CDMS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CDMS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the purpose of a 'labor market survey' in vocational rehabilitation? → To identify available jobs within the worker's functional capabilities and geographic area
2. Which pain assessment scale is most commonly used in clinical and occupational health settings to quantify pain intensity? → The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 0–10
3. Which ergonomic risk factor involves working with body parts held in non-neutral positions? → Awkward posture
4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in injured workers most commonly results in which combination of disability management challenges? → Prolonged disability, workplace phobia, and impaired treatment adherence
5. Are the approaches to treatment and practice described based on approved and acknowledged principles. tend to be supported by facts. → Standards or codes of practice
6. Which file system would be ideal for a location of business with a high fire risk? → Filing cabinet
7. This type of case management entails finding and making services accessible to help the employee get back to work. → Return to work service coordination
8. Which category of musculoskeletal disorders is most commonly associated with repetitive work tasks? → Cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs) or repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)
9. Which occupational health tool stratifies injured workers into low, medium, and high risk for developing chronic disability? → STarT Back Screening Tool or similar psychosocial screening instruments
10. Which vocational rehabilitation concept involves placing a worker in a job with structured support and gradually fading that support over time? → Supported employment with natural supports fade
11. Which assessment tool measures a worker's current physical capacities in relation to job demands? → Functional capacity evaluation (FCE)
12. In disability management, a 'peer review' differs from an IME because peer review: → Is a medical record review only, without direct patient examination
13. Which federal law established the framework for state workers' compensation programs in the United States? → The Workers' Compensation Act of 1908 (Federal Employees)
14. What is a 'compromise and release' (C&R) settlement in workers' compensation? → A lump-sum settlement that closes all or part of a claim with finality
15. Which apportionment method will be applied to workers' compensation if an employee is determined to have a handicap that they had in a prior position? → Apportionment to preexisting disability
16. An injured worker's average weekly wage (AWW) is used to calculate which workers' compensation benefit? → Indemnity (wage replacement) benefit amount
17. The biopsychosocial model of disability emphasizes that disability outcomes are influenced by which combination of factors? → Biological, psychological, and social factors working together
18. Under the ADA, a 'qualified individual with a disability' is someone who: → Can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation
19. Which type of workers' compensation benefit replaces a portion of the injured worker's lost wages? → Indemnity (wage replacement) benefit
20. Which of the following irritants to the upper respiratory tract is most immediately harmful to one's life and health? → HF
21. Which workers' compensation classification applies when a worker can perform some but not all pre-injury job duties? → Temporary partial disability (TPD)
22. Family counseling is recommended in disability management when which situation is identified? → Family dynamics are reinforcing illness behavior or creating barriers to rehabilitation
23. What is the 'interactive process' required by the ADA? → A good-faith dialogue between employer and employee to identify effective accommodations
24. Which comorbidity is most associated with delayed recovery and prolonged disability after musculoskeletal injury? → Depression and anxiety disorders
25. In the context of disability management, what does 'impairment' refer to? → Abnormality of body structure or function at the organ or body system level
26. Which term describes a workers' compensation claim that is disputed by the employer or insurer? → Controverted or denied claim
27. Which factor is most important when prioritizing accommodation options during the ADA interactive process? → The employee's preference, provided it is effective and not an undue hardship
28. Which OSHA standard requires employers to maintain records of work-related injuries and illnesses? → OSHA 29 CFR Part 1904 (Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting)
29. Which term describes the degree of permanent physical impairment expressed as a percentage of the 'whole person'? → Whole person impairment (WPI) rating
30. What is the primary goal of vocational rehabilitation (VR) in disability management? → To help individuals with disabilities achieve competitive, integrated employment