Not only must the impairment or deficiency cause disabilities, but the CONDITION must in all likelihood be PERMANENT (irreversible) or at least of INDEFINITE duration.
PERMANENCY or INDEFINITENESS can be ascertained through certain INDICATIONS. Generally speaking, when a condition is likely to last 12 months or more, it can conceivably become permanent or indefinite. For this reason, the files of clients whose current condition is expected to last at least 12 months from the date of the medical opinion must be given special consideration.
However, this does not mean that all cases in which the condition lasts 12 months or more are automatically permanent or indefinite.
For example, a person with serious fractures may require a very long healing period and may during this time have temporary functional limitations for a very specific period, say 14 months, after which he or she could resume all activities.
The information on the duration of the physical or mental condition is found in the medical report under the “functional limitations” heading, as well as in Section A.