Pre Existing Conditions

Policy Purpose

Many workers who experience a workplace injury also have a pre-existing condition. The fact that the worker has a pre-existing condition does not disentitle them to compensation for their workplace injury. However, the workers compensation system is designed to compensate workers for workplace injuries, not all injuries. It is often necessary, therefore, to distinguish between a worker's pre-existing condition and their workplace injuries.

Policy 44.05, Arising Out of and in the Course of Employment, outlines the process the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) uses to determine whether an accident is related to the employment.

This policy explains what a pre-existing condition is. It also explains the principles governing payment of compensation for workplace injuries when a worker's pre-existing condition impacts the severity of the workplace injury experienced by the worker or increases their recovery time, or alternatively, when the workplace injury worsens the worker's pre-existing condition.