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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with O

Occupational Disease: A disease or illness during worker’s employment that is work-related and “not an ordinary disease of life to which the general public is exposed outside of the employment.” Note these cases are not so easy to prove, but they do exist.   Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Money the worker pays for medical care that the …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with N

Narrative Medical Records: The reports written by your doctor about your diagnosis, treatment and overall medical condition. These reports are filed with the Commission as a part of your case and provided to the insurer pursuant to the Rules of the Commission.   Notice: “Every injured employee or his representative shall immediately on the occurrence …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with M

Maximal Medical Improvement (MMI): Many injuries do stabilize over time – this means additional medical treatment is unlikely to improve the worker’s health problems. “Once an injured worker reaches MMI, a physician can assess how much, if any, permanent partial disability resulted from the work injury.”   Mediation: Another word for Alternative Dispute Resolution   …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with L

Lien: “A right or claim for payment against a workers’ compensation case.” If a physician or other health care provider has not been paid, he or she may place a lien on the file.   Lifetime Medical Benefits: Injured workers often need long-term or permanent medical care as a result of their work-related injuries. This …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with J

Judge: Generally the person who hears and/or decides the worker’s claim and any contested issues. In Virginia Workers Compensation, these folks are usually referred to as Deputy Commissioners.   Judicial Opinion: A written decision which states who won and lost and why. It is written by a Deputy Commissioner. Both the worker and employer can …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – More I’s

Independent Medical Evaluation: Employers often try to argue that a worker is not injured or has recovered from his/her injuries to the point where he/she can return to work. Sometimes they will also argue that a particular procedure or surgery is not necessary or related to the worker’s injuries. The Employer, when injury status is …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with I

Impairment Rating: A determination of the percentage loss or loss of use a body extremity. Impairment ratings involving permanency benefits are made by a physician and are based on American Medical Association guidelines. Impairment ratings for disfigurement and scarring are generally made by the Commission. The potential weeks that are available for each body part …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with H

Health Care Provider: A person or entity that provides health services on a regular basis to members of the community. Health services include preventive care, curative care, and rehabilitative care.   Hearing: A legal proceeding where a Virginia Workers’ Compensation Deputy Commission discusses or reviews the case issues to learn all the facts so a …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – More F’s

First Report of Injury (FROI): “The initial claims report filed with the Commission by or on behalf of the insurer or self-insurer concerning an injury. A FROI is also a method to report a denial, a change of information previously reported via EDI, a CA acquisition and a cancellation of a claim.” NOTE-this is something …

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Virginia Workers’ Compensation Glossary – Definitions Starting with F

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): This law allows qualified employees the right take off without pay to care for specific family members, including the worker himself/herself. During the time off, the person’s health insurance should normally continue as if the employee was working.   Fee Schedule: Virginia does not have a fee schedule for …

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Elizabeth City, NC 27907

If you are looking at this site, you or a loved one has probably been hurt. If that's true, you've come to the right place. Helping people who have been hurt is what we do. In fact, it is all we do. Joe Miller Law is a law firm concentrating exclusively on representing people who are injured by the carelessness of others or those hurt on the job. We provide the highest quality legal services to people who have been seriously injured. We practice Personal Injury law and Workmens' Compensation law in both Virginia and North Carolina.