Workers’ compensation claims are the simplest when they involve on-the-job injuries. However, benefits are also available in cases involving work-acquired illnesses and cumulative trauma. Any debilitating medical condition directly caused or exacerbated by job tasks could qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Sometimes, professionals already have pre-existing medical conditions when they start a new job or transfer to a different position within a company. Back injuries, arthritis and carpal tunnel are all common pre-existing conditions among workers. Their condition may worsen because of their job responsibilities, which can make it difficult for them to continue performing their standard tasks.
Can a pre-existing condition ever qualify for workers’ compensation benefits?
Workers need proof that their jobs affect their symptoms
A pre-existing condition does not automatically qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, but it is not automatically ineligible either. The worker must have documentation showing that their symptoms have worsened due to the tasks they perform at work.
That evidence could come in the form of imaging tests showing increased damage to connective tissue. Functional capacity evaluations that show new or worsening functional limitations could also help support a claim that a job has exacerbated the pre-existing condition. Employees may be eligible for benefits that help them pay for treatment or cover their wages while they take time off to recover.
In cases where the claim process is likely to be complex due to unusual factors, such as a pre-existing medical condition, employees may need assistance from an attorney. Talking to a lawyer about a pre-existing condition and job responsibilities can help workers determine if they qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.