Split Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Request to Add Conditions to Worker's Claim

A divided West Virginia Supreme Court upheld a claims administrator’s denials of a doctor’s request to expand the scope of an injured worker’s claim. Case: Helmandollar v. Blackhawk Mining LLC, No. 21-0597, 06/13/2023, published. Facts: Marion D. Helmandollar worked for Blackhawk Mining LLC as a coal miner fire boss. He filed a workers’ compensation claim indicating he had hurt his back in January 2018 while pulling a roller out of some mud.  Physician Assistant Ashley Chapman opined that Helmandollar sustained an occupational low back injury that aggravate...