When Can I Get Workers’ Compensation For Musculoskeletal Disorders?

There is a large and broad category of medical conditions that are known as “musculoskeletal disorders,” which are sometimes abbreviated as simply MSDs. These types of disorders or injuries are common in many kinds of workplaces, and they often prevent employees from returning to work in any capacity or at a full capacity. Accordingly, any employee who has recently been diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder may be wondering if they are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Although musculoskeletal disorders do not always arise out of traumatic accidents at work, they can certainly arise out of a person’s job, or occur in the course of an employee’s work duties. As such, musculoskeletal disorders are frequently compensable through the Florida workers’ compensation system.

What should you know about getting workers’ compensation for a musculoskeletal disorder? Consider the following information from our West Palm Beach workers’ compensation lawyers.

What is a Musculoskeletal Disorder? 

The term “musculoskeletal disorders” is a complex term that refers to “soft-tissue injuries caused by sudden or sustained exposure to repetitive motion, force, vibration, and awkward positions,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the CDC clarifies, given the way that these disorders occur, they commonly “affect the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, and cartilage in your upper and lower limbs, neck, and lower back.”

MSDs are also often known as overuse injuries, or repetitive motion injuries. At the same time, it is important to know that musculoskeletal disorders can result from traumatic incidents.

How Does a Worker Develop or Suffer From a Musculoskeletal Disorder?

In most circumstances, according to the CDC, musculoskeletal disorders result from “overexertion and can affect a worker’s ability to perform many job-related tasks such as lifting, pulling, pushing, maintaining a natural posture, withstanding cold temperature, and withstanding torque reactions and vibrations from machinery and tools.” Older workers in particular can be more likely to sustain a musculoskeletal injury or to be diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder.

Seeking Workers’ Compensation Coverage for MSDs 

Many MSDs are compensable through the workers’ compensation system. You can work with a workers’ compensation lawyer in West Palm Beach to show that your musculoskeletal disorder arose out of your work and therefore should be compensable through the Florida workers’ compensation system.

Contact Our West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Attorneys 

Were you recently diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder, or a medical condition described as an overuse injury or repetitive use injury that is preventing you from working? An experienced West Palm Beach workers’ compensation attorney at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. can provide you with more information about physical stress or overuse injuries and how to move forward with your workers’ compensation case. It is important to remember that the Florida workers’ compensation system treats overuse injuries that arise out of and occur in the course of employment as compensable injuries, which means an injured worker can receive benefits in the aftermath of these kinds of injuries. Contact us as soon as possible to begin working on your case and seeking the benefits and coverage you need.

Sources:

cdc.gov/niosh/programs/msd/default.html#:~:text=Musculoskeletal%20disorders%20(MSDs)%20are%20soft,limbs%2C%20neck%20and%20lower%20back

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440.html