What Injuries Does Workers Comp Cover?

What Injuries and Illnesses Does Louisiana Workers Compensation Cover?

In the state of Louisiana, workers compensation covers physical injuries that are a result of an on-the-job accident and covers occupational diseases related to employment.  

An accident is defined by Louisiana law as a sudden, unexpected event that causes “objective findings of an injury.”

An occupational disease is defined by Louisiana law as a disease or illness “characteristic of and peculiar to” a specific position or line of work.

Louisiana workers compensation covers some mental and emotional injuries, but only when these mental and emotional injuries are connected to a serious accident or traumatic event that happened at work.

Additionally, pre-existing conditions are be covered if the condition was aggravated by a work-related accident.

Physical Work Accidents and Injuries in Louisiana Workers Compensation

Louisiana law defines a workers compensation accident as “an unexpected or unforeseen actual, identifiable, precipitous event happening suddenly or violently, with or without human fault, and directly producing at the time objective findings of an injury which is more than simply a gradual deterioration or a progressive degeneration.”

Therefore, in order to have a workers compensation claim for a work-related accident, an injured employee must have a work-place event that causes “objective findings of an injury.”

However, Louisiana workers compensation does cover some injuries that are caused by repetitive motion.  Examples of repetitive motion injuries include lifting, bending, or typing.

Specific Types of Common Work-Related Physical Injuries

Common physical injuries generally covered by Louisiana workers compensation include, but are not limited to:

• Amputations
• Aneurysms
• Ankle injuries
• Back injuries
• Blood vessel injuries
• Bone injuries
• Brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Bruises and bruising
• Bursitis
• Burns
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chemical burns
• Crushed limbs
• Cuts and lacerations
• Concussions
• Disfigurement
• Ear injuries and impairment of hearing
• Eye injuries and impairment of vision
• Feet injuries
• Hand injuries
• Head injuries
• Head-aches
• Hearing loss or damage
• Heart injuries
• Hernia
• Herniated and slipped disks
• Hip injuries
• Injuries and illnesses caused by toxic exposure to chemicals
• Injuries to extremities
• Joint and orthopedic injuries
• Knee injuries
• Losses of limb
• Muscular injuries
• Neck injuries
• Permanent injuries
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Repetitive use injuries
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Respiratory organ injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Scarring
• Shoulder injuries
• Spinal cord injuries resulting in paralysis, paraplegia or quadriplegia
• Sprains
• Strains
• Strokes
• Sunstroke in heat prostration
• Tendonitis and tendonosis
• Torn ligaments
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Wrist injuries

View an Injured at Work Case Success

Types of Common Work Accidents Producing Physical Injuries

Common work-related accidents that produce workers compensation injuries include, but are not limited to:

• Animal accidents
• Burn and heat accidents
• Catastrophic work-related accidents
• Cold-exposure accidents
• Construction accidents
• Drowning
• Explosions
• Falling accidents
• Falling from heights accidents
• Falling-object accidents
• Faulty machinery accidents
• Freezing and frostbite accidents
• First Responder Accidents
• Hazardous working environment accidents
• Heavy machinery accidents
• Industrial accidents
• In-sufficient training accidents
• Ladder accidents
• Lifting accidents
• Lightning accidents
• Overexertion accidents
• Pile driving and blasting accidents
• Plant and refinery accidents
• Poisoning
• Repetitive motion injuries
• Repetitive use injuries
• Safety violation accidents
• Service industry accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Trip and fall accidents
• Twisting accidents
• Work-related car accidents
• Violent acts

Mental and Emotional Injuries in Louisiana Workers Compensation

Louisiana workers compensation covers some mental and emotional injuries, but these injuries need to be connected to a severe accident or traumatic event that happened at work.

Such a covered mental injury could be a mental injury that was caused by mental stress, if the mental injury was the result of a sudden, unexpected, and extraordinary stress related to employment.  Or the mental injury could be a mental injury caused by physical injury.

Either way, mental injury or illness must be diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist.

So essentially, there are two types of mental stress claims: (1) mental injury caused solely by mental stress, and (2) mental injury caused by a physical injury or trauma. Each of these is governed by different rules under Louisiana workers compensation.

However, the Louisiana Supreme Court has held that mental stress and trauma cases are compensable, even without physical injuries or objective symptoms, so long as the cause was stress arising out of employment-related issues.

Specific Types of Covered Mental and Emotional Injuries

Louisiana workers compensation generally covered the following mental and emotional injuries:

• Anxiety disorders caused by stressful work environments
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Various mental and emotional disability conditions

Occupational Diseases and Illnesses in Louisiana Workers Compensation

Louisiana workers compensation covers some work-related diseases or illnesses, commonly referred to as occupational diseases or occupational illnesses.
Louisiana law defines a workers compensation occupational disease as a disease or illness which is due to causes and conditions characteristic of and peculiar to the particular trade, occupation, process, or employment in which the employee is exposed to such disease.

Therefore, to have a workers compensation claim for an occupational disease, the employee must have a disease or illness “characteristic of and peculiar to” a specific position or line of work.

Louisiana workers compensation covers certain occupational diseases, including injuries due to work-related carpal tunnel syndrome.

Louisiana workers compensation also covers an occupational disease or illness that is the direct result of exposure to hazardous or toxic materials in the workplace, which is particularly important to those working in Louisiana’s oil and gas or chemical and petrochemical industries.

Unfortunately, Louisiana workers compensation does not cover other types of occupational disease, such as degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, arthritis of any kind, mental illness, and heart-related or perivascular disease.  

However, even though these diseases may be excluded from workers compensation, they may still have a significant impact on the severity of a work-related injury, as well as the time needed to return to work because of an injury.

Also, any occupational disease contracted by an employee while performing work for a particular employer in which he has been engaged for less than twelve months shall be presumed not to have been contracted in the course of and arising out of such employment.

However, this presumption can be overcome, though doing so will likely happen during court proceedings.

Specific Types of Covered Occupational Diseases (common Occupational Diseases)

Louisiana workers compensation generally has covered the following occupational diseases:

• Anthrax
• Asbestosis
• Apoplexy
• Black lung
• Bright’s disease
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Caisson disease
• Cancer
• Depression
• Diabetic neuritis
• Diseases resulting from contact with poisonous substances
• Diseases resulting from contact with chemicals
• Eczema
• Epilepsy
• Hearing loss
• Heatstroke
• Immune system disorders
• Infections
• Influenza
• Inhalations of gas, fumes or dust
• Injuries from chemicals
• Kidney diseases
• Lung diseases
• Meningitis
• Mental and emotional disability
• Mesothelioma
• Multilobar ganglia
• Osteomyelitis
• Ovarian cysts
• Paralysis
• Pneumonia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Ruptured ulcers
• Septicemia
• Sinusitis
• Syphilis
• Tetanus
• Tuberculosis
• Tumors
• Typhoid fever
• Ulcers abscesses and felons
• Varicocele

Fatal Work Accidents in Louisiana Workers Compensation

Louisiana workers compensation entitles surviving family members of a deceased worker to financial support if the worker was killed in a work-related accident.

Louisiana law specifically provides worker compensation death benefits, in the form of a percentage of the deceased person’s average weekly wage — plus a one-time funeral benefit — to be paid to:

1. The deceased worker’s spouse living with the worker at the time of the accident and death.
2. The deceased worker’s children who are under age 18;
3. The deceased worker’s children who are full-time students in an accredited educational institution and are under the age of 24;
4. The deceased worker’s children who are physically or mentally incapacitated from earning; and
5. Any other individuals who can prove actual dependency on the deceased worker.

Also, if the deceased worker had no dependents, but is survived by biological or adopted children, the children are entitled to a single, one-time payment of $75,000.00.  This $75,000.00 payment is to be divided between the children equally.

If the deceased worker had no dependents and no biological or adopted children, each surviving parent is entitled to a single, one-time payment of $75,000.00.

The payments to the dependents of a deceased worker are computed and divided equally among them on the following basis:

1. If the widow or widower alone, then 32.5% of wages;
2. If the widow or widower and one child, 46.25% of wages;
3. If the widow or widower and two or more children, 65% of wages.
4. If one child alone, 32.5% of wages;
5. If two children, 46.25% of wages;
6. If three or more children, 65% of wages;
7. If there are neither widow, widower, nor child, then to the father or mother, 32.5% of wages of the deceased. If there are both father and mother, 65% of wages;
8. If there are neither widow, widower, nor child, nor dependent parent entitled to compensation, then to one brother or sister, 32.5% of wages with 11% additional for each brother or sister in excess of one. If other dependents than those enumerated, 32.5% of wages for one, and 11% additional for each such dependent in excess of one, subject to a maximum of 65% of wages for all, regardless of the number of dependents.

The total payment to all dependents may not exceed 65% of the average weekly wage or the maximum compensation rate, whichever is lower. 

Louisiana workers compensation entitles surviving family members of a deceased worker to receive a lump sum benefit for funeral and burial expenses.

The maximum benefit for funeral and burial expenses is currently $8,500. 

But if the reasonable expenses for the burial of an employee are less than $7,500, the difference between such reasonable expenses and $7,500 shall be paid to the heirs of the deceased worker, and such payment shall be in addition to any other benefits paid on behalf of the deceased employee.

Scarring, Disfigurements, and Permanent Injuries in Louisiana Workers Compensation

Louisiana workers compensation offers separate awards for injuries involving permanent scarring or disfigurement.

In most cases, injured workers can receive workers compensation benefits for 100 weeks when scarring or disfigurement occurs, and these benefits expire after that time runs out.

Additionally, if the injured worker suffered a catastrophic injury (such as loss of limb, a severe burn, quadriplegia, or paraplegia), this injured worker may be entitled to a lump sum in addition to other benefits.

Scarring and disfigurements (such as a loss of limb) are usually classified as Permanent Partial Disability (PPD). 

In the following cases, workers compensation benefits shall be solely for anatomical loss of use or amputation and shall be paid to the injured worker as follows:

1. For the loss of a thumb, 66.67% of wages during 50 weeks.
2. For the loss of a first finger, commonly called the index finger, 66.67% of wages during 30 weeks.
3. For the loss of any other finger or a big toe, 66.67% of wages during 20 weeks.
4. For the loss of any toe, other than a big toe, 66.67% of wages during 10 weeks.
5. For the loss of a hand, 66.67% of wages during one hundred 50 weeks.
6. For the loss of an arm, 66.67% of wages during 200 weeks.
7. For the loss of a foot, 66.67% of wages during 125 weeks.
8. For the loss of a leg, 66.67% of wages during 175 weeks.
9. For the loss of an eye, 66.67% of wages during 100 weeks.

In all these situations listed above (which involve a permanent partial anatomical loss of use or amputation), the injured worker will receive compensation based on the percentage of impairment to the body part.

So if the injured worker has a 50% impairment rating, then the worker will receive 50% of the allowed weekly benefits listed above.

For scarring and disfigurement benefits in Louisiana workers compensation:

1. Compensation is not to exceed 66.67% of wages for a period not to exceed 100 weeks may be awarded;
2. When the disability is susceptible to percentage determination, compensation shall be established in the proportions detailed above; and 
3. When the disability is not susceptible to percentage determination, compensation, as is reasonable, shall be established in proportion to the compensation provided in the cases of a specific disability.

Therefore, in order to be a compensable permanent partial disability, a scar must render the employee “seriously and permanently disfigured.”

Louisiana workers compensation judges are allowed great discretion in determining the reasonableness of an award for serious and permanent scarring or disfigurement.

The Louisiana Statutes on Injuries and Illnesses in Louisiana Workers Compensation

The primary Louisiana statutes on injuries and illnesses are La. R.S. 23:1021, La. R.S. 23:1031.1, La. R.S. 23:1221, La. R.S. 23:1231, La. R.S. 23:1232, and La. R.S. 23:1233, which read as follows:

§1021. Terms defined

As used in this Chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms shall be given the meaning ascribed to them in this Section:

(1) “Accident” means an unexpected or unforeseen actual, identifiable, precipitous event happening suddenly or violently, with or without human fault, and directly producing at the time objective findings of an injury which is more than simply a gradual deterioration or progressive degeneration.

(2) “Brother” and “sister” includes step-brothers and step-sisters, and brothers and sisters by adoption.

(3) “Child” or “children” covers only children born of marriage, step-children, posthumous children, adopted children, and children born outside of marriage who have been acknowledged under the provisions of the Civil Code.

(4) “Dependent” means the person or persons to whom, under the provisions of Part II of this Chapter, compensation shall be paid upon the death of the injured employee.

(5) “Assistant secretary” means the assistant secretary of the office of workers compensation administration.

(6) “Health care provider” means a hospital, a person, corporation, facility, or institution licensed by the state to provide health care or professional services as a physician, hospital, dentist, registered or licensed practical nurse, pharmacist, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist, graduate social worker or licensed clinical social worker, psychiatrist, or licensed professional counselor, and any officer, employee, or agent thereby acting in the course and scope of his employment.

(7) “Independent contractor” means any person who renders service, other than manual labor, for a specified recompense for a specified result either as a unit or as a whole, under the control of his principal as to results of his work only, and not as to the means by which such result is accomplished, and are expressly excluded from the provisions of this Chapter unless a substantial part of the work time of an independent contractor is spent in manual labor by him in carrying out the terms of the contract, in which case the independent contractor is expressly covered by the provisions of this Chapter. The operation of a truck tractor or truck tractor trailer, including fueling, driving, connecting and disconnecting electrical lines and air hoses, hooking and unhooking trailers, and vehicle inspections are not manual labor within the meaning of this Chapter.

(8)(a) “Injury” and “personal injuries” include only injuries by violence to the physical structure of the body and such disease or infections as naturally result therefrom. These terms shall in no case be construed to include any other form of disease or derangement, however caused or contracted.

(b) Mental injury caused by mental stress. Mental injury or illness resulting from work-related stress shall not be considered a personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of employment and is not compensable pursuant to this Chapter, unless the mental injury was the result of a sudden, unexpected, and extraordinary stress related to the employment and is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence.

(c) Mental injury caused by physical injury. A mental injury or illness caused by a physical injury to the employee’s body shall not be considered a personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of employment and is not compensable pursuant to this Chapter unless it is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence.

(d) No mental injury or illness shall be compensable under either Subparagraph (b) or (c) unless the mental injury or illness is diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist and the diagnosis of the condition meets the criteria as established in the most current issue of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders presented by the American Psychiatric Association.

(e) Heart-related or perivascular injuries. A heart-related or perivascular injury, illness, or death shall not be considered a personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of employment and is not compensable pursuant to this Chapter unless it is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that:

(i) The physical work stress was extraordinary and unusual in comparison to the stress or exertion experienced by the average employee in that occupation, and

(ii) The physical work stress or exertion, and not some other source of stress or preexisting condition, was the predominant and major cause of the heart-related or perivascular injury, illness, or death.

(9) “Office” means the office of workers compensation administration established pursuant to R.S. 23:1291.

(10) “Owner operator” means a person who provides trucking transportation services under written contract to a common carrier, contract carrier, or exempt haulers which transportation services include the lease of equipment or a driver to the common carrier, contract carrier, or exempt hauler. An owner operator, and the drivers provided by an owner operator, are not employees of any such common carrier or exempt hauler for the purposes of this Chapter if the owner operator has entered into a written agreement with the carrier or hauler that evidences a relationship in which the owner operator identifies itself as an independent contractor. For purposes of this Chapter, owner operator does not include an individual driver who purchases his equipment from the carrier or hauler, and then directly leases the equipment back to the carrier or hauler with the purchasing driver.

(11) “Part-time employee” means an employee who as a condition of his hiring knowingly accepts employment that (a) customarily provides for less than forty hours per work week, and (b) that is classified by the employer as a part-time position.

(12) “Payor” means the entity responsible, whether by law or contract, for the payment of benefits incurred by a claimant as a result of a work related injury.

(13) “Wages” means average weekly wage at the time of the accident. The average weekly wage shall be determined as follows:

(a) Hourly wages.

(i) If the employee is paid on an hourly basis and the employee is employed for forty hours or more, his hourly wage rate multiplied by the average actual hours worked in the four full weeks preceding the date of the accident or forty hours, whichever is greater; or

(ii) If the employee is paid on an hourly basis and the employee was offered employment for forty hours or more but regularly, and at his own discretion, works less than forty hours per week for whatever reason, then, the average of his total earnings per week for the four full weeks preceding the date of the accident; or

(iii) If the employee is paid on an hourly basis and the employee is a part-time employee, his hourly wage rate multiplied by the average actual hours worked in the four full weeks preceding the date of the injury.

(iv) A part-time employee, as defined in R.S. 23:1021(9) and who is employed by two or more different employers in two or more successive employments, shall be entitled to receive benefits as follows:

(aa) If an employee is employed by two or more different employers in two or more successive employments and the employee incurs a compensable injury under the provisions of this Chapter in one of the employments, the employer in whose service the employee was injured shall pay the benefits due the employee as provided in this Chapter.

(bb) If the employee is a part-time employee in one of the successive employments, is injured in that employment, but as a result of the injury also incurs loss of income from other successive employments, that employee shall be entitled to benefits computed by determining wages under the provisions of this Subsection using his hourly rate in employment at the time of injury and using the total hours worked for all employers of the part-time employee, but not to exceed his average, actual weekly hours worked or forty hours weekly, whichever is less.

(v) For an employee in seasonal employment, his annual income divided by fifty-two.

(aa) For purposes of this Subparagraph, seasonal employment shall be any employment customarily operating only during regularly recurring periods of less than forty-four weeks annually.

(bb) If the employee was not engaged in the seasonal employment more than one year prior to the accident, his annual income shall be the average annual income of other employees of the same or most similar class working in the same or most similar employment for the same employer or, in the event that the employee was the only individual engaged in that specific employment, then his annual income shall be the average annual income of other employees of the same or most similar class working for a neighboring employer engaged in the same or similar employment.

(b) Monthly wages. If the employee is paid on a monthly basis, his monthly salary multiplied by twelve then divided by fifty-two.

(c) Annual wages. If the employee is employed at an annual salary, his annual salary divided by fifty-two.

(d) Other wages. If the employee is employed on a unit, piecework, commission, or other basis, his gross earnings from the employer for the twenty-six week period immediately preceding the accident divided by the number of days the employee actually worked for the employer during said twenty-six week period and multiplied by the average number of days worked per week; however, if such an employee has worked for the employer for less than a twenty-six week period immediately preceding the accident, his gross earnings from the employer for the period immediately preceding the accident divided by the number of days the employee actually worked for the employer during said period and multiplied by the average number of days worked per week.

(e) Exceptions. For municipal police officers, additional compensation paid by the state pursuant to R.S. 40:1667.3 shall not be included in the calculation and computation of total salary or average weekly wage to the extent such officer continues to receive such additional compensation during the period of his disability.

(f) Income tax. In the determination of “wages” and the average weekly wage at the time of the accident, no amount shall be included for any benefit or form of compensation which is not taxable to an employee for federal income tax purposes; however, any amount withheld by the employer to fund any nontaxable or tax-deferred benefit provided by the employer and which was elected by the employee in lieu of taxable earnings shall be included in the calculation of the employee’s wage and average weekly wage including but not limited to any amount withheld by the employer to fund any health insurance benefit provided by the employer and which was elected by the employee in lieu of taxable earnings shall be included in the calculation of the employee’s wage and average weekly wage.

(g) Date of accident. In occupational disease claims the date of the accident for purposes of determining the employee’s average weekly wage shall be the date of the employee’s last employment with the employer from whom benefits are claimed or the date of his last injurious exposure to conditions in his employment, whichever date occurs later.

Amended by Acts 1968, Ex. Sess., No. 25, §1; Acts 1975, No. 583, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975; Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 1, §§1, 6; eff. July 1, 1983; Acts 1987, No. 396, §1; Acts 1987, No. 494, §1; Acts 1988, No. 938, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989, and July 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 260, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1989, No. 454, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 468, §1; Acts 1991, No. 565, §1; Acts 1993, No. 928, §2, eff. June 25, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 1137, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 423, §1; Acts 1997, No. 536, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1172, §4, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 751, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1309, §5, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 288, §2; Acts 2001, No. 486, §2, eff. June 21, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 546, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1014, §§1 and 2, eff. June 27, 2001; Acts 2004, No. 26, §10; Acts 2004, No. 188, §1, eff. June 10, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 561, §1; Acts 2013, No. 337, §1; Acts 2014, No. 158, §§3 and 7.
§1031.1.  Occupational disease
A.  Every employee who is disabled because of the contraction of an occupational disease as herein defined, or the dependent of an employee whose death is caused by an occupational disease, as herein defined, shall be entitled to the compensation provided in this Chapter the same as if said employee received personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.
B.  An occupational disease means only that disease or illness which is due to causes and conditions characteristic of and peculiar to the particular trade, occupation, process, or employment in which the employee is exposed to such disease.  Occupational disease shall include injuries due to work-related carpal tunnel syndrome.  Degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, arthritis of any type, mental illness, and heart-related or perivascular disease are specifically excluded from the classification of an occupational disease for the purpose of this Section.
C.  Notwithstanding the limitations of Subsection B hereof, every laboratory technician who is disabled because of the contraction of any disease, diseased condition, or poisoning which disease, diseased condition, or poisoning is a result, whether directly or indirectly, of the nature of the work performed, or the dependent of a laboratory technician whose death is the result of a disease, diseased condition, or poisoning, whether directly or indirectly, of the nature of the work performed shall be entitled to the compensation provided in this Chapter the same as if said laboratory technician received personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.
As used herein, the phrase “laboratory technician” shall mean any person who, because of his skills in the technical details of his work, is employed in a place devoted to experimental study in any branch of the natural or applied sciences; to the application of scientific principles of examination, testing, or analysis by instruments, apparatus, chemical or biological reactions or other scientific processes for the purposes of the natural or applied sciences; to the preparation, usually on a small scale, of drugs, chemicals, explosives, or other products or substances for experimental or analytical purposes; or in any other similar place of employment.
Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, any disability or death claim arising under the provisions of this Subsection shall be handled in the same manner and considered the same as disability or death claims arising due to occupational diseases.
D.  Any occupational disease contracted by an employee while performing work for a particular employer in which he has been engaged for less than twelve months shall be presumed not to have been contracted in the course of and arising out of such employment, provided, however, that any such occupational disease so contracted within the twelve months’ limitation as set out herein shall become compensable when the occupational disease shall have been proved to have been contracted during the course of the prior twelve months’ employment by a preponderance of evidence.
E.  All claims for disability arising from an occupational disease are barred unless the employee files a claim as provided in this Chapter within one year of the date that:
(1)  The disease manifested itself.
(2)  The employee is disabled from working as a result of the disease.
(3)  The employee knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that the disease is occupationally related.
F.  All claims for death arising from an occupational disease are barred unless the dependent or dependents as set out herein file a claim as provided in this Chapter within one year of the date of death of such employee or within one year of the date the claimant has reasonable grounds to believe that the death resulted from an occupational disease.
G.  Compensation shall not be payable hereunder to an employee or his dependents on account of disability or death arising from disease suffered by an employee who, at the time of entering into the employment from which the disease is claimed to have resulted, shall have willfully and falsely represented himself as not having previously suffered from such disease.
H.  The rights and remedies herein granted to an employee or his dependent on account of an occupational disease for which he is entitled to compensation under this Chapter shall be exclusive of all other rights and remedies of such employee, his personal representatives, dependents or relatives.
I.  Notice of the time limitation in which claims may be filed for occupational disease or death resulting from occupational disease shall be posted by the employer at some convenient and conspicuous point about the place of business.  If the employer fails to post this notice, the time in which a claim may be filed shall be extended for an additional six months.
Acts 1952, No. 532, §1; Acts 1958, No. 39, §1; Acts 1975, No. 583, §2, eff. Sept. 1, 1975; Acts 1975, No. 644, §§1, 2; Acts 1980, No. 666, §§1, 2, eff. July 24, 1980; Acts 1989, No. 454, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 943, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1189, §1, eff. June 29, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 733, §1.
§1221. Temporary total disability; permanent total disability; supplemental earnings benefits; permanent partial disability; schedule of payments

Compensation shall be paid under this Chapter in accordance with the following schedule of payments:

(1) Temporary total.

(a) For any injury producing temporary total disability of an employee to engage in any self-employment or occupation for wages, whether or not the same or a similar occupation as that in which the employee was customarily engaged when injured, and whether or not an occupation for which the employee at the time of injury was particularly fitted by reason of education, training, or experience, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during the period of such disability.

(b) For purposes of Subparagraph (1)(a) of this Paragraph, compensation for temporary disability shall not be awarded if the employee is engaged in any employment or self-employment regardless of the nature or character of the employment or self-employment including but not limited to any and all odd-lot employment, sheltered employment, or employment while working in any pain.

(c) For purposes of Subparagraph (1)(a) of this Paragraph, whenever the employee is not engaged in any employment or self-employment as described in Subparagraph (1)(b) of this Paragraph, compensation for temporary total disability shall be awarded only if the employee proves by clear and convincing evidence, unaided by any presumption of disability, that the employee is physically unable to engage in any employment or self-employment, regardless of the nature or character of the employment or self-employment, including but not limited to any and all odd-lot employment, sheltered employment, or employment while working in any pain, notwithstanding the location or availability of any such employment or self-employment.

(d) An award of benefits based on temporary total disability shall cease when the physical condition of the employee has resolved itself to the point that a reasonably reliable determination of the extent of disability of the employee may be made and the employee’s physical condition has improved to the point that continued, regular treatment by a physician is not required.

(2) Permanent total.

(a) For any injury producing permanent total disability of an employee to engage in any self-employment or occupation for wages, whether or not the same or a similar occupation as that in which the employee was customarily engaged when injured, and whether or not an occupation for which the employee at the time of injury was particularly fitted by reason of education, training, and experience, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during the period of such disability.

(b) For purposes of Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Paragraph, compensation for permanent total disability shall not be awarded if the employee is engaged in any employment or self-employment regardless of the nature or character of the employment or self-employment including but not limited to any and all odd-lot employment, sheltered employment, or employment while working in any pain.

(c) For purposes of Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Paragraph, whenever the employee is not engaged in any employment or self-employment as described in Subparagraph (2)(b) of this Paragraph, compensation for permanent total disability shall be awarded only if the employee proves by clear and convincing evidence, unaided by any presumption of disability, that the employee is physically unable to engage in any employment or self-employment, regardless of the nature or character of the employment or self-employment, including, but not limited to, any and all odd-lot employment, sheltered employment, or employment while working in any pain, notwithstanding the location or availability of any such employment or self-employment.

(d) Notwithstanding any judgment or determination that an employee is permanently and totally disabled, if such employee subsequently has or receives any earnings, including, but not limited to, earnings from odd-lot employment, sheltered employment, or employment while working in any pain, such employee shall not receive benefits pursuant to this Paragraph but may receive benefits computed pursuant to Paragraph (3) of this Section, if applicable.

(e) The issue of permanent total disability provided herein shall not be adjudicated or determined while the employee is engaged in employment pursuant to R.S. 23:1226(G), but such employment shall not prevent adjudication or determination of the employee’s right to any other benefits otherwise provided in this Chapter; however, the employee shall not by virtue of employment pursuant to R.S. 23:1226(G) be deprived of the right to determination or adjudication of permanent total disability herein at a time when he is not engaged in such employment.

(3) Supplemental earnings benefits.

(a)(i) For injury resulting in the employee’s inability to earn wages equal to ninety percent or more of wages at time of injury, supplemental earnings benefits, payable monthly, equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the difference between the average monthly wages at time of injury and average monthly wages earned or average monthly wages the employee is able to earn in any month thereafter in any employment or self-employment, whether or not the same or a similar occupation as that in which the employee was customarily engaged when injured and whether or not an occupation for which the employee at the time of the injury was particularly fitted by reason of education, training, and experience, such comparison to be made on a monthly basis. Average monthly wages shall be computed by multiplying his wages by fifty-two and then dividing the product by twelve.

(ii) When the employee is entitled to monthly supplemental earnings benefits pursuant to this Subsection, but is not receiving any income from employment or self-employment and the employer has not established earning capacity pursuant to R.S. 23:1226, payments of supplemental earning benefits shall be made in the manner provided for in R.S. 23:1201(A)(1).

(b) For purposes of Subparagraph (3)(a), of this Paragraph, the amount determined to be the wages the employee is able to earn in any month shall in no case be less than the sums actually received by the employee, including, but not limited to, earnings from odd-lot employment, sheltered employment, and employment while working in any pain.

(c)(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, for purposes of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, if the employee is not engaged in any employment or self-employment, as described in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, or is earning wages less than the employee is able to earn, the amount determined to be the wages the employee is able to earn in any month shall in no case be less than the sum the employee would have earned in any employment or self-employment, as described in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, which he was physically able to perform, and (1) which he was offered or tendered by the employer or any other employer, or (2) which is proven available to the employee in the employee’s or employer’s community or reasonable geographic region.

(ii) For purposes of Subsubparagraph (i) of this Subparagraph, if the employee establishes by clear and convincing evidence, unaided by any presumption of disability, that solely as a consequence of substantial pain, the employee cannot perform employment offered, tendered, or otherwise proven to be available to him, the employee shall be deemed incapable of performing such employment.

(d) The right to supplemental earnings benefits pursuant to this Paragraph shall in no event exceed a maximum of five hundred twenty weeks, but shall terminate:

(i) As of the end of any two-year period commencing after termination of temporary total disability, unless during such two-year period supplemental earnings benefits have been payable during at least thirteen consecutive weeks; or

(ii) After receipt of a maximum of five hundred twenty weeks of benefits, provided that for any week during which the employee is paid any compensation under this Paragraph, the employer shall be entitled to a reduction of one full week of compensation against the maximum number of weeks for which compensation is payable under this Paragraph; however, for any week during which the employee is paid no supplemental earnings benefits, the employer shall not be entitled to a reduction against the maximum number of weeks payable under this Paragraph; or

(iii) When the employee retires; however, the period during which supplemental earnings benefits may be payable shall not be less than one hundred four weeks.

(e)(i) The fact that an employee has suffered previous disability, impairment, or disease, or received compensation therefor, shall not preclude him from receiving benefits for a subsequent injury or preclude benefits for death resulting therefrom.

(ii) If an employee receiving supplemental earnings benefits suffers a subsequent injury causing the payment of temporary total disability, permanent total disability, or supplemental earnings benefits, the combined benefits payable shall not exceed the maximum compensation rate in effect for temporary total disability at the time of the subsequent injury. Any reduction in benefits due to such limit shall be applied first to the supplemental earnings benefits payable as a result of the prior injury.

(f) Any compensable supplemental earnings benefits loss shall be reported by the employee to the insurer or self-insured employer within thirty days after the termination of the week for which such loss is claimed. The assistant secretary shall provide by rule for the reporting of supplemental earnings benefits loss by the injured worker and for the reporting of supplemental earnings benefits and payment of supplemental earnings benefits by the employer or insurer to the office and may prescribe forms for such reporting. The office, upon request by the employer or insurer, shall provide verification through unemployment compensation records under the Louisiana Employment Security Law of any claimed supplemental earnings benefits loss and shall obtain such verification from other states, if applicable.

(g) When an injured employee has been released to return to work with or without restrictions, and the employer maintains an established written and promulgated substance abuse policy which requires employer-administered drug testing prior to employment or return to work, upon the employee’s failure to meet the requirements of such employer’s established policy and inability to qualify for the position for that reason, the obligation for all benefits pursuant to this Chapter, with the sole exception of the obligation to provide reasonable and necessary medical treatment, shall be terminated and the employee shall be subject to the terms and conditions established in the employer’s promulgated drug testing policy and program. The provisions of this Subparagraph shall not apply to prescription medication prescribed for the employee in the dosages so prescribed by a physician.

(4) Permanent partial disability. In the following cases, compensation shall be solely for anatomical loss of use or amputation and shall be as follows:

(a) For the loss of a thumb, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during fifty weeks.

(b) For the loss of a first finger, commonly called the index finger, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during thirty weeks.

(c) For the loss of any other finger, or a big toe, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during twenty weeks.

(d) For the loss of any toe, other than a big toe, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during ten weeks.

(e) For the loss of a hand, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during one hundred fifty weeks.

(f) For the loss of an arm, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during two hundred weeks.

(g) For the loss of a foot, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during one hundred twenty-five weeks.

(h) For the loss of a leg, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during one hundred seventy-five weeks.

(i) For the loss of an eye, sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages during one hundred weeks.

(j) Loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or both eyes, or one hand and one foot, or any of two thereof, or paraplegia, or quadriplegia shall, in the absence of conclusive proof of a substantial earning capacity, constitute permanent total disability.

(k) The loss of the first phalanx of the thumb or big toe, or two phalanges of any finger or toe, shall be considered to be equal to the loss of one-half of such member, and the compensation shall be one-half of the amount above specified.

(l) The loss of more than one phalanx of a thumb, or more than two phalanges of any finger or toe shall be considered as the loss of the entire member; provided, however, that in no case shall the amount received for more than one finger exceed the amount provided in this schedule for the loss of a hand, or the amount received for the loss of more than one toe exceed the amount provided in this schedule for the loss of a foot.

(m) Amputation between the elbow and the wrist shall be considered as equivalent to the loss of a hand and amputation between the knee and the ankle shall be equivalent to the loss of a foot.

(n) A permanent total anatomical loss of the use of a member is equivalent to the amputation of the member.

(o) In all cases involving a permanent partial anatomical loss of use or amputation of the members mentioned hereinabove, compensation shall bear such proportion to the number of weeks provided for herein for the total loss of such members as the percentage loss or impairment to such members bears to the total loss of the member, provided that in no case shall compensation for an injury to a member exceed the compensation payable for the loss of such member.

(p) In cases not falling within any of the provisions already made, where the employee is seriously and permanently disfigured or suffers a permanent hearing loss solely due to a single traumatic accident, or where the usefulness of the physical function of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, or genito-urinary system, as contained within the thoracic or abdominal cavities, is seriously and permanently impaired, compensation not to exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent of wages for a period not to exceed one hundred weeks may be awarded. In cases where compensation is so awarded, when the disability is susceptible to percentage determination, compensation shall be established in the proportions set forth in Subparagraph (o) of this Paragraph. In cases where compensation is so awarded, when the disability is not susceptible to percentage determination, compensation as is reasonable shall be established in proportion to the compensation hereinabove specifically provided in the cases of specific disability.

(q) No benefits shall be awarded or payable in this Paragraph unless the percentage of the anatomical loss of use or amputation, as provided in Subparagraphs (a) through (o) of this Paragraph or the percentage of the loss of physical function as provided in Subparagraph (p) or (s) of this Paragraph is as established in the most recent edition of the American Medical Association’s “Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment”.

(r)(i) In all claims for inguinal hernia, it must be established by a preponderance of the evidence that the hernia resulted from injury by accident arising out of and in the course and scope of employment; that the accident was reported promptly to the employer, and that the employee was attended by a licensed physician within thirty days thereafter.

(ii) If the employee submits to treatment, including surgery, recommended by a competent physician or surgeon, the employer or insurer shall pay compensation benefits as elsewhere fixed by this Chapter.

(iii) If the employee refuses to submit to such recommended treatment, including surgery, and establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that his refusal is based upon his conscientious religious objection thereto or that such recommended treatment, including surgery, involves an unusual and serious danger to him, the employer or insurer shall pay compensation benefits as elsewhere fixed by this Chapter. In all other cases of the employee’s refusal to submit to such recommended treatment, including surgery, the employer shall provide all necessary first aid and medical treatment and supply the necessary truss, support, or other mechanical appliance at a total cost not in excess of six hundred dollars. In addition, the employer shall pay compensation for a period not to exceed twenty-six weeks.

(iv) Recurrence of the hernia following surgery shall be considered as a separate hernia, and the provisions and limitations of this Subparagraph shall apply.

(s)(i) In addition to any other benefits to which an injured employee may be entitled under this Chapter, any employee suffering an injury as a result of an accident arising out of and in the course and scope of his employment shall be entitled to a sum of fifty thousand dollars, payable within one year after the date of the injury. Interest on such payment shall not commence to accrue until after it becomes payable. Such payment shall not be subject to any offset for payment of any other benefit under this Chapter. Such payment shall not be subject to a claim for attorney fees; however, attorney fees may be awarded in a claim to collect such payment pursuant to R.S. 23:1201.2.

(ii) In any claim for an injury, it must be established by clear and convincing evidence that the employee suffers an injury and that such resulted from an accident arising out of and in the course and scope of his employment. Nothing herein shall limit the right of any party to obtain a second medical opinion or, in appropriate cases, the opinion of an additional medical opinion medical examiner pursuant to R.S. 23:1123.

(iii) Only the following injuries shall be considered injuries for which benefits pursuant to this Subparagraph may be claimed:

(aa) Paraplegia or quadriplegia or the total anatomical loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or both eyes, or one hand and one foot, or any of two thereof; however, functional loss or loss of use shall not constitute anatomical loss.

(bb) Third degree burns of forty percent or more of the total body surface.

(iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 23:1291.1 and 1377, any benefit paid pursuant to this Subparagraph shall be reported to the office separately from any other benefit paid pursuant to this Chapter and shall not be subject to assessment by the office or by the Louisiana Workers Compensation Second Injury Board.

(v) Repealed by Acts 2006, No. 494, §1.

Amended by Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 31, §1, eff. May 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 1172, §4, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 444, §1, eff. June 18, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 702, §1; Acts 1999, No. 776, §1; Acts 2001, No. 522, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1014, §1, eff. June 27, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 1070, §1; Acts 2003, No. 306, §1; Acts 2006, No. 494, §1; Acts 2012, No. 860, §1; Acts 2017, No. 381, §2, eff. June 23, 2017.
§1231.  Death of employee; payment to dependents; surviving parents
A.  For injury causing death within two years after the last treatment resulting from the accident, there shall be paid to the legal dependent of the employee, actually and wholly dependent upon his earnings for support at the time of the accident and death, a weekly sum as provided in this Subpart.
B.(1)  If the employee leaves legal dependents only partially actually dependent upon his earnings for support at the time of the accident and death, the weekly compensation to be paid shall be equal to the same proportion of the weekly payments for the benefit of persons wholly dependent as the amount contributed by the employee to such partial dependents in the year prior to his death bears to the earnings of the deceased at the time of the accident.
(2)  If the employee leaves no legal dependents, whether biological or adopted, entitled to benefits under any state or federal compensation system, one lump sum payment of seventy-five thousand dollars shall be paid to the employee’s surviving biological and adopted children who are over the age of majority, to be divided equally among them, which shall constitute the sole and exclusive compensation in such cases.
(3)  If the employee leaves no dependents entitled to benefits under Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, one lump sum of seventy-five thousand dollars shall be paid to the surviving biological and adopted children of the employee to be divided equally among them, which shall constitute the sole and exclusive compensation in such cases.  If the employee leaves no legal dependents and no biological or adopted children entitled to benefits under any state or federal compensation system, the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars shall be paid to each surviving parent of the deceased employee, in a lump sum, which shall constitute the sole and exclusive compensation in such cases.
Amended by Acts 1956, No. 412, §1; Acts 1968, Ex.Sess., No. 25, §6; Acts 1975, No. 583, §10, eff. Sept.  1, 1975; Acts 1980, No. 509, §1; Acts 1988, No. 938, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 1992, No. 431, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1156, §1; Acts 2012, No. 99, §1; Acts 2012, No. 793, §1.
§1232.  Allocation to dependents; schedule of payments
Payment to dependents shall be computed and divided equally among them on the following basis:
(1)  If the widow or widower alone, thirty-two and one-half per centum of wages.
(2)  If the widow or widower and one child, forty-six and one-quarter per centum of wages.
(3)  If the widow or widower and two or more children, sixty-five per centum of wages.
(4)  If one child alone, thirty-two and one-half per centum of wages of deceased.
(5)  If two children, forty-six and one-quarter per centum of wages.
(6)  If three or more children, sixty-five per centum of wages.
(7)  If there are neither widow, widower, nor child, then to the father or mother, thirty-two and one-half per centum of wages of the deceased.  If there are both father and mother, sixty-five per centum of wages.
(8)  If there are neither widow, widower, nor child, nor dependent parent entitled to compensation, then to one brother or sister, thirty-two and one-half per centum of wages with eleven per centum additional for each brother or sister in excess of one.  If other dependents than those enumerated, thirty-two and one-half per centum of wages for one, and eleven per centum additional for each such dependent in excess of one, subject to a maximum of sixty-five per centum of wages for all, regardless of the number of dependents.
Acts 2008, No. 703, §1.
§1233.  Death or marriage of dependent; age limit of minor dependent
Weekly payments to a surviving spouse shall continue until the death or remarriage of such surviving spouse.  In the case of remarriage of a surviving spouse, two years compensation payments shall be payable in one lump sum.
Weekly payments to a surviving child, physically or mentally incapacitated from earning, shall continue as long as such incapacity exists.
Weekly payments to a minor dependent child, who is not mentally or physically incapable of wage earning, shall terminate when he dies, marries, reaches the age of eighteen years, or, if enrolled and attending as a full-time student in any accredited educational institution, until he ceases to be so enrolled and attending or reaches the age of twenty-three years.
Weekly payments for all other dependents as determined in Subpart D of the Chapter shall continue as long as their dependency shall exist or shall terminate upon their deaths.
Amended by Acts 1975, No. 583, §11, eff. Sept.  1, 1975.