JOHN MCCAULEY v. PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.

**What happened:** John McCauley worked for PNC Financial Services and suffered a right wrist injury on the job. He filed for workers' compensation benefits, specifically asking for a "schedule loss of use" award - money paid when a workplace injury causes permanent loss of function in a body part like an arm or leg. McCauley's doctors said his wrist injury caused permanent limitations that qualified him for this benefit. **What the court decided:** The appellate court sided with the Workers' Compensation Board and denied McCauley's claim for the schedule loss award. The court found that the doctors who evaluated McCauley's wrist didn't know he also had carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands. Because they weren't aware of this separate condition, the court said their medical opinions about his permanent wrist limitations weren't reliable or credible. **Why this matters for workers:** This case shows how important complete medical information is in workers' compensation claims. When seeking benefits for workplace injuries, workers should make sure their doctors know about all their medical conditions - not just the work injury. Having incomplete medical records can hurt your case, even if you have a legitimate work-related injury that causes permanent problems.