Filtered Decisions

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of permanent total disability compensation to Jerry Fischer for injuries sustained on June 7, 2004, when he fell off a crawler during track repairs. Fischer is entitled to $337.18 per week compensation for life, with medical benefits and attorney's fees approved.

The Commission affirmed in part and reversed in part the administrative law judge's award denying compensation for a November 2001 work accident in which the employee's chair suddenly dropped, causing low back injury. The case involved disputed claims regarding permanent disability, occupational disease, and medical causation related to the low back injury.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying all workers' compensation benefits in this case, despite finding the injury compensable under Chapter 287. Although the claimant's low back injury from moving a table on June 22, 2007 met all statutory requirements, no compensation was awarded.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of permanent total disability benefits to Michael G. Gibbons for a low back and right leg injury sustained on December 7, 1999, while attempting to remove a 350-pound vacuum pump at work. The employer is liable for lifetime weekly benefits of $578.48, temporary total disability for specified periods, outstanding medical expenses of $11,333.73, and future medical care related to the injury.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for an employee's permanent partial disability related to thoracic and lumbar spine injuries sustained while working in the mail room. A dissenting opinion argues that benefits should also have been awarded for cervical spine injuries aggravated by repetitive lifting of heavy mail bags and carts weighing 30-100 pounds.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Larry D. Balch for a low back injury sustained on March 20, 2001, while lifting hoses for an air compressor. The employee was awarded 120 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $37,711.20, with medical benefits of $247,719.45 already paid by the insurer.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Kenneth Adams (deceased, represented by Brenda Adams) for a low back injury sustained on May 30, 2002, while lifting heavy doors at McBride & Son Enterprises. The total compensation awarded was $141,877.87, including unpaid medical expenses, temporary total disability benefits, and permanent partial disability benefits of 30% of the body as a whole referable to the low back.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award finding the employee's low back and left leg injury compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law. The injury occurred on January 8, 2007, when the employee was injured while assisting a co-worker in lifting a patient who had fallen, resulting in left L5 nerve root impingement.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits for Keith Bales, who alleged a slip and fall injury on a wet floor in a power plant on May 9, 2003. The claim was denied as the injury was determined not to be compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to Mary Perdue for an injury sustained while unloading a trailer on January 5, 2006. The Commission rejected the employer's arguments that no accident occurred, that the activity was equally exposed outside employment, and that the medical evidence was improperly weighed.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Eli Sell's work-related back injury sustained on May 29, 2006, which resulted in permanent partial disability of 20% of the body as a whole. The decision upheld liability for future medical treatment, temporary total disability benefits from May 30, 2006 through February 19, 2008, and permanent partial disability benefits despite the employer's argument regarding inadequate notice of the injury.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying all workers' compensation benefits for Willie Woodard's alleged back injury from lifting on July 27, 2007. The injury was found not to be compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law, with no benefits, medical aid, or disability compensation awarded.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Mike Sanders' low back injury sustained on September 15, 2004 while operating heavy equipment. The Commission found the injury compensable and approved permanent total disability benefits against the Second Injury Fund, along with temporary disability compensation and medical aid already paid.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's award, denying workers' compensation for an employee who claimed back injuries from two workplace incidents in January and February 2006, along with subsequent complications including a treatment-related burn and pulmonary embolism. The decision hinged on whether the workplace accidents were the prevailing factor in causing the employee's back condition, given significant preexisting degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying compensation and finding no Second Injury Fund liability, though disagreeing with the reasoning. The employee's 1995 and 2001 back injuries were determined not to combine in a manner creating Second Injury Fund obligations.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying all workers' compensation benefits, finding that the employee's alleged repetitive trauma injury to his low back and left leg from lifting supplies and moving carts did not arise out of and in the course of employment. No compensation, medical benefits, or disability payments were awarded.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Aaron Zentz for an alleged lower back injury occurring on April 26, 2005, while working at Kraft Foods. The injury was found not to have arisen out of and in the course of employment, rendering it non-compensable under Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Sharon Morgan for a back injury sustained on May 12, 2004, when she fell from a chair while hanging a poster at work. The employee was awarded temporary total disability benefits for ten weeks and permanent partial disability benefits of 22.5% of body as a whole.

Kenneth H. Tilley was awarded permanent total disability benefits after suffering a back injury while unloading canvas rolls from a truck on June 6, 2003. The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award, which included temporary total disability payments and necessary medical expenses.

The Commission reversed the administrative law judge's award and found that employee Shelly Martin suffered work-related back injuries on June 11, 2002, and January 14, 2003, while employed at Mark Twain Caring Center. The Commission determined that employer failed to provide necessary medical treatment and must furnish additional medical care under the direction of Dr. Gornet.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to custodian Wendy L. Fry for a low back injury sustained on October 2, 2006, while emptying a trash barrel. The claimant was awarded 25% permanent partial disability benefits totaling $52,504.36, including unpaid medical expenses, temporary disability compensation, and permanent partial disability payments.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's decision that classified the employee as a domestic servant exempt from workers' compensation coverage. The employee, a Certified Nurse Aide providing medical care to a homebound patient with Parkinson's Disease, sustained a compensable back injury to the lumbar spine (6% permanent partial disability) when the patient's knees buckled while being transferred to a reclining chair.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Woodrow Ward, who suffered a thoracic back, right wrist, and right shoulder injury after falling 15 feet from a rooftop on June 16, 2003. The claimant was awarded permanent partial disability compensation totaling $59,837.31 for injuries rated at 25% PPD of the thoracic spine, 22.5% PPD of the right shoulder, and 17.5% PPD of the right wrist.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Douglas E. Murray for a back injury sustained on February 4, 1998, while pulling on a stuck spade. The Commission approved permanent partial disability compensation of 17.5% of the body as a whole, along with underpaid temporary total disability benefits and medical expenses totaling $24,691.18.

The Commission modified the administrative law judge's award to include permanent partial psychiatric disability benefits of 5% of the body as a whole, finding that the employee sustained a compensable mental injury causally related to her work-related back injury. The employee was awarded an additional $4,295.00 in psychiatric disability compensation based on credible medical evidence establishing the connection between her back pain and adjustment disorder.