Industrial Injurys Benefit

Gaz1

Hi, guys hope I'm in the right place, I'm looking for any advice on Industrial Injuries Benefit Assessment. I made a claim for it last December I think and I had a response from them saying the decision maker had decided my claim was, in fact, a workplace injury and has arranged for me to attend an assessment but on the last letter they sent me they said the assessment is different to a medical examination and is to ascertain what effect this is having on my everyday life. My first MRI scan shows 1 herniated disc and 1 bulging disc which the hospital have offered me an operation for. sorry to go on but can anyone shed some light on this, please.
Thanks
Gaz

ohreally

About the medical examination

Your medical examination will be carried out by one or possibly two experienced medical practitioners. These doctors are specially trained in industrial injuries disablement matters.

If you can travel, you will be told when and where to go for the examination. You will be told what out-of-pocket expenses you can claim. If you are not fit to travel alone, someone can travel with you. If you are not fit to travel, you can also request an examination at home but you should give full details of why you are unable to attend a Medical Boarding Centre.

The medical examination will be held in private but you may be able to take a companion if the doctor allows it. Occasionally you may be asked if an observer can be present. You can give the doctor any evidence which was not included with your claim form, if you think it will help them to give an opinion on your disablement.

If you have attended a hospital in connection with the disease you are claiming for, the doctor may seek further information from the hospital. Hospital case notes may be requested by the doctor to assist in giving an opinion. The doctor could also ask for a report from your GP.

The doctor will take a statement from you and send a written report to the decision maker based upon the examination and any other medical evidence.

The doctor will advise on:
•whether you are suffering from a prescribed disease, and if so
•whether you have suffered a loss of faculty from the disease, and if so
•the level of your disablement and how long it is expected to last

If the doctor has advised that you are suffering from a prescribed disease he will also advise on the date of onset of the disease.

The doctor will also provide an explanation for the decision maker as to how they arrived at their opinion.

The doctor will also advise if, in their opinion, the disease is due to the nature of your employed earner’s employment. This is called causation.

..........

antrobus

See here
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefits-technical-guidance

On the basis that we are talking about an accident here. It appears that "The doctor will give an opinion on whether you have suffered a loss of faculty as a result of the accident and, if so, advise on the level of your disablement and how long it is expected to last."

Gaz1

Hi Ohreally, Thanks for that but that's totally different from the letters I have received. When I spoke to someone from there to confirm the appointment, she told me to take along any supporting info such as prescriptions and sick notes and I've even got a copy of my MRI reports for them

Gaz1

Yes, it is a workplace injury, not a disease. And the orthopaedic surgeon who has offered me a discectomy and decompression has told me the operation will only cure sciatica and the disc could possibly herniate again and then the disc above that is bulging too so he has basically said I may not be able to do my job as a roofer again without further injuries.