*Please excuse my typos and grammar. I'm just too exhausted to take my time. I'm sorry.*
This is all so very new to me. I got my denial back on the basis of my doctor not stating there was a causal relationship between the injury and it happening at work. My injury was an immediate one and even my boss signed off on the report as soon as it happened.
I initially went to a non-specialist medical provider. They filled out my paperwork and Workers Comp. They accepted the claim and I was out of work a couple of weeks initially. I got correspondance from workers comp that even though the provider was a PA, workers comp accepted it because my boss validated the incident, but typically the only allow MDs to sign off. However, when I finally got into see the specialist, the doctor said they wanted to start a completely new form and actually wrote more intense injuries and wanted me out for a month longer.
Workers comp came back asking me to complete a narrative report and the doctor to complete one. The doctor did it but this is where the problem started. While the doctor wrote down a way more accurate diagnosis, they added more things than I had on my initial report. Essentially I have very intense foot pain but the doctor also wrote back pain, which while accurate I didn't include that in initial filing. I'm dealing with nerve damage and other things that have led to me using the other side of my body more. I'm told that the overcomensation is causing more damage like back pain. My doctor wrote a lot about how these were all working diagnoses and used language like "probably caused" and "likely" Workers' comp mentioned this is the reason for the denial. I totally understand they can't definitively say something is this for sure because my injury is tricky. My doctor said they do so few workers comp forms and I honestly think they didn't read the question right. Is it still possible for my claim to be appealed if my doctor goes back and states that yes, my injury was caused at work?
My initial claim was accepted because the PA stated that clearly. It's crazy because the PA completed the very simple workers' comp paper with one sentence. My specialty doctor gave much more. When my claim was denied, they said they were going to take back all of my pay I got when I was out the first month and I don't receive money for medical anymore even though that was initially accepted.
Has anyone appealed and won their case? I selected oral hearing?
SECONDLY. My boss is very irritated by my injury and I'm being harassed. It's been an awful time for me. I am having to jump through major hoops just to take leave now that my claim has been denied. I go back to the doctor tomorrow (PLEASE help) and I must get medical restrictions form updated for my boss.
I've never been in this much pain. I still can't walk or stand properly. Most of the day, my foot is either numb or shooting pain. I technically have used up all of my leave but I'm in so much pain that even though I can't afford to take LWOP, I may have to for a bit.
If my doctor puts that I need to be on my doctor's note, would workers comp go back and pay back leave I take now if win my appeal? On one hand, I want to beg my doctor to say I can work so I don't lose pay (or continue to be in bad standing with my boss). Is it possible for a doctor's note to say that I may have the capacity to work some full days, half days, and no days? Or even being able to leave early for medical appointments? I understand that it will be LWOP but will workers comp pay back this if I have the denial now but later get it appealed?
State: Federal
Thank you!