eDOT Administrative Law Tutorial

The following exercise will show you how PAQ’s enhanced Dictionary of Occupational Titles (eDOT) provides reliable data for disability determinations. eDOT helps you find out whether any transferable options exist for the disabled individual.

Problem Statement

Al is an Automobile Mechanic who was disabled on the job.

His RFC follows:

Age: 45

Patient’s Report:

• Shoulder pain
• Muscle spasms
• Takes longer to do things due to pain
• Inability to raise left arm above head
• Pain gripping tools after 2-3 hours

Doctor’s Report:

• Shoulder blade dislocation
• Damage to surrounding tissue
• Damage to shoulder joint due to incorrect relocation alignment
• Increasing carpal tunnel syndrome
• Muscle spasms

Residual Functional Capacity:

• Capable of occasionally lifting and / or carrying up to 20 pounds
• Capable of frequently lifting and / or carrying up to 10 pounds
• Capable of standing and / or walking about 6 hours a day
• Capable of sitting about 8 hours a day
• Capable of no more than occasional climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling

Past Relevant Work as Claimant Describes It:

Repairs and overhauls automobiles and trucks. Examines vehicle and discusses with customer, automobile repair service estimator, or inspector the nature and extent of damage or malfunction. Plans work procedure, using charts, technical manuals and experience. Raises vehicle, using hydraulic jack or hoist, to gain access to mechanical units bolted to underside of vehicle. Removes unit, such as engine, transmission or differential, using wrenches and hoist. Disassembles unit and inspects parts for wear, using micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges. Repairs or replaces parts, such as pistons, rods, gears, valves and bearings, using mechanic's hand tools. Mends damaged body and fenders by hammering out or filling in dents and welding broken parts. Replaces and adjusts headlights, and installs and repairs accessories, such as radios, heaters, mirrors and windshield wipers.

Click on the Load Step-by-Step button to see how the eDOT is used to determine what future jobs Al might hold.

eDOT Analysis

First we open up PAQ’s enhanced Dictionary of Occupational Titles. (From now on we’ll refer to it by its abbreviation, eDOT.)

eDOT opens with a disclaimer. Please review it, then select the circle next to “I have read and understand the disclaimer” and click on the OK button.

When running eDOT for the first time, a screen titled ‘Submit New Data’ will appear to let you input position data from your organization for incorporation into future quarterly eDOT releases. (You can access this option at any time from the eDOT Internet menu.) To skip this screen, click on the Cancel button at the lower right-hand corner.

The first thing we need to do is select which eDOT edition to run.

Here’s how…

Step 1:	Click on the Edition menu at the top of the eDOT screen.
Step 2:	A drop-down menu will appear. Click on Administrative Law.