When he first came to see us in 2019, this worker felt exhausted and defeated. He believed he had run out of options. Two years earlier, on July 24, 2017, the WSIAT had denied his appeal. For him, it felt like the end of the road.
This worker was only 19 when his life changed. He suffered a deep cut to his left forearm while working as a labourer, and that injury developed into Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Over time, he also developed PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder because of what he had been through. He was a young man who had once dreamed of becoming a police officer. Instead, he found himself living with constant pain, daily psychological symptoms, and a growing sense that his future had been taken away from him.
The WSIB had sponsored him in a retraining program to become a security guard. He tried, but the pain and psychological effects of his injury made it hard for him to continue. Rather than recognizing these barriers as part of his injury, the WSIB stopped his Loss of Earnings benefits and labelled him as uncooperative. They also said he had fully recovered from his psychological injuries, even though his symptoms continued to affect almost every part of his life.
The WSIAT allowed some of his LOE benefits, but they denied his request for Chronic Pain Disability benefits and said there was not enough evidence to show he still had psychological impairments. This was incredibly discouraging for him, and it added to the emotional toll he was already carrying.
After we applied for reconsideration, the WSIAT agreed to take another look. This time, they granted him permanent impairment entitlement and a NEL award for his PTSD and MDD. But this was not the end. For years, his case bounced back and forth between the WSIB and the WSIAT. Three ARO decisions, and 2 WSIAT Decisions later, justice was finally served.
On August 25, 2025, a WSIAT Panel recognized the full impact of his injuries, in Decision No. 699/25. They found that he was unable to return to any form of work and granted him Full Loss of Earnings benefits to age 65.
From beginning to end, it took more than six years for him to receive the compensation he should have had all along. Throughout this long and painful process, we kept advocating for him. We made sure the evidence was heard, and we refused to give up.
His story is a reminder of how important advocacy is—especially for people who are carrying the weight of trauma, pain, and uncertainty. It also shows the power of persistence. David finally beat Goliath, but only because he found the right weapon.