Filtered Decisions

The Commission modified the administrative law judge's award regarding Michael Webb's right knee arthritis claim from a work injury on December 1, 2005. The Commission disagreed with the ALJ's finding of medical causation between the work injury and arthritis, finding the evidence supported that the arthritis resulted from chronic degenerative processes rather than the acute work-related injury.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying Anthony Ladd's claim for enhanced permanent partial disability benefits against the Second Injury Fund for a 2006 left knee injury. The employee failed to prove that his preexisting disabilities combined with the 2006 injury to result in enhanced permanent partial disability meeting the statutory thresholds required for Second Injury Fund liability.

The Commission modified the administrative law judge's award, affirming 35% permanent partial disability of the right knee but reversing the requirement for employer to provide total knee replacement surgery. The Commission found that while the work injury accelerated pain and degradation, the need for knee replacement stemmed from pre-existing degenerative arthritis rather than the work accident, though employer remains responsible for necessary pain management.

The Commission modified the administrative law judge's award, reducing the employee's permanent partial disability rating for a left knee injury from 30% to 20% at the 160-week level. The Commission found the higher rating excessive and unsupported by the medical evidence, particularly the extensive examination conducted by the employee's independent medical evaluator.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Rick Powell for a left knee injury sustained on April 21, 2003, when he slipped on a screed machine at work. The award includes permanent partial disability compensation, permanent total disability benefits from the Second Injury Fund, and future medical treatment for the total knee replacement.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission modified the Administrative Law Judge's award regarding future medical care for employee Melvin Boyers, who suffered a left knee injury on August 26, 2005 when he slipped and fell while dragging a pole after a storm. The Commission affirmed the underlying compensability finding and adopted most of the ALJ's decision, while modifying the future medical care provision to ensure the employer/insurer provides all reasonably necessary future medical treatment.

The Commission modified the ALJ's award regarding causation of an ACL tear sustained on September 21, 2005, determining liability for medical treatment and temporary total disability benefits. The case addresses whether a subsequent January 2007 ice fall constituted an intervening event breaking the chain of causation or was a natural result of the original workplace injury.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for an employee who suffered a left knee injury when an earthen bank collapsed at work on November 8, 2005. The award includes compensation for unpaid medical expenses, temporary disability, and 64 weeks of permanent partial disability at 40% of the left knee.

The LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to Barton White for a left knee injury sustained on September 15, 2006. The Second Injury Fund was held liable for 14.4 weeks of compensation totaling $2,783.95.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Tamara Hill for a left knee injury sustained on February 7, 2005, when she tripped and jerked her knee as an elevator malfunctioned at her workplace. The claimant was awarded 16 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $5,664.80 for 10% permanent disability of the left knee.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to an employee who sustained a lateral meniscus tear to her knee when a patient bed rolled unexpectedly during repositioning. The Commission found the employee failed to prove that the accident, rather than preexisting arthritis, was the prevailing factor in causing the need for knee replacement surgery.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Maria Peck-Miller for a knee injury sustained on January 26, 2004, when she slipped on ice while walking to her car at the end of her work shift. The Commission approved permanent partial disability compensation of 40% for the right knee and 15% for the left knee, with the Second Injury Fund liable for 19.2 weeks of benefits totaling $6,663.36.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Lisa Higgenbotham's left knee injury sustained on June 5, 2006, while employed at a McDonald's restaurant. The claimant was awarded compensation for 30% permanent disability to the left knee, with the Second Injury Fund covering 20% of the body rating liability.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying compensation to Darryl Hines for an alleged repetitive strain injury to his right knee sustained on April 6, 2004. The decision found that the alleged injury did not constitute a compensable accident or occupational disease under Missouri workers' compensation law.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award finding that the employee sustained a compensable work injury when his foot was struck by a security turnstile while entering the employer's building, causing him to pivot and injure his left knee. The injury occurred on October 1, 2006, while the employee was arriving for his scheduled work shift in a parking lot owned and controlled by the employer.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award finding that the employee's right knee injury from an elevator malfunction was a compensable work injury. The decision awards unpaid medical expenses of $64,802.09 and temporary total disability benefits, with the case remaining open for further determination pending maximum medical improvement.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits for Ruth Bailey, who sustained a knee injury on January 15, 2006, while walking in a hospital hallway. The decision turned on whether the injury resulted from an accident arising out of and in the course of employment.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Garold Savage's left knee injury sustained on May 3, 2007, during employment. The employee received permanent partial disability benefits from the employer and permanent total disability benefits from the Second Injury Fund due to a combination of the primary injury and pre-existing conditions.

The Commission modified the Administrative Law Judge's March 2, 2009 award by allowing future medical benefits for the employee's left knee injury, finding a reasonable probability of future treatment needs including anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, and potential knee arthroplasty. The decision reversed the denial of future medical benefits based on Dr. Koprivica's opinion regarding the progression of post-traumatic degenerative arthritis and recommended keeping medical open to address future treatment needs.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Ronald Wright's work-related left knee injury sustained on April 13, 2005. The award included 72 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation from the employer and 18.93 weeks from the Second Injury Fund, totaling $4,692.34.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to the employee for a left knee degenerative condition. The claim was denied because the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to Zemir Harbas for a work-related injury sustained on November 21, 2004. The decision rejected vocational expert opinions that were based on medical opinions found not credible, finding instead that the employee sustained no permanent partial disability to his legs or body as a result of the workplace accident.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's findings of 20% permanent partial disability to the left knee and 45% pre-existing disability to the spine, but modified the Second Injury Fund's liability calculation from $21,378.28 to $14,714.92. The employee sustained the knee injury on November 10, 2003, while inspecting sewer drain elevation at work.

The Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the Commission's denial of future medical benefits, and the Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award granting future medical treatment for the employee's work-related knee injury. The employee was awarded $13,882.00 in permanent partial disability compensation (25% disability) plus open medical benefits for ongoing treatment as needed.

The LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits for a left knee injury claimed to have resulted from work accidents on April 20, 2001, and December 6, 2001. A dissenting opinion argued the employee's left knee injuries were medically causally related to the work accidents and should have been compensated.