Filtered workers' comp decisions

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Brian Cox, finding no compensable occupational disease or accident under Missouri law. The case involved disputed causation regarding whether Cox's carpal tunnel syndrome arose from his employment duties at the smelter or loading dock positions.

The Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the Commission's December 2020 award and remanded for reconsideration of whether the employee achieved permanent total disability status when combining her primary bilateral carpal tunnel injury with preexisting disabilities, including newly admitted vocational expert testimony and complete medical evaluation evidence. The Commission reconsidered the case on remand, admitting previously excluded vocational expert testimony documenting the employee's preexisting psychiatric disabilities (depression, PTSD, anxiety disorder) and modified its award accordingly.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying compensation for a work-related occupational disease injury to the employee's left wrist, finding the claim was barred by a prior settlement for left shoulder disability. A dissenting opinion argued the prior settlement only covered the shoulder injury and that the employer's authorization of medical testing suggested the wrist injury was compensable, but the majority affirmed the denial.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing permanent total disability compensation to Clifford Wolf against the Second Injury Fund, finding his primary carpal tunnel syndrome injury combined with preexisting disabilities from a prior back injury and polio rendered him permanently and totally disabled. The employee settled his primary claim for $35,500 based on 22.5% permanent partial disability of the right wrist and 20% of the left wrist.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation to Kevin G. Young for carpal tunnel injuries, finding the award supported by competent and substantial evidence. The Commission upheld the ALJ's evidentiary rulings excluding certain statements that were not provided to the employee's attorney within the statutory thirty-day period required by Missouri law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying compensation, finding that the evidence did not support the employee's claim for Second Injury Fund liability despite preexisting conditions including carpal tunnel syndrome and hand surgery from his prior work as a meat cutter. The decision upheld the denial of workers' compensation benefits in this settled matter between the employee and employer/insurer.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award denying compensation to Judy Zeschke for her workers' compensation claim involving a March 31, 2009 ankle injury and pre-existing carpal tunnel syndrome. One commissioner dissented, arguing that the Second Injury Fund should be liable for permanent partial disability based on the synergistic effects of the employee's multiple pre-existing conditions combined with the ankle injury.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation for an employee's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome work-related injury from February 10, 2009, with Second Injury Fund liability established due to synergistic effects with preexisting disabilities. The employee's primary disability was found to be 16% permanent partial disability referable to each wrist, with preexisting shoulder and incontinence disabilities resulting in a combined 33⅓% overall permanent partial disability and 32.52 weeks of additional liability against the Fund.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Troy Barnes for bilateral carpal tunnel injuries sustained in November-December 2016. One commissioner dissented, arguing that the employee was permanently and totally disabled due to the combination of the carpal tunnel injuries and preexisting conditions, and should have been eligible for Second Injury Fund benefits.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of permanent partial disability, temporary total disability, and unpaid medical expenses to employee Veneta Hill for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome allegedly caused by her work activities. The majority found the employee's work activities were the prevailing factor in her occupational disease, though a dissenting member disagreed with the assessment of medical expert credibility and causation.

The Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the LIRC's prior decision and remanded the case with instructions to reinstate the administrative law judge's award of permanent total disability benefits to claimant Lisa Coffer for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The Second Injury Fund was found liable for permanent total disability benefits commencing August 27, 2015, at the rate of $333.33 per week for the remainder of the employee's lifetime.

The Missouri LIRC reversed the Administrative Law Judge's award of permanent total disability benefits against the Second Injury Fund, finding that the ALJ misapplied statutory criteria by improperly including preexisting conditions in the analysis. The employee, an aircraft simulation technician, claimed permanent total disability based on left carpal tunnel syndrome combined with preexisting conditions including right shoulder degenerative changes and left knee issues, but the Commission determined the Second Injury Fund was not liable.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award regarding liability in this workers' compensation case involving an inventory clerk with bilateral carpal syndrome. The case is marked as a temporary or partial award with proceedings remaining open for final determination.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's award of permanent total disability benefits from the Second Injury Fund for an employee with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and multiple pre-existing conditions. The reversal was based on the determination that the claim should be governed by § 287.220.3 RSMo rather than § 287.220.2 RSMo for occupational disease claims filed after January 1, 2014.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to employee Gina Beaman for a work-related injury involving her left hand and wrist. The Commission clarified that Dr. Wyrsch's opinion on medical causation was referenced in another physician's report and addressed disputes over permanent partial disability, unpaid medical expenses, and temporary total disability benefits.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Archie Winnett for alleged occupational disease of peripheral compression neuropathies affecting his upper extremities. The claim was found not to be compensable as the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment, resulting in no award of compensation or medical benefits.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying all workers' compensation benefits for a corrections officer's claim of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The court found that the alleged injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment, making it non-compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits for Richard E. Peeler's claimed carpal tunnel syndrome injury. The Commission found that the employee failed to establish that carpal tunnel syndrome arose out of employment rather than being caused by his pre-existing diabetes condition.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Linda Ford for occupational wrist injuries sustained on June 6, 2006, due to overuse from her work duties. The employee was awarded 17% permanent partial disability for each wrist with a 10% loading factor, and medical benefits of $17,020.37 were approved.

The LIRC affirmed the ALJ's denial of workers' compensation benefits for Eugene A. Peacock's claim of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as an occupational disease. The employee failed to establish by competent medical evidence a direct causal connection between his repetitive occupational exposure and the carpal tunnel condition.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's finding that the employee's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was an occupational disease caused by work at Harley-Davidson and is entitled to medical care and temporary total disability benefits. The Commission modified the decision only regarding the award of costs under § 287.560 RSMo.

The Commission reversed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits for an occupational disease claim of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The employee, a school bus driver, presented evidence that her work duties involving repetitive gripping, steering wheel manipulation, and manual door operation were the prevailing factor in causing her condition.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to James McClary for a bilateral wrist injury sustained from repetitive trauma on December 31, 2005. Although the injury was found to be compensable and work-related, no compensation was awarded in the final decision.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation for an employee who developed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive typing duties. The Commission found that the employee's occupational exposure to repetitive flexor tendon movements from typing was the prevailing factor causing her left carpal tunnel syndrome and permanent partial disability.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation to employee Lisa Cook for right carpal tunnel syndrome caused by repetitive typing duties as a data entry worker. The decision found that the employee's occupational exposure to repetitive hand and finger movements was the prevailing factor in causing the carpal tunnel syndrome and resulting permanent partial disability.