https://www.wcirb.com/sites/default/files/documents/the_world_of_cumulative_traum_claims_study_102018.pdf

The California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) released “The World of Cumulative Trauma Claims” that looks at California comp claims that stem from repetitive mentally or physically traumatic activities over time. These cumulative trauma (CT) claims differ from other types of comp claims and have recently increased.

The report found that CT claim rates have grown by 50% since 2008. Initially researchers thought the recession had something to do with the increase of these claim through 2010 but they have continued to grow, even more so since 2013. There is preliminary data to suggest that they may be slowing. Most of the CT claim growth is in the Los Angeles and San Diego regions of the state, generating 75% of CT claims and 50% of other claims. CT Claim rates in other parts of California have declined and are lower than 1998 levels. The growth is spread across several industries, but manufacturing and hospitality have seen the highest growth rates, and it is concentrated in lower wage workers. The proportion of CT claims in white collar industries was cut in half between 2008 and 2015.

Another finding is that 40% of these claims are filed after the worker is terminated and almost three-quarters are initially denied in part or wholly denied. A quarter involve an accompanying specific injury claim. CT loss payouts are slower than for specific injury claims and average ultimate costs for these claims are higher than for more specific injury claims. These claims stay open longer than other claims, but settlement rates have accelerated across all claim types. Rates of attorney representation have increased over the years, with over 90 percent of recent claims being represented.

CT claims represent 4 percent of all medical paid in the first year of claims, but 25 percent of medical-legal and lien payments. Most of the top diagnosis for CT claims involve injuries to the upper limbs, while specific injury claims are more likely to involve back injuries or sprains. Almost a quarter of permanent partial disability claims involve CT.

Read the WCIRB press release and the full report here.