Worker's Previous Receipt of Compensation Doesn't Preclude New Award

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that a worker should not have been denied compensation for his functional impairment from a back injury just because his employer had previously paid him benefits based on his lost earning capacity for an earlier back injury. Justin Loew worked for Menard Inc. He injured his back at work in March 2015, and a workers’ compensation commissioner found he had a 20% functional impairment to his lower back. After considering all the relevant factors, the commissioner found Loew suffered a 30% reduction in earning capacity and was entitled to compensation for...