S. Waters

The worker appealed a Case Manager's decision that determined they were partially impaired, capable of working as a telephone solicitor, and entitled only to partial loss of earnings (LOE) benefits.

The Appeals Resolution Officer found that the occupation of telephone solicitor was not suitable given the worker's age, lack of transferable skills, need for extensive training, and the limited employment outlook for the position.

The Officer concluded the worker was unemployable due to their compensable injuries and awarded full LOE benefits effective January 31, 2025, locked in to age 65.

The worker appealed a Nurse Consultant's decision denying entitlement for Botox injections.

The worker sustained a workplace injury in 2016, for which they received entitlement for a neck strain, cervicogenic headaches, and chronic pain disability.

The worker's representative argued Botox was prescribed to treat chronic migraines and persistent headaches related to the compensable condition.

The Appeals Resolution Officer denied the appeal, finding that the worker's ongoing headaches were not caused by the accepted physical conditions, and that chronic migraines were not an accepted compensable condition.

Furthermore, WSIB policy and Drug Advisory Committee recommendations did not support Botox for neck pain, myofascial pain, or headache disorders.

The worker suffered a complete T3 spinal cord injury in a workplace accident and was prescribed a power standing wheelchair.

When the standing actuator broke, the WSIB denied repairs and instead approved a replacement wheelchair, which took nine months to arrive.

The worker paid $4,375.85 out-of-pocket to repair the standing actuator in the interim to manage his pain and maintain independence.

The Appeals Resolution Officer allowed the worker's appeal, finding it was reasonable for the worker to pay for the repair to maintain access to the prescribed power standing feature while awaiting the replacement wheelchair.

The worker, an addictions Case Manager, appealed a decision denying her entitlement to benefits for a mental stress injury.

The worker claimed she developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to repeated exposure to violent and unpredictable clients at a drop-in centre, including incidents where she was physically struck and threatened with a knife.

The Appeals Resolution Officer allowed the appeal, finding that the worker experienced multiple objectively traumatic events in the course of her employment that caused her appropriately diagnosed PTSD.

The worker was granted initial entitlement under the Traumatic Mental Stress policy and full loss of earnings benefits effective January 23, 2023.