WCB Errs in Awarding PPD Benefits Before Worker Reached Permanency

A New York appellate court ruled that the Workers’ Compensation Board erred in awarding permanent partial disability benefits to a worker before he had achieved permanency. Case: Matter of O'Flaherty v. MRZ Trucking Corp. No. 530257, 05/13/2021, published. Facts and procedural history: James O'Flaherty worked as a truck driver. He established a claim for a work-related injury to his back sustained in 2010 for which medical care was authorized and benefits were awarded. In 2014, a workers’ compensation law judge found O’Flaherty had a permanent partial disabili...