All Missouri workers' compensation decisions

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 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 Missouri LIRC modified the ALJ's award and reversed the determination of employer liability, concluding that Station Casino, not Ameristar Casino, is responsible for workers' compensation benefits for the employee's occupational disease. Under the 'last exposure rule,' the employee's bilateral carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome arising from her dealership work at Station Casino between May 1998 and December 2000 makes Station Casino the liable employer.

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 Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's award of permanent total disability benefits from the Second Injury Fund, finding insufficient competent evidence that pre-existing conditions combined with the primary injury to cause permanent total disability. The employee failed to meet his burden of proof that actual and measurable pre-existing disabilities existed at the time of the primary injury.

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.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Traci Townser, who claimed carpal tunnel syndrome from seven years of work as a customer service representative. The majority found insufficient evidence of work-relatedness, though a dissenting opinion argued the employee's medical evidence should have been credited to establish the occupational disease claim.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Betty Jaynes, who claimed a work-related injury from tripping over a light cord and falling while caring for a patient on April 24, 1999. Although the injury arose out of and in the course of employment, the Commission found no compensable injury warranting benefits.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation to Michael B. Bennett for a workplace injury sustained on September 14, 2001. One commissioner dissented in part, arguing that permanent total disability benefits should have been awarded against the Second Injury Fund.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying compensation in a workers' compensation case involving an alleged work-related injury on August 8, 2001. The employee failed to establish that an undiagnosed preexisting condition (multiple sclerosis) constituted an obstacle to employment sufficient to trigger Second Injury Fund liability.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying compensation to Derrick Downing for injuries sustained when a tire blew up in his hands on January 24, 1986. Although the injury was found to be compensable and arose out of employment, the case was settled and no compensation was awarded.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Robert Mayne for a shoulder injury allegedly sustained on September 16, 2003 while pulling a pin on a tandem. No compensation was awarded, and Second Injury Fund liability was denied.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission modified the administrative law judge's award to correct a mathematical error in the permanent partial disability rate from $267.72 to $268.72 and accordingly adjusted the Second Injury Fund's weekly obligation. The Commission affirmed the award in all other respects, approving the attorney's fee as fair and reasonable.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits for an employee claiming psychiatric injury due to work-related stress from events on August 31, 2001. The employee failed to prove that any medical condition was causally related to the alleged workplace events, with credible medical evidence supporting that no psychiatric disorder resulted from the work incident.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for Stanley Cain, finding his herniated disc and permanent nerve damage in the low back to be a compensable occupational disease resulting from 25 years of heavy, repetitive physical labor as a machinist. Cain was awarded permanent total disability benefits and unpaid medical expenses of $91,120.76.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Deborah Debord for an alleged occupational disease affecting her feet. The decision found that the alleged condition did not arise out of and in the course of her employment, despite her job requiring prolonged standing and walking on concrete floors.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits for Richard Henson's claimed injuries to his right knee and back from a fall while working on a roof on October 8, 1995. No compensation was awarded despite the employee having paid temporary disability and medical expenses totaling over $33,600.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Mosley Williams, Jr., who suffered a burn to his left index finger from an exposed wire while buffing a floor. Although the injury was deemed compensable and work-related, no compensation was awarded due to the finding of no permanent disability or disfigurement.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Gary Gill for an alleged injury on March 1, 2002. The Commission found that the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment, and no benefits were awarded.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's final award denying compensation in a workers' compensation case involving a low back injury alleged to have occurred on December 2, 1994, when the employee felt a pop in his low back while moving an optical machine. Although the injury was found to be compensable under Missouri law, no compensation benefits were awarded, with the case resolved through a stipulated compromise settlement.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to billing clerk Latonya Nelson for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome contracted on June 5, 2002, at BJC Medical Group. The award includes unpaid medical expenses, temporary disability compensation, permanent partial disability benefits for the left wrist, and disfigurement compensation totaling approximately $13,463.28.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Albert Olive for a left shoulder and neck injury sustained on September 10, 2002, when he slipped on oil and grease while working as a truck driver. The claimant was awarded 40% permanent partial disability for the left shoulder and 2.5% for the neck, along with temporary disability compensation and medical benefits totaling approximately $102,044.86.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to employee Jason Wacker. The claim was denied because the injury occurred while the employee was playing in a golf tournament, which did not arise out of and in the course of employment.