Filtered Decisions

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Dwight Watson for a low back injury sustained on October 16, 2000, while lifting chafing pans at his employer's hotel. The Commission approved permanent total disability benefits beginning July 13, 2005, and continuing for the claimant's lifetime, along with medical aid and temporary disability compensation already paid.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Randy Daugherty's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome sustained on October 19, 2005, arising from repetitive hand use in his employment. The claimant was awarded $23,365.12 in total compensation for a 15 percent permanent partial disability, plus temporary disability payments and disfigurement benefits.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying all workers' compensation benefits to Thomas Milkert for an injury occurring on June 11, 2001, at Union Electric Company in St. Louis County, Missouri. Although the injury was found to be compensable under Chapter 287, no compensation was awarded in the case.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Ronald Fisher for a right knee injury sustained on December 2, 2004, while working as a carpet layer. The award includes compensation for temporary total disability, permanent partial disability at 50% of the right knee, and past medical expenses totaling $46,144.53.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits, finding that the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment. No compensation was awarded to the claimant James Faulkerson.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Brenda James for an alleged back injury on June 12, 2006. The Commission found that the employee failed to establish that an accident or occupational disease occurred that arose out of and in the course of employment.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award finding that employee Ralph Brown's bilateral hand numbness and bilateral knee pain developed while performing job duties constituted a compensable occupational disease arising out of and in the course of employment. The award is temporary or partial in nature, with proceedings remaining open pending a final award.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Martin Lampe for injuries sustained in a fall from a ladder on September 22, 2003. The employee was awarded permanent total disability benefits of $500.02 per week for life, along with unpaid medical expenses of $2,958.00.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Ronald O'Neal for a right shoulder injury sustained on December 16, 2003, while making conveyor belts at Beltservice Corporation. The claimant was awarded compensation for permanent disability of 30% of the right shoulder, 5% body as a whole for psychiatric injury, and permanent total disability against the Second Injury Fund due to the combination of the primary injury and preexisting injuries.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Martin Crain's work-related bilateral inguinal hernia injury sustained on December 8, 2004, while lifting and yanking on a lever handle. The award includes unpaid medical expenses of $13,530.42, temporary total disability benefits of $4,131.47, and permanent partial disability benefits of $14,162.00 for 10% body as a whole disability.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to James Garth for a lower back injury sustained on September 15, 2002, while loading product at his workplace. The employee was awarded 15% permanent partial disability of the body as a whole, and the Commission rejected the employer's motion to dismiss.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Keith Woodfin for an alleged low back injury sustained on February 18, 2002, while lifting a concrete barrier. The Commission found that the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment and therefore was not compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Gary Ahern for injuries resulting from a seizure-induced fall on February 14, 2006, based on the idiopathic cause exclusion under Missouri workers' compensation law. One commissioner dissented, arguing the fall arose out of and in the course of employment and the idiopathic exclusion should not apply.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying the employee's claim for permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits against the Second Injury Fund resulting from her October 2, 1999 injury. The Commission found that the employee failed to meet her burden of proof on the disability claim, though it addressed procedural issues regarding the admissibility of medical testimony.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Charles W. Lute's employment-related asbestos exposure claim. The decision upheld the ALJ's determination that Mr. Lute's occupational disease injury was compensable under the Missouri Workers' Compensation Act.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation for Wanda Farmer's January 29, 1983 workplace injury. One commission member filed a dissenting opinion arguing that future medical care should be denied, as subsequent treatment was attributable to separate injuries rather than the 1983 injury.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Daniel W. Mahoney's right wrist injury sustained on February 27, 2004, while wrapping skids with a wrap gun. The Commission found the injury compensable and approved permanent total disability benefits, with the Second Injury Fund bearing liability for ongoing benefits beyond the employer's initial payment of permanent partial disability compensation.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Kenneth Allison's work-related injury on January 29, 2004, in St. Louis County, Missouri. The claimant sustained injuries to both knees and low back from a fall and was awarded permanent total disability benefits with the Second Injury Fund providing ongoing compensation.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Edward Michalik's work-related injury on January 11, 2005. The majority affirmed the decision, though a dissenting opinion argued the administrative law judge erred in denying benefits for the right shoulder injury, which the dissent contended was causally related to the work accident.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation to Jose Antunez for a work-related back injury sustained on February 8, 2003 at Propipe Corporation. The Commission approved the award of 35% permanent partial disability of the body as a whole referable to the low back, though one commissioner dissented, arguing for permanent total disability benefits instead.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing compensation for permanent partial disability to claimant Allen H. Bleckman, who sustained a work injury on December 14, 1999. The decision was based on stipulations between the parties that permanent partial disability was the only issue to be resolved.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to Jesus Gonzalez for a back injury sustained on May 29, 2001, when doors fell on him while working. The claimant was awarded 140 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $38,996.40, with 35% permanent disability at the level of the body.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Doris Lacy for injuries claimed to arise from a May 17, 2001 slip and fall accident, finding insufficient evidence that her cervical and lumbar conditions resulted from the work-related injury. A dissenting opinion argued that medical records and injury reports corroborated the employee's consistent reporting of neck and back pain following the accident and that she should be found credible.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Karla Barnes for injuries sustained on January 9, 2002, when a cabinet fell on her while she was moving a telephone extension. The employee was awarded 63.75 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $21,000.53 for injuries to her right wrist (25% permanent disability) and cervical spine (5% permanent disability to the body as a whole).

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Larry Barton's right shoulder injury sustained on June 23, 2004, while working on a construction project at an Air Force Base in Texas. The employee was awarded 25% permanent partial disability of the right upper extremity at the shoulder level.