment scope for Cardiovascular System WPI Assessment
The assessment scope for Cardiovascular System WPI Assessment should be stated precisely before any percentage is considered. The file should identify whether that label describes the primary diagnosed condition, a symptom of another injury, a regional overview or one component of a broader impairment. Findings from another body area or diagnosis should not be transferred without explanation. The report should connect the stated condition to the correct NSW Guideline chapter, objective findings, treatment history and any permitted combination or apportionment method. This distinction is particularly important where similar page labels cover different clinical questions.
- Confirm the diagnosis and body area being assessed as Cardiovascular System
- Separate condition-specific findings from overlapping symptoms or injuries in another body area
- Check that the selected NSW Guideline chapter and method match the condition actually assessed
- Explain any combination, apportionment or exclusion rather than relying on the page label alone
Start with maximum medical improvement
Permanent impairment should generally be assessed when the condition is stable and unlikely to change substantially in the next year. Treatment, surgery and rehabilitation history may affect whether the timing is appropriate.
Use the NSW Guidelines first
The NSW Guidelines adopt AMA5 in many areas, but NSW modifications prevail. Do not assume an AMA5 table applies without checking the NSW chapter and any public SIRA clarification.
Keep the assessment practical
A useful assessment file separates diagnosis, objective findings, surgery history, work capacity issues, apportionment questions and the body-area method used by the assessor.
Ask about an impairment issueDocuments and records
Injury evidence to organise early
The useful records depend on how the injury happened, when symptoms were recorded and how treatment or work capacity changed.
- Date, location and short description of the injury event
- Medical certificates, reports, scans, treatment records or hospital documents
- Employer, insurer, police, incident or venue records where relevant
- Photos, witness details, dashcam or other supporting material if available
- Income, superannuation, work capacity or leave records where relevant
- Letters, emails, claim numbers and decisions already received
Common questions
Injury evidence questions
Short general answers only. The right next step depends on the facts, dates and documents.
Is WPI the same as being unable to work?
No. WPI is a medical impairment measure. Work capacity, weekly payments, damages, treatment disputes and TPD issues are separate questions, although the evidence may overlap.
Does pain alone create a WPI percentage?
Not by itself. NSW workers compensation excludes AMA5 Chapter 18 on pain. Chronic pain is assessed through the underlying diagnosed condition where the Guidelines permit it.
Can secondary psychological symptoms be added to physical WPI?
In NSW workers compensation, secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment is not assessed as permanent impairment. Primary psychological impairment is assessed separately and is not combined with physical WPI.
Injury pathway enquiry
Not sure which claim type matches the injury?
Start with how the injury happened, what medical records exist and how work or daily activity has changed. The same injury can sit in different pathways.