All Decisions

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Deborah Travis. The Commission found that the ALJ's award was supported by competent and substantial evidence and in accordance with Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Linden Dauenbaugh for a motor vehicle accident occurring on May 6, 2004, while employed as a taxi driver. Benefits included 35% permanent partial disability rating for cervical injury, temporary total disability compensation, unpaid medical expenses of $44,886.41, and Second Injury Fund liability of $6,549.60.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award finding that employee Shelli Talbert's repetitive strain injury to her right thumb while working as a customer service representative was a compensable occupational disease. The award is temporary or partial, with medical expenses of $2,516.51 paid to date and proceedings kept open for final determination of permanent disability benefits.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Donald Hudgins for a right shoulder injury sustained on March 24, 1999, when he fell while filling an order. The Commission awarded 35% permanent partial disability to the right shoulder at 81.2 weeks plus medical bills totaling $29,076.47, with the Second Injury Fund covering medical expenses due to the employer being uninsured.

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 Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying additional workers' compensation benefits to Robert Hemp for a work-related injury sustained on August 8, 2001, while tightening a bolt at Christy Minerals Company. Although the injury to the right shoulder and associated conditions were deemed compensable, no additional compensation was awarded as all benefits had been previously settled.

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 award that found a compensable work injury arising from a June 1, 2006 incident and ordered employer to pay for arthroscopic shoulder surgery and related care. The primary issue on appeal was whether the alleged June 1, 2006 work injury was the prevailing factor in causing the employee's right shoulder condition, given her prior motor vehicle accident in May 2004 and subsequent January 2006 shoulder surgery.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits despite finding the injury to be compensable under Missouri law. The employee sustained a severed foot while unpinning a crane on April 13, 2005, but no compensation was ultimately awarded in the case.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Geoffrey Sater for a compensable shoulder and back injury sustained while lifting a steel clamp at work. The claimant was awarded 129.6 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $50,419.58, with 30% permanent disability to the right shoulder and 15% to the thoracic back.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of permanent total disability benefits for David Heston, who suffered a compensable back injury on August 15, 2002, when pinned between a truck and dolly while employed by Rock Hill Mechanical Corporation. The employee is entitled to lifetime permanent total disability benefits of $649.32 weekly beginning March 1, 2008, with credit for overpaid temporary disability compensation.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of permanent total disability benefits for Billy Joe McMunn, who injured his low back while moving a ladder on April 11, 2003. The case involved a settled claim with Missouri Employer's Mutual and the Second Injury Fund bearing liability for permanent total disability compensation.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits in this case. The Commission found the ALJ's award was supported by competent and substantial evidence and in accordance with Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Michael Skinner for injuries sustained when he fell from a roof truss on September 29, 2007. The claimant was awarded medical expenses of $254,708.20, temporary total disability benefits, and 15% permanent partial disability compensation.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award finding that Melvin Shomaker's right shoulder injury sustained while dragging and pulling gasoline hoses for Home Service Oil Company was compensable. The award includes $20,568.29 in unpaid medical expenses, 48 weeks of temporary total disability benefits of $28,399.20, and future medical care, with the case remaining open for further orders.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the February 17, 2009 award of the Administrative Law Judge allowing workers' compensation for employee Don Tracy. The Commission found the award was supported by competent and substantial evidence and in accordance with Missouri Workers' Compensation Law.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to the employee for a left knee degenerative condition. The claim was denied because the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment.

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 allowing workers' compensation benefits for Stephanie Meyer-Linquist, who developed right carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries from repetitive keyboard work as a legal assistant. The employee was found to have a compensable occupational disease arising out of and in the course of her employment, with benefits awarded for temporary disability, medical expenses, and permanent partial disability.

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 Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award finding that Ann K. Chepely's left shoulder injury sustained on September 30, 2007, while working on a factory line at Meramec Group, Inc. was compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law. The award is temporary or partial, with future medical benefits awarded and proceedings kept open for final determination.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying workers' compensation to employee Anachak Pichainarong. No compensation was awarded in the case.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision awarding no compensation in this workers' compensation case. Although the employee's right shoulder injury from lifting a vacuum cleaner was deemed compensable and the employee settled for 36.40 percent permanent partial disability, no additional benefits were awarded by the Commission.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for David Frost's low back injury sustained on February 4, 2006, when his vehicle was struck while test driving in the course of employment. The primary injury was settled for 12.5% body as a whole for low back and 2.5% for psychiatric injury, with the Second Injury Fund liable for 61.34 weeks of permanent partial disability totaling $22,394.00.