Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common repetitive stress injuries workers in some fields get, and it’s also one of the most contested workers’ compensation claims.
Unlike a fall or machinery accident, carpal tunnel usually develops gradually over months or years, which makes it harder to point to a single moment when the injury happened. That doesn’t mean you can’t recover benefits; this condition may qualify for workers’ compensation in D.C. if it is sufficiently connected to your work.
How Can Work Cause or Contribute to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, and repetitive hand and wrist activity on the job can cause or aggravate that compression. Job duties that commonly contribute include:
- Repetitive typing or data entry
- Assembly line work
- Repeated gripping
- Use of vibrating tools
- Cutting or food preparation
- Repetitive wrist bending
- Manufacturing or construction tasks
There are also many non-working factors that can lead to this issue, such as diabetes, arthritis, hobbies that stress the nerve, pregnancy, or genetics. Simply developing the condition while employed doesn’t automatically make it work-related.
How Do You Prove Carpal Tunnel Is Work-Related?
Proving the connection between your job and your condition takes more than your own account of your symptoms. Strong claims are typically built on:
- Medical records and a formal diagnosis
- Nerve-conduction or EMG testing confirming the condition
- A doctor’s opinion linking the condition to your work
- Job descriptions documenting your duties
- Details about how often and how long you perform repetitive tasks
- Employment records establishing your work history
- Evidence showing when your symptoms began or worsened
You should be prepared for some pushback from the insurance company; they often argue that the condition came from a non-work medical issue, that your symptoms existed before you took the job, or that your work wasn’t repetitive enough to cause carpal tunnel.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits May Be Available?
If your carpal tunnel claim is accepted, workers’ compensation can cover both your treatment and your lost income. Potential benefits include medical treatment, diagnostic testing, physical or occupational therapy, medication or injections, and surgery when medically necessary.
If the condition keeps you from working, either entirely or in your current role, wage-loss benefits may be available to replace a portion of your income. In some cases, vocational rehabilitation can also help you transition to different work if your condition prevents you from returning to your old duties.
What Should You Do if You Think Your Job Caused Carpal Tunnel?
The steps you take early on are important. Report the condition to your employer promptly; DC law requires you give your employee notice within 30 days of your injury. When you see a doctor, tell them exactly what you do at work, and be specific about repetitive motions, the tools you use, the force involved, and the hours you spend on those tasks. Keep copies of medical notes and any work restrictions, and follow your treatment plan.
When Does the Clock Start on D.C.’s Filing Deadlines?
For an injury caused by a single accident, the deadlines are easy to track, but for something like carpal tunnel that develops gradually on time, it can be difficult to figure out what that 30-day deadline really looks like.
Under D.C. Code § 32-1513, you must give your employer written notice within 30 days after you become aware, or reasonably should have been aware, of the relationship between your condition and your employment.
In other words, the clock generally doesn’t start when your wrists first begin to ache. It starts when you know, or should know, that your job is the likely cause.
Talk to a D.C. Workers’ Compensation Lawyer About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel claims are winnable, but they can be complicated. An experienced D.C. work injury lawyer can gather the medical evidence, document your job duties, and push back when the insurer disputes the connection to your work. Contact our office today for a free consultation to discuss your claim.