Orthopedic IME Services — Richmond & Virginia
Dr. Vipool "Vic" Goradia provides independent orthopedic medical evaluations for insurance carriers, third-party administrators, defense and plaintiff attorneys, and self-insured employers throughout Virginia. With over 15 years of IME experience and a 27-year surgical career, Dr. Goradia offers authoritative, objective opinions on orthopedic injuries that are defensible in any legal or administrative setting.
Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs)
An Independent Medical Examination is an objective evaluation of a claimant's injuries, treatment, and functional status, performed by a physician with no prior treating relationship. Dr. Goradia conducts thorough orthopedic IMEs covering:
Causation: whether the claimed injury is consistent with the reported mechanism
Diagnosis: review and assessment of the medical record, imaging, and physical findings
Treatment appropriateness: whether past and recommended treatment is medically necessary and reasonable
Maximum medical improvement (MMI): whether the claimant has reached a plateau of recovery
Future medical needs: reasonable projections for ongoing care
Report turnaround: 48-72 hours standard. Same-day available.
Permanent Partial Impairment Ratings (PPI)
Dr. Goradia provides impairment ratings using the 6th Edition* of AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. These ratings are used in Virginia Workers' Compensation cases and personal injury settlements to quantify the lasting impact of an orthopedic injury. Dr. Goradia is experienced in upper and lower extremity ratings, spinal ratings, and whole-person impairment calculations.
*Other editions can be used upon request
Peer Reviews / Record Reviews
When an in-person examination is not required, Dr. Goradia offers thorough medical record reviews addressing:
Medical necessity of treatment rendered or requested
Appropriateness of surgical recommendations
Consistency of treatment with established clinical guidelines
Second opinions on diagnosis and treatment plans
Record reviews are typically completed within 5 days of receipt of records based on complexity of the case and volume of records.
Specialties and Body Regions
Dr. Goradia's spans the full scope of orthopedics:
Knee injuries (ligament tears, meniscal pathology, cartilage damage, arthritis)
Shoulder injuries (rotator cuff, labrum, instability, fractures)
Work related orthopedic injuries of all types
Cervical and lumbar spine conditions
Upper extremity injuries (elbow, wrist, hand)
Lower extremity injuries (hip, ankle, foot)
Fractures and trauma
Post-surgical evaluation
Who We Work With
Insurance carriers
Third-party administrators (TPAs)
Defense attorneys
Plaintiff attorneys
Self-insured employers
IME management companies
Upper Extremity Injuries
Lower Extremity Injuries
Back & Neck Injuries