A workers compensation claim for DVT can be complicated, requiring the assistance of a St. Louis Work Comp Lawyer.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. These blood clots develop when blood thickens and clumps together. Most of these clots occur in the thigh or lower leg. However, they can occur in other parts of the body as well.
Although the precise number of people affected by DVT is unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that as many as 900,000 people could be affected in the United States each year. It is further estimated that as many as 100,000 Americans die each year from DVT.
In this article, we will discuss what DVT is and whether or not it is covered by workers compensation.
What is DVT?
DVT is a serious condition that can result in permanent damage to the affected leg veins and their valves, and results in abnormal pooling of blood in the leg. Some other effects of DVT include leg pain, swelling, fatigue, and even severe skin ulcers. DVT can lead to the following permanent conditions:
- Leg fatigue
- Warm skin
- Leg and calf pain or tenderness
- Discoloration of the legs
- Swelling of the leg
- Surface veins become more visible
- Pain and discomfort while sitting and walking
DVT can also lead to serious complications if the blood clots in the veins break loose, travel through the blood stream and lodge in the lungs. These blood clots can obstruct blood flow in the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism.
There are a number of ways a healthcare provider can diagnose deep vein thrombosis, but it is most commonly detected by an ultrasound.
Is Deep Vein Thrombosis Covered Under Workers Compensation?
DVT can result from injury or trauma. It has been seen that patients who suffer trauma are at risk of developing DVT and pulmonary embolism. If a worker develops DVT after an injury to the leg, the condition may be considered compensable under workers compensation. However, the worker may have to prove that his/her DVT was a result of an underlying workplace injury.
In many cases, DVT is a result of a side effect of some kind of limb trauma, which can be as minor as a sprained foot or knee. Even orthopedic procedures and surgery of the lower extremities can lead to DVT. In short, you can develop DVT if you have suffered a leg injury, or gone through an orthopedic procedure or surgery of the lower extremity.
Seeking Workers Compensation Benefits for DVT
Now we come back to the original question, whether not DVT is covered by workers compensation. As mentioned earlier, any medical condition, including DVT is compensable as long as it is a result of a workplace injury or the treatment you received for this injury. However, claims involving conditions such as DVT are often complicated, because the insurance company can always contend that the injury is not work-related, and is a result of factors unrelated to the work. So, it is important to seek legal help from a competent and experienced St. Louis work related injury lawyer, who can protect your rights and ensure that you get the rightful benefits.