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Court upholds denial of comp for nurse’s alleged remote-work injuries - Business Insurance Skip to content Register for free Search Search Log In Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2026 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2026 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2026 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Risk Management Cyber Risks Pricing Trends Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Sponsored Content WSIA RISKWORLD Workers Comp & Safety Workers Comp Cost Control Pain Management Workplace Safety International EMEA Asia-Pacific Latin America People Events BI Intelligence Top 100 Agents & Brokers Best Places to Work 2026 Lists Directories Insurance Pricing BI Stock Index Magazine Current Issue Past Issues Subscribe Women to Watch ALL INsurance Resources Risk Perspectives Sponsored Content Webinars White Papers Court upholds denial of comp for nurse’s alleged remote-work injuries by Louise Esola Claims Disputes , Workers Comp Coverage , Workplace Safety Sep 16, 2026 A Pennsylvania appeals court on Thursday upheld the denial of workers compensation benefits to a nurse practitioner who alleged that working from her couch during the COVID-19 pandemic caused carpal tunnel syndrome and aggravated a preexisting neck condition. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in Graaf v. Scranton Counseling Center that “substantial” evidence supported a workers compensation judge’s rejection of Sharon Graaf’s claim against Scranton Counseling Center. Ms. Graaf, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, testified that her job involved approximately eight hours of daily keyboard use. After shifting to remote work during the pandemic, she used an employer-provided laptop while sitting on her couch, with the computer on her lap. She testified that she lacked a suitable table and developed headaches and neck pain radiating into her hands and fingers. She reported being unable to move her hands on Aug. 3, 2020. In June 2023, she filed a claim alleging bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and aggravation of cervical degenerative disc disease, seeking disability benefits, medical expenses and counsel fees. The medical experts disagreed over whether her working conditions contributed to her symptoms. Ms. Graaf’s neurologist testified that prolonged neck flexion made her underlying cervical condition more symptomatic. He acknowledged, however, that his opinion relied in part on her account of being asymptomatic before August 2020 and that her preexisting disc injuries could worsen without a work injury. The employer’s neurologist attributed her symptoms to degenerative changes and testified that prolonged sitting on a couch would not accelerate or worsen them. The compensation judge credited the employer’s expert and rejected Ms. Graaf’s testimony on material issues. The Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board affirmed. Upholding that decision, the Commonwealth Court said credibility determinations belonged to the compensation judge and could not be disturbed when supported by substantial evidence. The court rejected Ms. Graaf’s argument that the judge failed to consider her home working conditions, noting that he expressly addressed them. It also rejected her challenge to the employer’s medical examination, finding that the neurologist discussed her work environment and explained why he believed it did not cause or worsen her symptoms. The court further declined to consider her assertion on appeal that she suffered hand sprains, explaining that her claim petition alleged different injuries. The ruling was unpublished. 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