Inj. No. 20-055584
Decision: Dec. 13, 2024
The Commission affirms a denial of a claim of injury by occupational disease and finds a diabetic claimant failed in the burden of persuasion that hand-intensive work that was a mild-moderate risk of trauma was the prevailing casue of carpal tunnel syndrome.
The ALJ found Dr. Brown more persausive in his explanation of the role of diabetes as the more severe risk factor noting EMG evidence likely from diabetes both to the ulnar, median and sensory nerves. Dr. Brown dismissed the finding of synovium thickening or improvement after surgery as convincing factors why the conditon should be regarded as occupational. The parties disputed the reliability of information about jub duties. The ALJ felt claimant's surgeon and expert, Dr. Schlalfy, had not fully addressed the risk associated with diabetes.
Atty: Medcalf, Reynolds
Experts: Schlafly, Brown
ALJ: Young
