Workers’ compensation cases generally come to a conclusion in one of two ways. The first is when an injured worker finishes his or her medical treatment after a doctor determines that maximum medical improvement (“MMI”) has been reached. Once at MMI, an injured worker can pursue permanent partial disability compensation (“PPD”). The second way a comp case generally ends is via a settlement. When a case is settled, it is closed forever. In contrast, if a case does not settle and instead proceeds to a PPD award, the injured worker retains the right to reopen the claim due to a worsening of condition for a period of five years. Below are a few examples of PPD awards and settlements from the month of May:

• Body Part: heart
• Injury: HTN & CAD
• Amount: $41,000
• Claimant developed hypertension and coronary artery disease as a result of his employment as a Maryland State Trooper. Claimant underwent surgery involving angioplastly and stenting after suffering a heart attack. Claimant subsequently settled his case for $41,000, plus an MSA of over $16,000 to cover the cost of future medical expenses.

 

• Body Part: low back, knee/leg, ankle/foot
• Injury: contusions; subsequently development of RSD
• Amount: $23,000
• Upon entering the lobby of her employer’s premises in Baltimore County, Claimant slipped and fell on water and sustained contusions to the lumbar spine and left lower extremity, before subsequently developing RSD, a painful nerve condition. The necessary medical treatment included physical therapy and pain management. Claimant missed a substantial amount of time before deciding to settle her case.

 

• Body Part: groin
• Injury: hernia
• Amount: $43,000
• Claimant incurred an inguinal hernia during the course of his employment that required surgery. Claimant subsequently suffered post-operative complications. Rather than pursuing authorization for additional medical treatment, Claimant elected to settle his case.

 

• Body Part: shoulder, knee, hand
• Injury: contusions; partial rotator cuff tear
• Amount: $30,000
• Claimant, during the course of her employment was a nurse, was struck by a hospital bed after the bed malfunctioned. As a result of the collision, she sustained injuries to the shoulder, knee and hand. The necessary medical treatment included physical therapy, deep tissue laser therapy, and acupuncture. The accident also accelerated Claimant’s need for a total knee replacement.

 

• Body Part: shoulder
• Injury: rotator cuff strain
• Amount: $5,010
• Claimant suffered a shoulder strain while punching holes in papers with a hole puncher. After finishing a course of physical therapy, Claimant pursued a PPD award.

 

• Body Part: knee
• Injury: sprain
• Amount: $3,600
• Claimant, during the course of her employment as a hotel maid, injured her knee while she was making a bed. Her treatment included a course of physical therapy in addition to a cortisone injection. She subsequently pursued PPD.

 

• Body Part: both ankles
• Injury: sprain
• Amount: $8,000
• Claimant, while working as a security guard for Lexington Market in Baltimore City, was injured when she stepped into a tree planter on the sidewalk outside of her place of employment. As a result, she sprained both of her ankles, and underwent a course of physical therapy.

 

• Body Part: back
• Injury: strain
• Amount: $5,000
• While lifting heavy boxes during the course of his employment with Home Depot, Claimant sustained injury to his back. His injuries required a course of physical therapy.

 

• Body Part: wrist
• Injury: sprain
• Amount: $1,260
• Claimant, during the course of her employment as a bus driver, was manually pulling a strap for a wheelchair ramp when she sustained injury to the wrist. After a course of physical therapy, Claimant returned to work full duty and pursued an award of permanent partial disability benefits.

 

• Body Part: neck
• Injury: strain
• Amount: $2,505
• Claimant was driving a bus during the course of her employment when her seatbelt locked, causing her head to jerk back and strike the headrest. She was diagnosed with a strain of the cervical spine. Her treatment required a course of physical therapy.