Poodof, I went through the same thing "torn rotator cuff" sent from cable splicing to "light duty" in the central office as a COT.  I never had surgery at that time and spent almost a year in the CO when they started to pull the 180 restriction thing on me as well, and said I was no longer "qualified" to do cable splicing OR cot.   Go figure.  Pronto!  I went back to my physician and had her release me with NO restrictions.  And, she had to RE-WRITE it three separate times before the company WOULD BACK OFF FROM DOING A JOB SEARCH.  I went back to cable splicing. Now, point in fact IS do you have a permanent disability that will come out when you see an IME?  That wouldl change things BUT IN WASHINGTON state the LAW says that "the company has to make reasonable accomodations" for you.  And, it sounds like they could do that if you were doing the job in the first place.  Look up the law for your state, and see if it says the same thing.   I think this is one rule that HAS TO BE CHALLENGED, the company uses it solely as a weapon to downgrade and get people to retire.........................Choices are go back to full duty or pull the reasonable accomodations on them and hire an attorney.   Don't freak out, just get smart and read up on state L&I laws and get you Doctor to back you up and you will be fine.    Trust me.