Medical Conditions: Alcoholism

Frisbie v. Champion International Corporation [02/10/95] 1995 MTWCC 13 Where claimant’s medical records are replete with reference to pre-injury alcohol abuse, and a physician credibly testified that claimant’s pattern of drinking was the same before and after his work injury, claimant’s alcohol abuse was neither caused nor aggravated by his back injury. While the Court did believe claimant’s use of alcohol worsened his experience of pain, this was not the responsibility of the insurer where the injury did not cause or worsen claimant’s alcohol abuse.