[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","about":"Workers' Compensation","url":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/how-pre-existing-conditions-impact-workers-compensation-claims-in-md\/","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/how-pre-existing-conditions-impact-workers-compensation-claims-in-md\/","name":"How Pre-Existing Conditions Impact Workers\u2019 Compensation Claims in MD","headline":"How Pre-Existing Conditions Impact Workers\u2019 Compensation Claims in MD","articleBody":"Sometimes, a work injury or occupational disease can make a prior injury or pre-existing medical condition worse. You may experience an increase in the severity of symptoms or other health complications that slow down the recovery process. You may also worry about how your situation could affect your eligibility for or the amount of workers\u2019 compensation benefits you could receive.\u00a0Here\u2019s what you need to know about the effect of pre-existing conditions on workers\u2019 compensation in MD.What Is Maryland\u2019s \u201cAggravation of Pre-Existing Conditions\u201d Rule?Maryland law recognizes that a workplace injury has the potential to worsen, or \u201caggravate,\u201d a person\u2019s pre-existing injury or condition. That means that a pre-existing condition does not disqualify them from pursuing or receiving workers\u2019 compensation benefits.Under Maryland\u2019s \u201caggravation of pre-existing condition\u201d rule, you may be eligible for workers\u2019 compensation benefits if a work-related injury or illness exacerbates or accelerates a pre-existing condition beyond its natural progression. If a work injury worsens a non-work-related condition \u2014 or even an underlying condition you didn\u2019t know you had \u2014 you can file a new claim. But if you reinjure or aggravate a prior job injury, you may need to reopen your earlier claim for that injury instead.What Do You Need to Prove?To qualify for workers\u2019 compensation when a job injury aggravates a pre-existing condition, you must prove that the injury or illness occurred in the course and scope of your employment. You\u2019ll also need evidence showing how the new injury or illness caused new or worsening symptoms.Here\u2019s an example: Imagine you tore a ligament in a fall on a construction site five years ago. If another workplace incident caused the same ligament to tear again, you could have a valid claim for aggravation of a prior injury. You might also present medical evidence and doctors\u2019 notes showing that the new injury requires a longer recovery time because of the earlier damage.How Insurance Companies Can Use a Pre-Existing Condition Against YouUnfortunately, your employer\u2019s workers\u2019 compensation insurance provider may dispute your claim for aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The insurer may argue that your claimed work injury or illness is simply an extension of a pre-existing condition, and therefore, you are not entitled to workers\u2019 compensation benefits. You don\u2019t have to accept that argument.Workers can fight back against insurance companies\u2019 efforts to use pre-existing conditions to deny benefits by presenting credible evidence of a diagnosis, prior treatment of that condition, and marked recovery. Having proof of a baseline for your medical condition can help you show that a work injury or illness has aggravated your pre-existing condition.How a Maryland Workers\u2019 Compensation Lawyer Can HelpA Maryland workers\u2019 compensation attorney can help you pursue benefits when a work injury or illness aggravates a pre-existing condition by:Investigating your case and gathering evidence demonstrating your right to workers\u2019 comp benefitsCollaborating with your treating providers and medical experts to build a compelling caseAggressively negotiating to resolve disputes over a denied workers\u2019 comp claimFiling a formal claim and representing you during an administrative hearing to fight for the benefits you deserveContact a Maryland Workers\u2019 Compensation Lawyer TodayIf you need to file a workers\u2019 comp claim and have a pre-existing condition, having experienced legal counsel can help you navigate the intricacies of the Maryland workers\u2019 compensation system. Trollinger Law LLC is a top-rated Maryland law firm with years of experience representing clients in complex workers\u2019 compensation cases. Contact us today for a free consultation.","description":"Sometimes, a work injury or occupational disease can make a prior injury or pre-existing medical condition worse. You may experience an increase in the severity of symptoms or other health complications that slow down the recovery process. You may also worry about how your situation could affect your eligibility for or the amount of workers\u2019 compensation benefits you could receive. \u00a0 Here\u2019s what you need to know about the effect of pre-existing conditions on workers\u2019 compensation in MD. What Is Maryland\u2019s \u201cAggravation of Pre-Existing Conditions\u201d Rule? Maryland law recognizes that a workplace injury has the potential to worsen, or \u201caggravate,\u201d...","dateModified":"2025-09-22","datePublished":"2025-09-22","wordCount":591,"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Logo-Header-1.svg","height":0,"width":0,"@id":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Logo-Header-1.svg"},"name":"Trollinger Law LLC","@id":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/how-pre-existing-conditions-impact-workers-compensation-claims-in-md\/#Organization1"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Workers-Compensation.jpg","height":600,"width":800,"@id":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Workers-Compensation.jpg"},"author":{"@type":"Person","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fecba0beea03ea549751c6d96abc8968?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96,"@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fecba0beea03ea549751c6d96abc8968?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"url":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/author\/trollingerlaw\/","name":"Trollinger Law LLC","identifier":8,"@id":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/author\/trollingerlaw\/#Person"},"@id":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/how-pre-existing-conditions-impact-workers-compensation-claims-in-md\/#BlogPosting"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Pre-Existing Conditions Impact Workers\u2019 Compensation Claims in MD","item":"https:\/\/www.trollingerlaw.com\/blog\/how-pre-existing-conditions-impact-workers-compensation-claims-in-md\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]