Search Our Decisions Help

You can search WCAT decisions using the Basic Decision Search or the Advanced Decision Search. Here is some help for each type of decision search.

General Tips

The search is not case sensitive. You can use either upper or lower case without affecting the search results.
You can search using one or more of the fields on the search page.
To search by "Appeal Decision Number" do not include "WCAT" before the number. (Example: 2000-00001).
To search for a word with any ending use the (*) wildcard sign which allows you to, for example, search for post* and find decisions containing posts, post-injury, postponed, postponement, postpones.
Show/Sort by: You may choose the number of results and the way the results are shown. For example, you can choose to see from 5 up to 100 results per page, and you can sort your results by decision number, decision date, category or score.
Score: Decisions with a high score have the highest number of the terms you are searching; decisions with a low score have the lowest number of terms you are searching. For example a decision with a score of 10 may have your search terms five times in the decision, whereas a decision with a score of one may have your search terms only once. This function allows you to determine which decisions have the highest count for the terms you are searching.
Search results will highlight up to 12 different terms in your search. If there are more than 12 terms in your search, the other terms will be found using the "find next search word" function, but they will not be highlighted.

Basic Decision Search

Search will find decisions that contain all of the words you list. If you search for the words left and elbow in the "Word(s)" box, the search will find decisions that contain the words "left" and "elbow".
Separate search terms with a space and put phrases in quotation marks. For example, elbow wrist "arising out of" finds all decisions containing the words "elbow" and "wrist" and the phrase "arising out of".
If you wish to include or exclude certain words, please use the Advanced Search page.
If you put a decision number in the field "Appeal Decision Numbers", you will only get back the exact decision listed. If you wish to find decisions that have considered a particular decision, you need to put the decision number in the "Word(s)" field.
To search for a policy use the # sign in front of the policy. (Example: #22.00).

Use	To search for…	Example	Finds…
Word(s)	decisions with all of the words you list.	left elbow	decisions that contain the word "left" and the word "elbow".
Between	decisions by date. Put in the start and end dates to search a range of dates. Since we started making decisions in March of 2003, there are no WCAT decisions before then.	2004/01/30 2006/02/28	decisions we made between January 30, 2004 and February 28, 2006. Additionally: if you enter January 30, 2004 in the 1^st date box and leave the 2^nd date blank you will get all decisions since January 30, 2004. if you leave the 1^st date blank and enter February 28, 2006 in the 2^nd date box you will get all decisions between March 3, 2003 and February 28, 2006.
WCAT Decision Number	WCAT decisions by decision number. We number our decisions using a four-digit year, separated by a hyphen (-) followed by a five-digit number.	2003-00000	WCAT 2003-00000.

Advanced Decision Search

If you put a decision number in the field "Appeal Decision Numbers", you will only get back the exact decision listed. If you wish to find decisions that have considered a particular decision, you need to put the decision number in the "All these words, Exact phrase or One or More Words" fields.

Use	To search for...	Example	Finds...
All these words	a specific word or more than one word.	wrist elbow	decisions with both of these words.
Exact phrase	an exact set of words You will only get results if the words in the phrase you typed in are in the exact same order within the decision. You do not need to use quotation marks around the words.	left elbow	decisions with the exact phrase "left elbow".
One or more words	any words you have listed You will get results if at least one of the words you typed is in the decision.	wrist elbow	decisions with any of these words.
None of these words	words, but exclude other words from the search. Note you must enter something in either "All these words" or "Exact phrase" or "One or more words" for "None of these words" to work.	wrist	decisions that do not include wrist.
WCAT Decision Number	WCAT decisions by decision number. We number our decisions using a four-digit year, separated by a hyphen (-) followed by a five-digit number.	2003-00000	WCAT 2003-00000.
Type	all decisions or only merit, extension of time, reconsideration or stay decisions. You may search one or multiple types.	merit	merit decisions.
Category	compensation, assessment, prevention, relief of costs, section 257, or discrimination decisions. You may search one or multiple categories.	compensation	compensation decisions.
Classification	all decisions, or only precedent (binding) or noteworthy (helpful) decisions. You may search one or multiple classifications.	noteworthy	noteworthy decisions.
Decision Date	decisions by date. Put in the start and end dates to search a range of dates. Since we started making decisions in March of 2003, there are no WCAT decisions before then.	2004/01/30 2006/02/28	decisions made between January 30, 2004 and February 28, 2006. Additionally: if you enter January 30, 2004 in the 1st date box and leave the 2nd date blank you will get all decisions since January 30, 2004. if you leave the 1st date blank and enter February 28, 2006 in the 2nd date box you will get all decisions between March 3, 2003 and February 28, 2006.

You can search using more than one of the above categories, just put the terms you want to search in the appropriate boxes. For example, you can put "wrist and elbow" in the "Exact phrase box" and "left" in the "None of these words" box, you can then choose "all" as the type of decision, "compensation" as the category, and "noteworthy" as the classification. The search results you get will be all compensation decisions that are noteworthy which contain the exact phrase "wrist and elbow", but not the word "left".