Worker Gets Permanent Award Despite No Way to Determine Level of Disability

The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a worker was entitled to permanent disability benefits, even though it was too soon to determine the level of his disability. Case: Compass Groups USA v. Hawk, No. 25-0349, 01/28/2026, published. Facts and procedural history: Todd Hawk worked for Compass Groups USA. He reported injuring his back at work in May 2021. Hawk filed a workers’ compensation claim in March 2022. Compass stipulated that Hawk suffered a work injury but denied that it caused a permanent disability. At a hearing before a deputy workers’ compensation com...