Occupational Disease | Reversed a Denial Knee Joint Injuries

1. Occupational Disease New York – Background of the Claim and Initial Denial

The claimant worked more than two decades in New York mining operations under rotating day/night shifts. His work involved repeated kneeling, twisting, lifting, operation of vibrating machinery, and navigating confined spaces. After being approved for a shoulder-related Occupational Disease in 2019, he was later diagnosed (in 2022) with medial femoral cartilage damage and posterior meniscal tears in both knees. His request for additional Occupational Disease coverage was denied.

Basis for the Carrier’S Denial

The workers’ compensation carrier argued that MRI findings showed degenerative knee changes typical of aging and not attributable to work.

They claimed no medical-causal relationship existed between his mining duties and the new injuries.

This position required our legal team to build a comprehensive Occupational Disease rebuttal, focused on cumulative trauma, job-specific mechanics, and occupational epidemiology.

2. Occupational Disease New York – Key Legal and Medical Issues in Dispute

The core question was whether the miner’s bilateral knee injuries were the product of job-related cumulative stress qualifying as an Occupational Disease or simply age-related degeneration. To resolve this, we undertook a dual approach: (1) detailed job-task analysis and (2) court-appointed medical record review.

Job-Task Analysis Demonstrating Cumulative Knee Burden

Our team reconstructed 24 years of underground job duties, showing that his role required:

• Repetitive squatting, kneeling, and crawling in low ceilings
• Frequent lifting and carrying of heavy tools and materials
• Operation of high-vibration devices such as rock drills and auger systems
• Rotational torque placed on knees when maneuvering equipment in confined tunnels

These findings supported the argument that prolonged, repetitive mechanical load was consistent with an Occupational Disease pattern, not an incidental age-related condition.

Medical Review Confirming Work-Related Aggravation

A court-appointed medical expert reviewed all treatment records and concluded that the claimant’s injuries were not typical for individuals of similar age with no mining history.

The expert further emphasized that the primary mechanism of injury deep flexion, torsional forces, and long-term knee loading is exactly the type associated with Occupational Disease progression. This opinion became a decisive factor in the judicial review.

3. Occupational Disease New York – Litigation Strategy and Supporting Evidence

Our legal approach centered on connecting decades of biomechanical stress to the claimant’s present pathology. Because cumulative trauma rarely appears on a single imaging study, expert interpretation and contextual labor analysis were essential.

Demonstrating That Work Accelerated the Disease Beyond Natural Progression

We presented medical literature showing that mining-related knee degeneration progresses faster and more severely than age-matched populations.

We argued that the miner’s cartilage and meniscal damage far exceeded what would be expected naturally, meaning the Occupational Disease had been accelerated by his working conditions.

Using Industry-Specific Evidence to Establish Causation

We provided examples of approved cases involving similar underground occupations, strengthening the inference that heavy, sustained mechanical loading is a recognized risk factor for knee-related Occupational Disease.

This precedent helped the court view the miner’s case as part of a consistent occupational risk pattern rather than an isolated, unexplained medical anomaly.

4. Occupational Disease New York – Court Outcome and Reversal of Denial

After reviewing expert reports, job-task evidence, and comparative case law, the court issued a recommendation to reverse the denial. The workers’ compensation carrier accepted the recommendation and approved the bilateral knee conditions as an Occupational Disease. The decision recognized that repeated excessive stress over 24 years materially contributed to the development and worsening of the claimant’s knee injuries.

Reason the Court Adopted the Miner’S Position

Key findings included:

• The injuries were not typical in same-age individuals without strenuous labor history
• Job duties placed substantial, prolonged mechanical force on the knees
• Medical evidence supported substantial work-related aggravation beyond natural aging
• Causation was consistent with established Occupational Disease precedent

Approval of the additional conditions allowed the claimant to receive expanded medical care and wage-replacement benefits.

If You Need Help With an Occupational Disease Claim in New York, SJKP Can Assist

SJKP represents injured workers and professionals across industries in disputes involving Occupational Disease, cumulative-trauma injuries, and wrongful denials by insurers. We analyze job tasks, coordinate medical reviews, prepare litigation strategy, and challenge claim denials before administrative boards and courts.

If you believe your condition stems from long-term work exposure, contact us to discuss how an Occupational Disease claim can be properly documented and proven.

12 Dec, 2025