Filtered Decisions

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to James Matthews, a municipal building inspector who suffered cervical and lumbar strain and head contusion when his stool broke on September 27, 2002. The employee was awarded 10% permanent disability to the body as a whole referable to the neck and low back, with benefits paid by the employer and Second Injury Fund.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Harold Sartin for an occupationally induced respiratory condition (COPD), awarding 7.5% permanent partial disability. A dissenting commissioner argued the award should be modified to increase permanent partial disability to at least 10% based on unimpeached medical expert testimony.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Roger Alford, finding that his alleged occupational disease of the back and knees did not arise out of and in the course of his employment. No benefits were awarded, and the case remains open for potential future proceedings.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed its temporary award finding the Second Injury Fund liable for medical expenses related to the employee's work-related injury from September 18, 1993. The Commission determined that sufficient factual basis existed to award compensation for medical bills when the employee testified the visits and treatments were products of the work-related accident and submitted supporting medical records.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying compensation in a workers' compensation case involving an employee who fell off a ladder while working as an electrician on March 23, 2006. Although the injury to the right knee and low back was found to be compensable and work-related, no benefits were awarded due to findings in favor of the employer and insurer regarding medical causation, future medical care, and disability.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award finding that the claimant's low back injury from lifting a patient was compensable and that the employer must provide future psychiatric treatment. The claimant was awarded 20% permanent disability of the body as a whole referable to low back injury and 20% referable to psychiatric condition.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Mary Ann Rosenketter for a work-related slip and fall injury on September 15, 1995, resulting in right ankle and knee injuries. The award granted 12% permanent partial disability compensation for the right ankle totaling $4,785.59, with past medical expenses of $2,752.37 already paid.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Lorenzo Garcia, who sustained a back injury when struck by a concrete buggy on April 23, 2003. The claimant was awarded 12.5% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole and permanent total disability benefits beginning September 23, 2003.

The Commission set aside the June 7, 2005 Order of Dismissal and affirmed the July 10, 2003 Award of the Administrative Law Judge, finding the employee entitled to future medical care. The decision reversed a dismissal for failure to prosecute and reinstated the employee's workers' compensation claim.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award regarding Mary Donohue's work-related injury to her left wrist sustained on April 15, 2002 at Moresource, Inc. The injury was found to be compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law, though no ongoing compensation or future medical care was awarded.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for an employee who suffered a low back and femoral hernia injury when a tarp tore while attempting to cover a sand load on his trailer on February 17, 2003. The employee was awarded 12.5% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole, 50 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation at $340.12 per week, and additional temporary total disability compensation.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Donna White for injuries allegedly sustained in a slip and fall accident on September 17, 2002. The claim was denied because it was not filed within the time required by Missouri workers' compensation law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to employee Alvin Penn for a work-related injury sustained on April 17, 2002. One commissioner dissented in part, arguing that the decision improperly denied past medical expenses related to pain management treatment and future medical care despite the employee achieving maximum medical improvement.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for an employee injured when a company golf cart overturned on August 14, 2001. The employee was awarded compensation for temporary disability, 15% permanent partial disability to the left leg, and out-of-pocket medical expenses totaling $13,656.17.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Lawana F. Rowland for a left knee injury sustained on February 5, 2002 at Presbyterian Children Services. Although the Commission found the injury arose out of and in the course of employment, no compensation was awarded due to lack of permanent disability or other compensable consequences.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Carmen Wiseman for an alleged back injury occurring on February 19, 2000 at Truman Medical Center. The commission found no accident or occupational disease arose out of and in the course of employment, and no compensation was awarded.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation to Christopher Crow for a right shoulder injury sustained on February 7, 2001, while loading a trailer at Cassens Transport Company. The employee was awarded $38,557.38 in total compensation including unpaid medical expenses, temporary total disability, and permanent partial disability benefits for 20% permanent disability of the right shoulder.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to Thomas Brookes for an alleged injury on October 6, 2000. The decision hinged on statutory interpretation regarding the three-year claim filing period under Missouri workers' compensation law, with one commissioner dissenting on the grounds that the employer's failure to include required information in the injury report should have triggered the filing deadline.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Ronald Kliethermes for heart conditions allegedly caused by an electrical shock sustained on November 9, 2000. The Commission found that medical evidence did not establish that the electrical shock was a substantial factor in causing the employee's heart conditions, and that the employee did not sustain compensable injury or permanent disability from the accident.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for a low back injury sustained on March 1, 2001, when the employee slipped on a wet tile floor at the employer's deli. The injury was found to be compensable under Missouri law with 30% permanent disability to the body as a whole.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Cheryl Shargel for a right elbow injury sustained on January 1, 2001, while installing auto parts at Daimler Chrysler Corporation. The employee was awarded 20.5% permanent partial disability with total compensation of $20,771.44, with the Second Injury Fund liable for a portion of the benefits.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Marian Knisley for a low back injury sustained on April 6, 1999, while changing dyes in embosser machines at Charleswood Corporation. The employee was awarded $48,456.00 in permanent partial disability compensation for a 45% disability rating of the body as a whole.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Kelvin Dudley's work-related left knee injury sustained on March 14, 2001 at Garco Wine Company. The employee was awarded 4 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $1,189.48 for a 2.5% permanent partial disability rating of the left knee.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Jeremy Cromley's fall from scaffolding on May 27, 2003, in Jackson County, Missouri. The claimant was found to have sustained a compensable injury resulting in 60 percent permanent partial disability to the body as a whole, with necessary medical aid valued at $18,525.78.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award, finding that the employee sustained compensable injuries to his right ankle and knee from a work-related fall on July 26, 2000. The decision awards temporary or partial benefits with proceedings kept open for a final award.