FILING A CA-2 THE RIGHT WAY THE FIRST TIME
This article will deal solely on the FORM CA-2, OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE, , and how to help you better understand how to properly fill out this form the right way from day one.
Filling out a CA-2 takes a little time from you, the employee, but with a little patience, you can do it right the first time so it doesn’t take months to get approved by the Department of Labor. In this article, I will give you the do’s and don’ts of a properly filled out CA-2.
The most important part of a FORM CA-2, Occupational Disease, is to make sure that it is an Occupational Disease. The best way to know this injury is, in fact, an occupational injury is if your injury has happened over a period of time. In other words, it did not happen on one single work night. (If you injured yourself on a single work night, then that would be a CA-1, Traumatic Injury.)
Let me give you an example. You are a mail processor, and your right wrist has bothered you for two months every time you lift trays or ledge load. You do not know exactly how you hurt it, but you are sure it is due to your job as a mail processor. Since this injury is cumulative and not a single shift, the injury would be defined as an Occupational Disease. Therefore, a CA-2 should be filled out. Now that you know what a CA-2 is, please follow the steps to properly ensure your claim is not delayed due to lack of effort on your part.
The single most important step in getting your claim approved is a Physician that will state your injury is job related. Before you think about filling out a CA-2, go to your Primary Care Physician. Explain to him/her why you feel your injury could be job related. I hope that your doctor will agree and refer you to a Specialist. A Specialist is very important since the Department of Labor usually will not accept a diagnosis from a Primary Care Physician. A Specialist’s diagnosis will carry more weight in getting your claim approved through the Department of Labor. Once you have a Specialist that is ready to state your injury is job related, then you are ready to proceed in filing your claim.
1. Ask your supervisor for a CA-2 Form (yellow form) and a CA-20 Form (Attending Physician’s Report). Once you receive the forms, you must follow all the instructions on the back of the CA-2 Form before you can turn it in to your supervisor. On the back of the CA-2 Form in the upper left you will see Employee’s Statement. You must answer on a separate piece of paper - all the questions from A to E.
2. Also on the back of the Form CA-2, to the right of Employee’s Statement, under Number 2 is MEDICAL REPORT. The Specialist now treating you should fill CA-20 Form out entirely. However, take note of Letter G. Your Physician must explain how your employment caused your injury. Your claim will not be approved unless your Physician states, "YES", YOUR CLAIM IS JOB RELATED.
The following example should be taken to your Physician to help him/her explain how your employment caused or aggravated your injury. Your Physician should include any results from any tests taken, such as MRIs and CT Scans, etc.
Example: Mr. John Doe has been a postal employee for 25 years. He is currently a Mail Processor, which requires him to lift heavy trays of mail, which could weigh up to 50 lbs. each. Sorting, culling, sweeping bins of mail, pushing heavy equipment, and ledge-loading mail onto machines have been performed by Mr. John Doe for the past 5 years, 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day.
It is my opinion, with all MEDICAL CERTAINTY, the diagnosis of lower right lumbar strain of the back is causally related to his employment.
This is just one example but, as you can see, the Specialist explained how your job caused your injury. Whether you are a window clerk, manual clerk, machine technician, bus driver, or an elevator operator, please use this example to show your Physician how he or she should write their narrative supporting your claim for injury.
Now you are ready to finish filling out the CA-2 so you can hand it to your supervisor. Please make sure you fill out the entire front page. Please look at questions 11 and 12. Block 11 should be the date your injury first started to bother you. It is OK to just put the month and year in only. If your shoulder bothered you five years ago, then put in July ? 2001. Block 12 is the most important block. That is the day your Physician diagnosis stated your injury was job related.
After your Physician states your injury is job related, you now have three years to file the claim. Now with the entire front filled out, with your answers to the employee’s statement, and the Medical Report (CA-20), along with the medical narrative, you are ready to finally submit your claim.
All of the above should be submitted to your supervisor at one time. Please make sure you have copies of everything before you submit the entire claim to your supervisor. Your supervisor will sign the CA-2 and give you a receipt to show your claim has been submitted. Your claim will now go to the Injury Comp. Office, who will in turn prepare it to be sent to the Department of Labor for final processing and adjudication of the claim. If everything is in order, the approval of your claim could take up to 60 days or longer.
LET ME RECAP:
1. Find a Physician (Specialist) who will support your claim for injury.
2. Ask your supervisor for a CA-2 and CA-20.
3. Follow all directions on the back of CA-2, Employee’s Statement, and Medical Report, with Physician’s narrative explaining how your employment caused your injury.
4. Fill out the front of CA-2 Form and sign it. Pay attention to Blocks 11 and 12.
5. Make copies of everything.
6. Turn in the complete package to your supervisor. Make sure your supervisor gives you receipt of your claim.
I hope this article helped you understand what an Occupational Disease is and a guideline to help you fill out your CA-2 Form. I cannot stress enough how important it is for your Physician to state how your employment caused your injury. If your Physician does not explain his opinion, along with an explanation, your claim could take months to be adjudicated. If your Physician will not take the time to explain his opinion, then my advice would be to find another doctor before you proceed with your claim.
Please do not hesitate to call me with any questions concerning your injury. My phone number is (617)-654-5223, Ext. 2651.
Paul Kilduff, Tour-2 Chief Steward GMF
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