eligible for anything?

[hummerbhc@frontiernet.net]

On 9/2 I slipped and fell at work, breaking my wrist. Returned to work on 11/12. My employer was wonderful, making sure I received medical care, disability payments, etc. My doctor says I have about 60% use of my right hand. Am I eligible for any kind of payment for the loss of 40%? Who do I talk to about this? I live in AZ. Thanks for any help/info.

[Lilly]

Hi hummer!
Welcome to the forum!

Was your injury reported to WC /IC? Did you recieve benefits from WC's insurance company, or did the employer simply pay for things? Did you ever recieve a letter from the State of Az recognizing your work injury?
Unless we know this info....we really can't answer for sure.
Thanks for listing your State of Arizona!! This is very important

Lilly

[Lilly]

Hi again....forgot to include the link for your stste rules:

http://www.workerscompensation.com/arizona.php

Lilly

[1171]

once your doctor has declared your condition to have reached Maximum Medical Improvement you can have a rating done. depening on the rating their maybe some additional benefits available.
Here is link that will provide basic information on Arizona permanent impairment benefits
http://www.ica.state.az.us/Divisions/cla...rment.html

[jayne]

if you get back to 100% there will most likely be no settlement.Settlement comes if you have permanant loss.....

[sparkey]

Here in NH it has to be between 10-12 months after injury even if put at MMI. Then a form from the IC needs to be sent to the doctor doing the PIR rating signed by the IC. I forget what the name of the form is, but I could not have a rating done without it. I had to call the IC to sign it and send it so I could set up a rating date. The wanted it to be as close to a year as possible. I think this is because they want to see if there is any change in condition before they perform the percentage. I was also put at Permanent impairment with my hand/arm.

At the time it was neuropathy/ carpal tunnel recurrance. After my award my attending physician finally decided after seeing my forearm swollen and fingers blue with a rash that I had RSD. I think I could of got a bigger award had this happened before my rating and if I had a lawyer to fight for this new diagnosis. I could probably still do that today but have no way of knowing if I could or not. I am sure I would be sent to a specialist in RSD determination.

If the rating is to high from the doctor, there very well could be a dispute and the IC can ask to have you go for a IME of their choice of doctor. Mine was a 32% from my treating doctor and the IC sent me to their doctor who gave me a 10%. The Labor board forced the IC to have a hearing disputing the rating, medications. Of course the board favored the IC doctor and I got a award of 10% because I never had a lawyer and chose not to fight it as I feel it would not of been for much more.

Good luck and make sure you get a good doctor for a rating and take note of what he/she did for testing and how long it took. I also hope you are keeping all doctors notes etc. If not, get them sent to you for your records.

[hummerbhc@frontiernet.net]

Lilly Wrote:Hi hummer!
Welcome to the forum!

Was your injury reported to WC /IC? Did you recieve benefits from WC's insurance company, or did the employer simply pay for things? Did you ever recieve a letter from the State of Az recognizing your work injury?
Unless we know this info....we really can't answer for sure.
Thanks for listing your State of Arizona!! This is very important

Lilly

[hummerbhc@frontiernet.net]

Sorry, I inadvertently reposted Lilly's reply, obviously I'm not too sharp with the computer, lol. As to the questions, yes, my injury was reported, yes, I received benefits from the WC insurance co., yes, I received a letter that my injury was reported to the state. Based on the very helpful and encouraging replies, I'm assuming my next step is to return to the doctor to see if there is anything else (therapy, etc.) that can be done to recover range of motion in my arm and use of my hand. Wondering if my age (68) will affect any decisions; seems like every time I go to my own doctor for anything, he always says "Well, after all you ARE 68" (like I don't know how old I am) -- aaarrrggghhhh~~!

[jayne]

heck your young...my Daddy is 96 and still puts in a garden and drives anywhere he wants to go.....so keep on trucking

[admin]

jayne Wrote:my Daddy is 96 and still puts in a garden and drives anywhere he wants to go.....

...... including the sidewalk, the neighbors yard, through the city park, or the left lane of the interstate at 30 miles an hour (with the blinker on).....

Sorry Jayne, I couldn't resist. Perhaps I've been in Florida too long.