Iowa Workers' Compensation

Claimant alleged that he suffered an injury to his knee while gassing up his truck and argues that the commissioner ignored uncontested expert testimony in concluding that claimant's injury did not arise out of and in the course of employment.  In Swanson v. A.V. Transportation , No. 17-1127 (Iowa App. May 16, 2018), the Court of Appeals affirms the denial of benefits on substantial evidence grounds. Claimant was an over the road truck driver, who was gassing up his truck on ice covered ground when he slipped, did the splits and felt pain in his right knee.  Claimant did not initially report the injury, but later reported it, indicating this had happened on February 14.  He later amended that to February 15, and finally to February 7.  The claim was initially accepted and an MRI showed a meniscal tear.  The knee was repaired.  An IME, by Dr. Milas found that the knee injury resulted from work related activities, and was based on claimant's account of th...

The court in Ramirez-Trujillo v. Quality Egg , No. 14-0640 (Iowa App. Feb. 11, 2015) addressed issues of causation and medical expenses, and affirmed the decision of the commissioner on both grounds.  At the appeal level before the agency, the commissioner held that claimant's condition subsequent to September 30, 2009 was not the result of her work injury on August 1, 2009, and that the employer was responsible for reimbursing claimant for out of pocket medical expenses incurred after September 30, 2009, "because the employer failed to notify Ramirez-Trujillo that the care was no longer authorized as required by Iowa Code section 85.27(4)." The district court reversed the commissioner's order with respect to medical expenses and affirmed the decision of the district court on the medical causation question.  The court found that it was reasonable for the employer to deny payment for the medical costs as claimant told the employer that the treatment was for a separat...

In Sullivan v. Cummins Filtration-Lake Mills, No. 13-0658 (Iowa App. March 12, 2004), claimant argued that section 85.34(7) of the Iowa Code, the successive disabilities statute, operated to enhance the degree of disability to her hands.  The Court of Appeals, agreeing with the agency, finds that claimant failed to demonstrate that a second injury to claimant's hand was compensable, and therefore section 85.34(7) was not applicable.  The court also found that the commissioner had explained his reasoning sufficiently in the decision and concluded that no award of alternate medical care was applicable as the claimant had failed to prove that her injury was related to her work. Claimant had an initial injury to her right hand in 1999, was paid benefits for her injury and returned to work symptom free.  She later developed symptoms in both hands in 2011, and settled this case for an additional payment for the injury to the right arm.  The two injuries that were before ...

Martinez Construction v. Ceballos , No. 12-1514 (Iowa App. June 12, 2013), involved a situation in which the evidence used to support a finding of causation was primarily lay testimony.  The court found that in the circumstances in the case, medical testimony was not required to establish causation. The accident that led to the injury occurred when claimant lost his footing on a roof, attempted to jump into a forklift basket, and hit his face and right shoulder and twisted his left knee.  Claimant was knocked unconscious as a result of the injury.  Hospital records demonstrated that claimant had four broken ribs and a perforated lung.  X-rays showed that there was a dislocation of the shoulder and fluid on the knee. Claimant was deported shortly after this and did not attend a followup appointment. At hearing, claimant appeared by telephone, to which defendants objected.  The deputy allowed claimant to testify by telephone.   Claimant testified he had c...