Implications of the Coronavirus Pandemic for Vocational Expert Assessments: A Preliminary Analysis

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which continues to impact humankind, confronts vocational experts with manifold challenges in performing analyses of claims ofloss of earning capacity. This article captures the essence of the historic times during which vocational experts are performing their analyses. A summary of vocationally relevant known and unknown information amidst the crisis provides context for addressing two case studies, illustrating how vocational experts can integrate case-specific and COVID-19 uncertainties to render opinions within a reasonable degree of vocational rehabilitation probability. The first case study requires an analysis presenting opinions tentatively, with final opinions suspended. Opinions in the second study - despite COVID-19 pandemic unknowns- appear in final form. Case analyses include rationale associated with opinions rendered.