Filtered Decisions

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Melody Hannon's right shoulder injury caused by repetitively lifting motors at Regal Beloit Corporation. The claimant was awarded 46.40 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation, 27 weeks of temporary total disability, and $22,775.96 in unpaid medical bills.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Leliah Baxter, who sustained a repetitive strain injury to both wrists while working on a General Motors assembly line on October 8, 2004. The employee was awarded compensation for 30% permanent partial disability of each wrist, plus additional compensation for multiplicity of injury and disfigurement.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Danny Andrews, a heavy equipment operator who suffered multiple fractures to his right hip and leg while unloading a cable spool in September 2000. The claimant was awarded permanent total disability benefits of $599.96 per week for life beginning March 25, 2003.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to Richard Hayden for an occupational disease that occurred on November 18, 2004. The Commission found the denial was supported by competent and substantial evidence and in accordance with Missouri Workers' Compensation Law, rejecting the employee's arguments regarding unenforced subpoenas and ineffective assistance of counsel.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award finding that the employee suffered a compensable occupational disease of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome caused by repetitive typing at AT&T. The employer's liability for future medical treatment was upheld despite a deficiency in the notice of injury, as the employer was not prejudiced by the timing discrepancy.

The Commission affirmed the ALJ's denial of permanent total disability benefits against the Second Injury Fund, finding that the employee sustained no permanent disability from his work-related injury despite being permanently and totally disabled overall. The employee fell from a cinder block while changing air conditioning filters, suffering head trauma and lumbar strain, but was released from treatment with 0% impairment rating.

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 award denying Second Injury Fund liability, finding the employee sustained a compensable 10% permanent partial disability to the hand from an April 8, 2005 injury, but the preexisting left foot injury did not meet the statutory threshold for Second Injury Fund benefits. The Commission rejected the employee's arguments that the administrative law judge erred in assessing expert credibility and substituting his own opinions for medical testimony.

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 Missouri LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Ray Volk for alleged bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, finding that Volk failed to sustain his burden of proof that he developed an occupational disease while working for Chrysler. The Commission agreed with the denial of compensation but disagreed with the ALJ's analytical reasoning for reaching that conclusion.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Betty Steinmetz for injuries sustained in a work accident on April 17, 2006, when she tripped at work, resulting in a right rotator cuff tear and spine injuries. The employee was found to be permanently and totally disabled due to the combination of work injuries and preexisting conditions, with the Second Injury Fund liable for lifetime permanent total disability benefits.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of disability and medical expenses based on a psychologist's opinion, rejecting the employer's argument that only physician opinions satisfy statutory requirements. The court found that the statutory provision requiring physician demonstration and certification of permanent partial disability is directory rather than mandatory and does not bar consideration of psychological evidence.

The Commission modified the administrative law judge's award, finding that the work-related back injury from February 5, 2001 was a substantial factor in the employee's ongoing medical condition and disability, contrary to the ALJ's determination that a new injury in May 2002 severed the causal connection. The Commission credited the treating neurosurgeon's testimony over other medical experts and awarded additional compensation for post-July 2001 medical treatment and disability benefits.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Willie White for a cervical spine injury with myelopathy of the left lower extremity sustained on June 11, 2007, while holding his neck in an awkward position during work. The employer was ordered to pay $60,248 (160 weeks) in permanent partial disability benefits for 40% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Deborah Johnson for a back injury sustained on June 11, 2008 while assisting a resident with a gait belt. The injury was determined not to have arisen out of and in the course of employment under Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation to Georgianna Diener, a cheese plant worker who contracted a Hafnia bacterial infection resulting in post-infection irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease. Despite medical evidence linking the infection to her work duties and testimony regarding her total disability, the award denied all compensation including medical expenses and disability benefits.

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 affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Charles Hogue's plantar fasciitis of the left foot, an occupational disease caused by repetitive twisting and turning as a car detailer. The Second Injury Fund was determined liable for permanent partial disability benefits of $6,220.07.

The Missouri LIRC modified the administrative law judge's award regarding Second Injury Fund liability for an employee who sustained a 10% permanent partial disability of the low back from a work injury on May 20, 2006. The employee had multiple preexisting conditions including prior shoulder, knee, and ankle injuries, and was entitled to compensation from the Second Injury Fund based on the nature and extent of the primary injury combined with preexisting disabilities.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to employee Terrie L. Kobolt for a low back injury sustained on January 6, 2005, while attempting to lift a grill into a dumpster at Lowe's Home Center in Eldon, Missouri. The award includes temporary disability benefits, past-due mileage reimbursement, and permanent and total disability benefits beginning February 27, 2010, along with future medical benefits.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Selina Burgess for an alleged back injury sustained on November 28 or 29, 2005 while throwing trash bags into a dumpster. The denial was based on employee's failure to provide timely written notice to the employer and lack of credibility regarding the claimed accident.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Delbert Pruett for a low back and left leg injury sustained on August 4, 2005, when he slipped at work in Malden, Missouri. The employee was awarded permanent total disability benefits along with compensation for temporary total disability and medical expenses.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Vincent Pebworth for a low back injury sustained on September 27, 2004, while employed at Green Horizons Garden Center. The claimant was found to have permanent and total disability with compensation beginning March 7, 2006, and ongoing benefits subject to modification as provided by law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award in a workers' compensation case involving an employee's claimed fall from a ladder resulting in a right arm injury requiring surgery. This is a temporary or partial award with proceedings remaining open for final determination.

The Missouri LIRC modified the ALJ's award regarding Marion Lamberson's workers' compensation case, affirming that a July 18, 2005 accident was the prevailing factor in causing his lower back injury requiring fusion surgery and resulting in permanent total disability when combined with preexisting conditions. The Commission disagreed with certain aspects of the ALJ's analysis regarding the maximum medical improvement date and liability issues while ultimately affirming the employee's permanent total disability status and Second Injury Fund liability.