Stancevska and Comcare (Compensation)

Ms Stancevska sought review of a decision by Comcare denying her worker's compensation claim. The dispute concerned whether Ms Stancevska's claimed injuries, including cervical spondylosis and carpal tunnel syndrome, were work-related. The matter was heard by Ms A E Burke, AO Member, of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether Ms Stancevska had suffered an injury or disease, and if so, whether her employment at Note Printing Australia (NPA) contributed to that condition or its aggravation to a significant degree. Alternatively, the Tribunal had to consider if she had suffered an injury other than a disease, and if that injury arose out of, or in the course of, her employment with NPA. If either of these questions were answered affirmatively, the Tribunal then had to decide if Comcare was liable to pay compensation.

The Tribunal considered conflicting medical evidence and Ms Stancevska's account of events, including an incident on 30 January 2017 where she was bumped by a co-worker, and a fall on 6 February 2017. Ms Stancevska reported experiencing pain in her right shoulder following the bumping incident, and further injury to her right knee, right shoulder, and arm after the fall. She also described developing numbness in her hands and experiencing pain in her wrists and restricted neck movement over time, which medical investigations later identified as right C7 nerve root impingement. The Tribunal found that Ms Stancevska's employment at NPA contributed to her conditions to a significant degree.

The Tribunal set aside the original decision under review and substituted a new decision finding that Ms Stancevska is entitled to compensation for her claimed injuries of cervical spondylosis and carpal tunnel syndrome pursuant to section 14 of the *Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988* (Cth).