Joseph Traugott v. Arctec Alaska

Summary

The court held that a work injury may be compensable when it aggravates or accelerates a preexisting condition, and that factual causation remains a component of the post-amendment workers’ compensation analysis. The Board properly determined that Traugott’s work-related blister and resulting infection were the most important or material cause of his disability and need for treatment, and the Commission improperly reweighed the evidence. The court reversed the Commission and remanded for reinstatement of the Board’s award.