Functional capacity test means one of a number of tests which provide objective measures of a claimant's maximal work ability and includes functional capacity evaluations which provide a systematic comprehensive assessment of a claimant's overall strength, mobility, endurance and capacity to perform physically demanding tasks, such as standing, walking, lifting, crouching, stooping or bending, climbing or kneeling.

Independent Case Evaluation (ICE) means the process for evaluating claims not covered by appendix 3 of this part.

Permanent physical or mental impairment means a physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments that can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Regular railroad occupation means an employee's railroad occupation in which he or she has engaged in service for hire in more calendar months than the calendar months in which he or she has been engaged in service for hire in any other occupation during the last preceding five calendar years, whether or not consecutive; or has engaged in service for hire in not less than one-half of all of the months in which he or she has been engaged in service for hire during the last preceding 15 consecutive calendar years. If an employee last worked as an officer or employee of a railway labor organization and if continuance in such employment is no longer available to him or her, the “regular occupation” shall be the position to which the employee holds seniority rights or the position which he or she left to work for a railway labor organization.

Residual functional capacity has the same meaning as found in § 220.120.

[63 FR 7541, Feb. 13, 1998]