Corrado Cirinna

The worker suffered a compensable left wrist and hand soft tissue injury in February 2018 and returned to modified duties in April 2018.

After working for one week, the worker went on leave and subsequently claimed a recurrence of the work-related injury.

The Appeals Resolution Officer denied the appeal, finding no objective medical evidence of a significant deterioration in the compensable condition that would warrant recurrence entitlement, noting that non-compensable medical issues appeared to be the primary factor preventing a return to work.

The worker suffered a concussion and neck strain after a workplace accident involving a loader machine.

The worker briefly returned to work but stopped due to increased symptoms, later returning to modified duties.

The case manager denied loss of earnings (LOE) benefits for the period the worker was off work, citing a lack of medical documentation.

On appeal, the Appeals Resolution Officer found that the medical evidence, including reports from a concussion and pain clinic, supported the worker's inability to work in any capacity during that time.

The worker's objection was allowed, and full LOE benefits were granted for the disputed period.

The worker objected to three case manager decisions denying loss of earnings (LOE) benefits for a brief period in May 2019, finding no breach of the employer's re-employment obligation upon his termination in October 2019, and denying LOE benefits subsequent to the termination.

The Appeals Resolution Officer allowed the worker's objections in part.

The Officer found the worker was entitled to full LOE benefits for the initial period of absence in May 2019.

Furthermore, the Officer determined the employer breached its re-employment obligation by terminating the worker within six months of re-employment, as the employer failed to rebut the presumption that the termination was related to the workplace injury.

The worker was awarded full and partial LOE benefits for various periods following his termination and referred for work transition assistance.

The worker appealed a case manager's decision denying loss of earnings benefits and finding no permanent impairment following a right wrist repetitive strain injury.

The worker had continued to perform her pre-injury duties with accommodations until she was terminated without cause.

The Appeals Resolution Officer denied the appeal, finding no objective medical evidence to support an ongoing work-related impairment after the termination date, and noting the worker failed to attend scheduled specialty clinic assessments.

The worker, a security guard, appealed a case manager's decision denying entitlement for Traumatic Mental Stress (TMS) and Chronic Mental Stress (CMS).

The worker alleged that verbal abuse and threats from the public while monitoring a parking lot caused her mental stress, exacerbating her bipolar disorder.

The Appeals Resolution Officer denied the appeal, finding that the incidents did not constitute objectively traumatic events under the TMS policy, nor did they amount to substantial work-related stressors under the CMS policy.

Furthermore, the medical evidence indicated the worker primarily stopped working to care for her ill mother, not due to workplace stressors.

The worker objected to the case manager's decisions regarding the selection of Dispatcher as a suitable occupation and the reduction of loss of earnings (LOE) benefits based on projected earnings.

The Appeals Resolution Officer found that the suitable occupation was physically suitable and the worker had acquired the necessary skills.

However, the projected earnings used to reduce LOE benefits were adjusted from $14.85 to $12.00 per hour for the initial period, while the $14.00 per hour rate used at the final review was upheld as it reflected the current minimum wage.