In terms of workers’ compensation, a pre-existing condition is a health issue an employee had before a workplace injury occurred. It could be an old sports injury, back issues, asthma, arthritis, or a repetitive stress injury. While having a pre-existing condition doesn’t disqualify you from receiving workers’ compensation benefits, it can influence your claim.
How Pre-Existing Conditions Can Affect Worker’s Comp
Employees may face extra challenges while filing a worker’s compensation claim if they have a pre-existing condition. Employers or insurance companies may try to deny the claim, arguing that the injury isn’t work-related and that the pre-existing condition is the cause of the issues. Or they may argue that the injury is a continuation or exacerbation of the pre-existing condition and try to reduce the benefits you receive.
Having an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer on your side can help. The attorneys at Brazil Sweeney Law Group in Minneapolis will help you understand your rights, navigate the workers’ compensation process, and pursue the benefits you deserve for your recovery and financial security.
Pre-Existing Condition’s Impact on Benefits
Having a pre-existing condition doesn’t automatically disqualify you from receiving workers’ compensation benefits, but it could affect the amount or duration of benefits you’re owed and how the insurance company approaches your case. While evaluating a claim where a pre-existing condition could play a factor, insurers will consider:
- The severity of the pre-existing condition
- The relationship between the pre-existing condition and the work-related injury
- The job duties and how they may have contributed to the injury
- The overall impact on the employee’s ability to work
The key will be proving that your job duties or workplace injury directly contributed to the aggravation of the condition beyond its normal progression. In Minnesota, the burden of proof falls on the employee.
Proving Aggravation of a Pre-Existing Condition
In the state of Minnesota, if you can show that your pre-existing condition was made worse by a work injury, you are entitled to workers’ compensation for the worsened condition. This includes medical bills for treatment of the aggravated condition along with any lost wages due to the worsening of your symptoms. A recurrence of symptoms from a separate, independent pre-existing condition that is not caused by or related to the work injury, would generally not be eligible for workers compensation.
Medical evidence, such as records and expert opinions, will be important to proving aggravation. It is often beneficial to include medical evidence of the pre-existing condition, such as past medical records and treatment history.
Failing to Disclose a Pre-Existing Condition
While you might face extra scrutiny if you have a pre-existing condition, failing to disclose it will usually only make the claims process more difficult. Early disclosure will allow your doctor to distinguish between the old injury and the new one, which will help you build a stronger case if issues arise about the cause or extent of the injury. Transparency also goes a long way in helping build your credibility with the insurance adjuster, whereas inconsistencies and hidden conditions can lead to reduced or denied benefits.
Navigating The Claims Process When You Have a Pre-Existing Condition
While you may be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits even if you have a pre-existing condition, it does complicate the process, highlighting the importance of clear documentation and the need to understand legal requirements. Being informed, proactive and consulting with an attorney who specializes in worker’s compensation cases can help ensure you receive the benefits you deserve from a workplace injury.
At Brazil Sweeney Law Group in Minneapolis, we understand how stressful workplace injuries can be and how important it is to get compensation for your recovery. Call now for a free, no-obligation worker’s compensation case review and let us get to work for you. There’s no fee unless we win.