The warning signs often include age, education, heavy past work, permanent restrictions, failed light duty, an FCE that limits the worker, MMI disputes, denied medical care, and possible Social Security Disability.
Age, education, and work history
A worker who has done heavy labor for decades may face a different situation than a younger worker with transferable office skills. That does not decide the case by itself, but it can matter in serious disability analysis.
Restrictions and FCEs
Permanent restrictions or an FCE can show that the worker cannot return to the old job. A low impairment rating does not always answer the practical question of whether the person can work.
Medical-treatment disputes
Delayed treatment, denied MRIs, disputed referrals, or refusal to approve recommended care can make a case stall. In serious cases, medical access is often the key pressure point.