Her attorney won the case in regards to her health care. Basically, the workman's compensation insurance was directed to follow the treating doctor’s requests. Now for two years, since the ruling, the insurance has done nothing other than pay her doctor visits and medications. Her doctor and theirs (second opinion) both requested an MRI on her shoulder which the insurance refuses to approve just like the refuse to approve any treatment other than medications. She was originally injured in October 2010, when a large wooden beam fell and hit her in the head, neck and shoulder. I'm a disabled veteran myself, and I have to work hard to pay the bills and to help take care of her at home. She cannot lift her left arm higher than shoulder level. She cannot lift more than a 2-3 pounds with her left arm, so I, with a bad spine and partial paralysis in my left leg, have to aid her in cooking dinner, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, the list goes on and on. I'm fed up with this. I'm a soldier. I'm used to fighting but everywhere I turn, there is nothing I can do to help her with this case. I'm to the point of going to the media with the story. She now suffers from depression as well and we have lost well over $60,000 in income over the last 5 + years.
How frustrating for you and your wife! In our office, the difficulty in getting benefits and help at home is usually due to the medical opinions in the case (or lack of supporting medical opinions). Have the doctors stated that your wife is unable to work? Have the doctors recommended home care to assist her? If so, then the attorney should be able to make a demand for lost wages and get some assistance for her. If such benefits were not awarded two years ago, I assume the doctors gave an opinion that she could work or some time limit ran on those benefits. Getting the MRI approved may require another motion. I recommend that you and your wife schedule an appointment at her attorney's office. Ask first to read her medical records and judge's decision and then to meet with the attorney to discuss your next plan of action. Good luck!
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