Idiopathic conditions are often related to work injuries. Whether or not these injuries are covered by workers’ compensation often depend on exactly how the injury occurred and what caused it. When looking at idiopathic conditions, it’s important to first determine what exactly does “idiopathic” mean?
Idiopathic refers to conditions that are spontaneous or pre-existing. Some examples of these kinds of conditions include things like:
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
It can also refer to more spontaneous conditions, such as if your leg were to suddenly give out.
So how do these conditions factor into workers’ comp? Well, if your pre-existing or idiopathic condition is the only reason for your injury, then chances are your injury will not be covered by workman’s comp. However, if the injury is the result of your work, you probably will be covered.
Regardless of whether or not your idiopathic condition makes you more likely to be injured, the important thing is that it was caused by your work. So in other words, even if you were predisposed to back pain, if you strained your back doing a routine part of your job, then that injury is probably compensable.
And of course, if you experience any kind of injury at work, always file an injury report with your employer. That way when it comes time to determine the exact cause of your injury, there will be a record of your injury.
