Filtered Decisions

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits, finding that the employee's alleged work-related osteoarthritis did not arise out of and in the course of employment. No compensation was awarded in this case.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits despite finding the employee sustained compensable low back and lung injuries from repetitive work and chemical exposure. Although permanent partial disability was assessed at 12.5% for the back and 3.95% for the lungs, no compensation was awarded.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing temporary workers' compensation benefits for an occupational disease/repetitive trauma injury. The Commission also clarified that the employee satisfied the statutory notice requirements under section 287.420 RSMo by filing a timely Claim for Compensation on July 24, 2006.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's dismissal of the employee's Second Injury Fund claim, finding that the ALJ erred in determining lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The employee, who had settled his claim against the employer for bilateral elbow injuries (35% right upper extremity and 30% left upper extremity permanent partial disability), proceeded against the Second Injury Fund and was entitled to have his claim substantively considered on remand.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits and awarded compensation to the widow of Alan Leake, a firefighter who died following work-related activities on April 30, 2006. The Commission found that the employee's work activities responding to two motor vehicle accidents were the prevailing factor in causing his death.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to James Taylor for injuries sustained on April 2, 2003, when he was knocked to the ground during an altercation with an inmate while performing his duties as a guard. The employee was awarded permanent and total disability benefits with ongoing medical care to be paid by the employer/insurer.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Candace Fry, who alleged that her work operating a fry station caused injury to her right hand, wrist, and forearm. The Commission 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 Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to Diane Dobbs, who alleged developing upper extremity pain while working as a telemarketer at MCI in November 1997. The Commission found that the alleged occupational disease did not arise out of and in the course of employment under Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for James Truelove, who developed dementia from exposure to TCE (trichloroethylene) while employed by FAG Bearing on March 18, 1995. The employee was awarded permanent total disability benefits beginning August 24, 1995, for his lifetime, along with temporary total disability compensation of $8,404.06.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's dismissal of Joseph Johnson's workers' compensation claim based on untimely filing. The Commission determined that Johnson's claim, initially rejected by the Division on April 24, 2003 due to technical deficiencies, should have been accepted with that date as the filing date upon resubmission with corrections, rather than using the June 9, 2003 resubmission date.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Larry Daly for a cervical spine occupational disease contracted through lifting and stacking cases of soda over a number of years. The claimant was awarded $48,481.60 in permanent partial disability compensation based on 160 weeks at $303.01 per week.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award granting permanent total disability benefits to employee Bill Lewry for toxic chemical exposure sustained on October 27, 2006, while disposing of hazardous waste. The claimant was awarded weekly permanent total disability benefits of $718.87 beginning December 9, 2007, plus future medical treatment and a 25% attorney's fee lien.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Michael Bartlett's occupational disease involving repetitive motion to his right foot and ankle, contracted on or about August 7, 2007. Total compensation of $6,547.15 was awarded for medical expenses, temporary total disability, and permanent partial disability of 7.5% at the 155-week level.

The Commission modified the administrative law judge's award to expand future medical care beyond medications to include all necessary treatment to cure and relieve the employee from the effects of her occupational disease. The employee sustained a repetitive strain injury to both hands and wrists resulting in permanent partial disability with disability ratings and disfigurement compensation approved.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation to David McGhee for asbestosis, an occupational disease resulting from workplace exposure to asbestos between 1964 and 1977. The decision involved determining the appropriate permanent total disability compensation rate applicable when disease diagnosis occurred years after the harmful exposure ended.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to a bus driver who claimed bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive motion work. One commissioner dissented, arguing the employee presented substantial evidence that his twelve-plus years as a bus driver was the prevailing factor causing his occupational disease and permanent disability.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to David Wallace for a herniated disc at L3-L4 and degenerative lower back changes. The majority found the condition was not caused by work-related activities, though a dissenting opinion argued the back condition resulted from repetitive occupational exposure and should be compensable.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award finding that employee Florence Bills sustained a compensable occupational disease to the pulmonary system from exposure to 409 Cleaning Solvent on August 25, 2006, at Express Scripts, Inc. The award includes unpaid medical expenses of $11,115.55 with no permanent disability or temporary disability compensation awarded.

The Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the Commission's initial denial, finding the employee's claim compensable. The Commission awarded temporary total disability benefits from September 12, 2004 through March 28, 2005, and permanent total disability benefits thereafter due to complications from clostridium difficile requiring colectomy and colostomy.

The LIRC reversed the administrative law judge's award and issued a correcting order clarifying that repetitive motion injuries are compensable only if occupational exposure was the prevailing factor in causing both the medical condition and disability. The case involves an employee's occupational disease claim from repetitive vibration and motion exposure while working as a plumber performing cabling and high-pressure line cleaning work.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's decision that rejected the employee's occupational disease claim, finding the ALJ exceeded his authority by deciding an issue not in dispute when the parties had stipulated to the occurrence of an occupational disease on September 1, 2003. The Commission remanded the case to address the stipulated issues of the nature and extent of permanent disability and apportionment between the employer and Second Injury Fund.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award finding that the claimant's occupational disease affecting her left hand and thumb, sustained while inspecting and trimming shoe soles, was compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law. The award is temporary or partial in nature with future medical treatment ordered and proceedings kept open for final determination.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's denial of the employee's occupational disease claim, finding he failed to meet his burden of proof that his back problems arose from his firefighting career. Although the employee argued the proper standard was 'reasonable medical probability,' the Commission agreed with the ALJ that the evidence supported a finding that the back problems resulted from a pre-existing degenerative condition rather than being substantially caused by employment.

The Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the Commission's denial of an occupational disease claim, finding that the employee satisfied the 30-day notice requirement and that a one-day discrepancy in the date of injury caused no prejudice to the employer. The Commission reinstated compensation for the employee's occupational disease claim.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to David Taylor, who suffered injuries from a motor vehicle accident caused by a coughing episode while operating his vehicle. The Court found the coughing episode was idiopathic in nature, stemming from the employee's pre-existing condition rather than arising from his work environment, and therefore not compensable under Missouri law.