All Missouri workers' compensation decisions

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying compensation to Allen Alcorn for a back injury claimed to have occurred on April 14, 2006, while employed as a truck driver. The case involved a procedural dispute regarding retroactive application of a 2005 statutory amendment requiring written notice of occupational disease within 30 days of diagnosis.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of 29.4 weeks of permanent partial disability benefits to employee Ricky Tyson based on the synergistic effect of his work injury and preexisting cardiac condition. The Commission also addressed procedural issues regarding the admissibility of medical testimony and ruled that Dr. Wade's deposition testimony regarding the extent of disability should have been admitted into evidence.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying compensation to Allen Alcorn for an alleged occupational back injury from repetitive heavy lifting. The case hinged on whether newly amended workers' compensation notice requirements should be applied retroactively to bar the employee's claim.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits for an employee who allegedly injured his knee while walking briskly to move a truck on the job site on September 29, 2005. The decision found no compensable injury arising out of and in the course of employment, with a dissenting opinion arguing the decision should be reversed based on competent and substantial evidence.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation for an occupational disease claim involving bilateral upper extremity injuries from repetitive trauma. The employee and employer had previously settled the claim in 2003, and the Commission found no compensable injury beyond what was addressed in that settlement.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for the fatal injury of Ronald A. Harness, Jr., who died in a motor vehicle accident on August 8, 2006, while employed. Benefits were awarded to the employee's widow and dependent children as the injury arose out of and in the course of employment.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Cheri Allen's neck/shoulder injury sustained on May 14, 2004, while employed at Luther Manor Retirement & Nursing Center and Quality Inn/Hannibal Area Hotel Group. The injury resulted from repetitive motion activities including pushing, pulling, bending, lifting, and cleaning, with permanent disability assessed at 17.5% body as a whole.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Jerri Jackson for a back injury sustained on October 16, 1999, while carrying a 50-pound bag of yeast at a Krispy Kreme facility in St. Louis County. The decision awarded compensation for temporary disability, permanent partial disability (47.5% for low back and 7.5% psychiatric), and approved necessary medical aid totaling $128,278.33.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision that the employee's alleged neck injury from repetitive trauma was not compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law. No benefits were awarded in this case.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation for Michael Drey, who sustained injury from a motorcycle accident on September 16, 2005, while returning from a work-related farm visit. The Commission found that the injury arose out of and occurred in the course of employment, satisfying the statutory requirements for compensability.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits, finding that the employee failed to establish a causal connection between her upper extremity complaints and her work duties, as there was no objective medical evidence supporting the claim. Expert medical opinions from Dr. Rotman and Dr. Brown concluded that the employee's subjective complaints were not substantially related to her work at True Manufacturing.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying compensation to employee Jack Johnson for an alleged back injury from February 9, 2006. Commissioner Hickey filed a dissenting opinion arguing the employee met the burden of proof that the accident was the prevailing factor in causing his back condition and disability.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Joseph Banks, who sustained injuries to both shoulders and his cervical spine in a motor vehicle accident on September 13, 2000 while working. The employee was found to have permanent total disability with benefits payable by the Second Injury Fund.

The Commission modified the administrative law judge's award regarding past medical expenses in a workers' compensation case, reducing the award from $35,789.24 to $32,697.58. The modification excluded medical expenses lacking supporting documentation in the record while affirming expenses related to Dr. MacMillan's treatment, including an L5-S1 lumbar interbody fusion performed on June 3, 2005.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award finding that the employee sustained a 75% permanent partial disability of the right wrist on February 24, 2003, and had a pre-existing 16% permanent partial disability of the lumbar spine that constituted an obstacle to employment, triggering Second Injury Fund liability. The employee's combined disabilities resulted in a synergistic effect equal to a permanent partial disability enhancement of 19.5 weeks based on a 10% load factor.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits, finding that the employee failed to establish that an accident or occupational disease occurred that arose out of and in the course of employment. No compensation was awarded in this case.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to the widow of Alan D. Avery, who died from a heart attack suffered while working for Botkin Lumber Company on August 10, 2000. The injury was found to be compensable under Missouri Workers' Compensation Act Chapter 287, with all procedural requirements satisfied.

The Division of Workers' Compensation affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of compensation to Rebecca Garber for injuries sustained on May 28, 2004, when she tripped on a rug and struck her face against a door jamb. The award includes unpaid medical expenses of $10,369.63, 40 weeks of permanent partial disability benefits totaling $10,666.40, future medical care, and potential Second Injury Fund liability, with a 10% permanent disability rating to the body as a whole.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Delbert Lewis, who sustained an occupational disease injury to both wrists from repetitive motions in his employment. The Second Injury Fund was held liable for 65.01 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $22,561.72.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to employee Ova Scott for a cervical spine injury sustained on September 9, 1996, while lifting a sand bag. The employee was awarded permanent total disability benefits with a weekly compensation rate of $499.74.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Michael Harris for injuries sustained when his chair broke while seated at his employer's headquarters on October 18, 2004. Despite finding that an accident occurred during employment, the Commission determined the injury was not compensable under Missouri Workers' Compensation law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits to employee Yolanda Bridges for alleged occupational disease (bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome). The Commission found that the employee failed to establish that her job duties as a guest services representative were the prevailing factor in developing her condition.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision that the employee's alleged back injury from pulling bags of trash did not arise out of and in the course of employment and therefore was not compensable. No workers' compensation benefits were awarded in this case.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award and decision regarding liability in this workers' compensation case dated March 20, 2008. The award is temporary or partial in nature, with proceedings remaining open pending a final award.

The Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's dismissal of the employee's motion to enforce a permanent total disability award against the Second Injury Fund. The Commission was remanded to issue a complete and clear award specifying from whom the employee is entitled to recover all permanent total disability benefits.