All Missouri workers' compensation decisions

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award denying compensation to Carl Hanes for an alleged occupational disease from radiation exposure at the Department of Corrections. The Commission found the employee failed to provide proper notice and that the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment, resulting in no benefits awarded.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Elizabeth A. Steele for injuries sustained when a patient slammed his leg down on her head, neck, and shoulders while she was working as a critical care unit nurse. The Commission found the award was supported by competent and substantial evidence and determined the employee is entitled to permanent and total disability benefits.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's Temporary or Partial Award in a workers' compensation case for employee Cynthia Porter, finding the award supported by competent and substantial evidence. The Commission upheld the ALJ's determination that the claimant's diabetes was well-controlled, rejecting the employer/insurer's challenge to this medical finding.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits in this case involving deceased employee William Hogan with injury date August 5, 2000. No compensation was awarded, and the decision was supported by competent and substantial evidence in accordance with Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

The Commission reviewed an ALJ's decision on a 2013 workers' compensation claim involving multiple traumatic injuries and permanent partial disability claims against both the employer and the Second Injury Fund (SIF). The Commission found the ALJ failed to address employer liability before making determinations on SIF liability and denied the employee's request for remand, affirming the statutory requirements under section 287.330.3.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's awards for two workers' compensation injury cases (15-061022 and 16-024233) involving employee Linda Miller, finding the awards supported by competent and substantial evidence. The Commission found certain expert testimony credible, including Dr. David Brown, Dr. Michael Nogalski, vocational expert Benjamin Hughes, and treating physician Dr. Benjamin W. Verdine, while rejecting other expert opinions.

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 award allowing workers' compensation benefits to Kathryn Crowley for her work-related injury. The Commission found the award was supported by competent and substantial evidence and complied with Missouri Workers' Compensation Law, rejecting the employee's ten points of appeal including claims regarding wage calculation, temporary total disability benefits, and post-injury termination.

The Missouri Court of Appeals reversed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's denial of permanent total disability benefits for Mark Lynch, finding the Second Injury Fund liable for PTD benefits commencing August 1, 2011. The court remanded the case with instructions to award PTD benefits at a differential rate initially and then at the stipulated rate for the remainder of the employee's lifetime.

The Commission affirmed the ALJ's award denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Calvin D. Flemons for injuries sustained in a rear-end collision while operating a company-owned vehicle on January 10, 2017. The Commission found that the employee failed to prove the accident was the prevailing factor in causing the injury or that it arose from a risk related to employment rather than a hazard to which he would have been equally exposed in normal nonemployment life.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award denying compensation to employee Billy Hood, finding that his workers' compensation claim was barred by the doctrine of election of remedies due to his prior settlement of a civil case. The employee was ordered to reimburse the Second Injury Fund $23,226.27 for past medical expenses paid on his behalf.

Following a Missouri Court of Appeals mandate reversing the Commission's initial decision, the Commission entered a final award granting permanent total disability (PTD) benefits to employee Alan Marberry for cervical spine injuries (35% PPD) and recurrent back pain (10% PPD). The Second Injury Fund is liable for PTD benefits beginning June 28, 2018, at a differential rate of $422.34 weekly for 180 weeks, then $886.92 weekly for life.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission modified an administrative law judge's award regarding a January 23, 2015 work injury involving the employee's left shoulder and neck. The Commission affirmed the determination that the Second Injury Fund is liable for permanent total disability benefits beginning June 28, 2017, after the employee reached maximum medical improvement, with preexisting lumbar spine and pancreatitis conditions contributing to the overall disability.

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 workers' compensation benefits for Tammy L. Suchland's December 22, 2013 injury. The Commission found that Suchland failed to produce competent evidence supporting her claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical treatment, as the employer ultimately provided her with a continuous course of care.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for James K. Copeland's injuries sustained in a workplace accident. The decision found that arterial thrombosis, subsequent ischemia, right leg amputation, and bowel resection were work-related injuries caused by trauma from the accident, despite a dissenting opinion arguing the decision should be modified.

The Commission reversed the ALJ's denial of workers' compensation benefits for Anil Mueller, who sustained a work injury on January 13, 2015, due to carbon monoxide inhalation while performing maintenance work on a truck in a pit. Mueller's emergency room treatment and medical records, including Dr. Hyer's opinion, established that the workplace injury was the prevailing factor in causing his pulmonary disease and permanent partial disability.