You may have heard that L&I claims can be reopened after they close. This is true, but there are a few important things to remember regarding claim reopening.
Reopening an L&I claim
First, you can reopen a claim any time following claim closure for additional medical treatment. However, for an injured worker to receive additional monetary benefits such as time-loss compensation, loss of earning power benefits, increased permanent partial disability or permanent and total disability, the claim must be reopened within 7 years of the original claim closure. After 7 years, if you reopen a claim, then L&I will only provide medical treatment. The only exception is when the Director of L&I exercises discretion to grant additional benefits.
Second, the reopening of a claim is not guaranteed. If an injured worker or provider believes that a claim should be reopened for whatever reason, a reopening application must be filed documenting the basis for reopening. L&I will carefully evaluate the evidence to determine whether reopening is appropriate. If L&I feels that it is not appropriate, reopening of the claim will be denied. Like any decision, the decision to deny reopening can be protested or appealed for physical conditions.
Conditions to reopen a workers’ compensation claim
For the reopening of a claim to be granted there must be an objective worsening of a claim related condition between the time the claim last closed and the time the application to reopen is filed. In workers’ compensation, we refer to these dates as the terminal dates. The first terminal date is the date of the most recent claim closure. The second terminal date is the date the application to reopen is filed. Findings of disability that can be seen, felt, or measured by an examining physician are called objective findings.
Therefore, whether there has been an objective worsening of claim related conditions between the relevant terminal dates often involves a comparison of the objective medical findings at or around each of the two dates. However, if L&I denies an application to reopen, a medical opinion regarding the objective worsening will be required to prove that the decision to deny reopening was incorrect.
Conclusions and recommendations
If you want to reopen your L&I claim, you should have your current findings and compare them to the objective findings from the time of most recent claim closure. It is also important that your medical provider clearly explains in what ways there has been an objective worsening. Non-physical conditions such as mental health conditions do not require objective worsening for reopening to be granted. These kinds of conditions inherently cannot be seen, felt or measured. However, for reopening to be granted, a medical opinion concerning worsening of the non-physical condition between terminal dates will still be necessary.
I was in L&I like 14 years ago I did a carpal tunnel surgery in my right palm the doctor said after 10 years we need to do the surgery in your left hand now it’s worsen how can I reopen my claim? And I never have a compensation for pain and suffering in my right hand. Please help. Thank you
Claims can be re-opened for medical treatment even if they were closed more than seven years ago. You will need to see your doctor and have them file a re-opening application based at least in part on objective findings that your claim related condition has worsened since your claim last closed. Because your claim closed more than seven years ago you will have to request that the Director of L&I exercise his discretion to grant you monetary benefits like time loss compensation, if you end up needing those. However on its most basic level you can reopen your claim to have the medical treatment covered.
Your claim was on one hand, if your other hand is effected, that’s a new claim. I had shoulder surgery for a left shoulder rotator tear. Now my right one is torn. They are two different claims.
My husband had an approved claim for a back injury at work (2016), resulting in a slow leaking disc. This was documented with an MRI of the spine. He eventually tried injections, which temporarily relieved the pain. He had radiculopathy, numbness, tingling, and loss of dorsi/plantarflexion in the affected leg at the time. The claim was closed, partially because he felt somewhat better for a short time, and also because he moved and did not stay in contact to appeal the closing of his claim. Later as the disc continued to leak it became much worse and required surgery. He was unable to work, sleep, and could barely walk to the bathroom. The MRI at this time (December, 2018) showed the same disc had further leaked and was pressing on his nerves. He had the same symptoms as before. He had surgery January of 2019. Would the MRI be objective proof of an extension of the same injury?
I am sorry for the delayed response. Your question is whether the MRI taken in December 2018 could be considered objective proof of an extension of the same injury? My answer is, it depends. An MRI is certainly an objective medical finding under the legal definition of the term. However, in order to prove that there has been a claim related objective worsening of your husband’s condition, you will need the opinion of a medical doctor who has compared the two MRIs and who states that the findings on MRI are claim related and have objectively worsened since the claim was initially closed.
Based on the information you provided, I would strongly encourage your husband to file a reopening application on his claim if he has not already done so. If you run into any administrative issues, please do not hesitate to contact our office for a free consultation.
I had gotten injured shortly over 3 years ago at work, a deep cut in my knee and had lost some movement and ability to do a lot of things due to the pressure of even walking let alone complete certain physical tasks, but I had to push through and when my claim was open, I had went to the dr and was on light duty for about a month at work after the injury, but now I have had troubles sleeping due to undiagnosed nerve damage which has spread to way above my leg further than just where the cut was, having trouble just sitting down and pushing through days at work. Experiencing numbness, sharp pains and tingling. I was wondering if I am eligible for a reopening for medical benefits to cover what needs to be done to help repair the injured areas and/or compensation for pain and suffering.
I had injured at work 5 years ago and my claim was closed 3 years ago. Now my condition is getting worse and back 5 year ago I haven’t had any MRI done on my back and my doctor or lawyer never advised me to do so either. The only thing was done by the L&I doctors I had hip MRI. The result of my back injury it was hurting my right leg knee. I couldn’t stand more than 1 hour so they did hip MRI and I was told I have degenerative disease on my hip and the case was closed. Almost after 2 years and now my condition is getting worse. I am having difficulty walking on my right leg, pain numbness, shooting pain and tingling and my right side shoulder and neck recently I ended up in ER because my neck was hurting so bad I can barely carry my own head and they did CT scan on my neck and the diagnosis was cervical disc problem on my neck and I was told by the ER doctor to follow up with my regular doctor. I went and saw her order MRI on my lower and upper back am waiting on the result. On top the ER doctor recommended to see orthopedic surgeon. I am waiting on that too but in the meantime trying to gather the medical evidences so I can reopen my case but what will they compare with since they don’t have any images from before? That’s my question and do you think I can get it opened?
What are the likely pro’s for a over 22 year past claim being closed and wrongfully intentionally by way of avoiding further benefits for monetary support? Injuries related and worse since numbness of arms ; under arms hands and toes; leg numbness and feet neck and spine even involving a rear ended accident also years later?
No longer able to perform same work high risk horse racing industry; breaker; riding races ETC
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I had a severe back injury at work that needed up with surgery and a partial permanent disability rating. And left me with nerve damage in left leg. Approx. 6 years I reopened the claim due to increased problems with left leg. Rating was increased. Two years ago, due to being unstable and work equipment, I took a fall. The claim was reopened and closed saying they could not do another surgery in my case. IME doctor said no change and claim was closed. I did not know I could Deny it to be closed. Currently, I am in pain every day and have ADL issues, and depression issues over the severe pain. I am looking for guidance to know if I can reopen my claim for permanent disability or pension.
I tore my left rotator cuff in 2019 had surgery on it July 2020. Surgeon now say I have a new injury to that same shoulder. Do I reopen my old claim or do I file a new one since it’s a new injury
Hi Cristal. This is a tricky one. If the doctor is saying this is a new injury, then it is probably best to file a new claim. If L&I denies the new claim because they say it is an aggravation of your old injury, you could always file a reopening application then.
I got carpal tunnel syndrome on both hands on 2016, after surgery on both hands L&I closed my case on 2018 saying that I was ok something never happened, tried to re-open last year on 2021 and they denied after L&I ordered me an EMG that came up “normal” after that I had to pay from my own packet and got another and more detailed EMG last December 2021 that says the opposite and now is my primary care Dr. who does not want to help me fill out a formal application to re-open again even if she has my new EMG report and knows the injury is still there, she says she does not do L&I cases,…The Dr. who I got at the very beginning and also did the surgeries on my hands is now retired and the Dr. who performed the new EMG does not want to help me with the formal application either…What should I do? All this is unsane, frustrating and so unfair, again I feel without any options, and everyone closed the doors on me, please help.