The Department paid for my treatment for three years. Recently, injury symptoms have reappeared. Can I ask the Department of Labor and Industries to pay for any further treatment of my knee injury?

Q: I injured my knee at work. The Department of Labor and Industries paid for my treatment for three years. I then moved to Pennsylvania and continued treatment, but paid for it myself. I have now moved back to Washington, but have never heard anything else from the Department regarding my claim. Recently, my knee has begun swelling and popping when I walk. Can I ask the Department of Labor and Industries to pay for any further treatment of my knee injury?

A: If you never received any written notice of claim closure from the Department of Labor and Industries, all you have to do is see a doctor and if they recommend further treatment, the Department should have to pay for that continued treatment. If the Department, while you were in Pennsylvania, attempted to close the claim but you never received any written notice of that closure, the claim is still “open”. The Department of Labor and Industries has the obligation to “communicate” the order to the injured worker. Learn more about workers’ compensation claims.