Perrel Management Company, Inc. and AMCOMP Employers Preferred Insurance Co. v. Lydia C. Hayes

**What Happened** Lydia Hayes suffered a posterior tibial tendon injury at work and was receiving workers' compensation benefits. Her employer, Perrel Management Company, and their insurance company challenged her continued disability payments and medical treatment. The case centered on whether Hayes should keep receiving temporary total disability compensation and what medical care she was entitled to for her work-related injury. **What the Court Decided** The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld the Workers' Compensation Commission's mixed decision. The court agreed that Hayes's temporary total disability payments should be stopped, meaning she would no longer receive wage replacement benefits. However, the court also confirmed that Hayes could continue receiving medical treatment for her injury-related pain under a new doctor, Dr. Dale. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that workers' compensation decisions can be split - you might lose one benefit while keeping another. Even when disability payments end, injured workers may still be entitled to ongoing medical care for their work-related injuries. Workers should understand that stopping disability benefits doesn't automatically end all workers' compensation coverage, and continuing medical treatment remains an important right worth protecting.