|
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common form of repetitive
stress injury, which usually occurs when a person's wrists are exposed
to continuous strain on a regular basis. Tissues surrounding the wrist
tendons become so enlarged that they compress the median nerve, which
runs through a passage in the wrist known as the carpal tunnel. The
compression caused the following problems:
1) Numbness, tingling and
pain in the hand, wrist and forearm
2) Impaired or lost nerve function
3) Reduced
muscle control
4) Reduced grip strength
Due to
the mushrooming dilemma, the government of Illinois thought of a
solution for those who have been stricken by the carpal tunnel syndrome
disability. Their officials then passed a bill under the Workers’
Compensation Act.
According to their Supreme Court, “even if CTS
develops gradually and not as the result of a sudden mishap”, those with
carpal tunnel syndrome disability can be compensated from the onset of
the disorder under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
The law
states that the person is entitled to receive a 100 percent share of all
medical expenses that are deemed reasonable and necessary to treat the
condition.
It is also of great benefit to the casualty because
they are not forced to pay any deductions with no dollar limitations
placed on the treatment. While under diagnostic, the person with carpal
tunnel syndrome disability still has temporary total compensation. This
is based on a percentage of the average weekly wage, including overtime.
Under
the provisions of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act, the person
with carpal tunnel syndrome disability’s employer or the insurance
company is legally required to begin the payment within 14 days of the
date that the individual reported the onset of CTS.
When he or
she returns from work after days of medication, he or she is allowed to
collect a salary for the permanent partial loss of use of the affected
hands and arms as a result of contracting CTS while on the job. Such
compensation is called permanent partial disability compensation (PPD),
and is received as the result of a settlement agreement between the
person with carpal tunnel syndrome disability and the employer or as the
result of the decision of the arbitrator assigned to the claim.
If
it is necessary to accept a lower-paying job because of inability to
perform the responsibilities of the usual and customary employment, he
or she may be entitled to added benefits equal to two-thirds (2/3) of
the salary difference based on the average gross weekly wage earned
before the development of CTS.
|