Filtered Decisions

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 award of workers' compensation benefits to William Copeland for a lumbar spine injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident on August 13, 1997. The claimant was awarded 25% permanent partial disability, unpaid medical expenses of $178.36, future medical care authorization, and 100 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $27,842.00.

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.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision holding Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. liable for workers' compensation benefits for Harold Copeland's occupational disease claim of carpal tunnel syndrome, applying the 'last exposure rule' under Missouri law. The employee was last exposed to the hazard while employed at Associated in January 2000, even though he later filed his claim while working for Elite Logistics Inc.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Annie Dicus for back injuries sustained in two separate accidents on August 20, 1996 (slip and fall while delivering pizza) and February 20, 1997 (motor vehicle accident while delivering newspapers). The employee was awarded 10% permanent disability of the body as a whole for each claim, with necessary medical aid to be paid by the employer-insurer.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to Joanne Wiggins for an alleged injury on January 13, 2003. The Commission found that the injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment and therefore was not compensable under Missouri law.

The administrative law judge found that the claimant's alleged bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome did not constitute a compensable injury under Missouri workers' compensation law. No benefits were awarded and the claim was dismissed.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award determining that the employee's automobile accident occurring on April 7, 2004, during the course of employment was compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law. The decision is temporary or partial, with proceedings kept open for a final award to be made.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits for Wanda Crockett's occupational injury to her left wrist and thumb sustained while performing repetitive activities at Ford Motor Company on August 7, 2002. The Commission found the injury compensable under Missouri law with 25 percent permanent disability to the left wrist and approved the Second Injury Fund liability of $5,918.08.

The Missouri Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to the widow of Fred Schoemehl for an injury sustained on May 11, 2001. A dissenting opinion argues the decision should be modified regarding the treatment of unaccrued compensation benefits after the employee's death on January 2, 2004.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to Jeanette Jones for an alleged psychiatric injury sustained while administering dialysis at Washington University on December 30, 2000. The Commission found that although an accident occurred, it did not arise out of and in the course of employment, making the injury non-compensable under Missouri workers' compensation law.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Michael W. Scott for a right shoulder injury sustained on January 19, 2001, while lifting a battery changer for a forklift. The employee was awarded 10% permanent partial disability of the right upper extremity at the 232-week level, along with temporary total disability compensation and medical benefits.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award allowing workers' compensation for Penny Austin's occupational injury sustained on June 18, 1998 while performing repetitive work duties. The claimant was awarded 25% permanent partial disability benefits with a weekly compensation rate of $257.78, though future medical care and additional temporary total disability compensation were denied.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying workers' compensation benefits to William Davis for a work-related back injury on October 17, 2002, finding no permanent disability despite the accident being work-related. A dissenting opinion argued the decision was erroneous because both medical experts testified employee sustained permanent disability, and substantial evidence showed a change in condition at L4/5 following the injury.

The Labor and Industrial Relations Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to employee John Connors for his April 25, 2000 workplace injury. One commissioner dissented regarding the denial of permanent total disability benefits, arguing the evidence established the employee's inability to return to any normal employment due to physician-imposed restrictions.