Under what condition does West Virginia require payment for lost wages due to medical appointments?

In West Virginia, payment for lost wages due to medical appointments is specifically mandated when the employee is ordered to appear before the Occupational Pneumoconiosis (OP) board. This is in recognition of the necessity of attending such appointments which are often essential for evaluation related to work-related health issues. In these instances, the law acknowledges that the employee's attendance at these hearings or evaluations is a requirement, and as a result, compensates them for the time lost from work.

The connection to the OP board stems from the fact that evaluations conducted by this entity can directly impact the employee's benefits and future engagements with the Workers' Compensation system, making it a legal obligation for the employer to cover wages during these appointments. This means that when attendance is not optional, as dictated by the OP board, compensation is warranted.

In other scenarios, such as voluntary attendance at appointments or those requested by a physician without further stipulative directives (like evaluation requirements), the obligation to compensate for lost wages does not apply. The same is true for age-related considerations; the worker's age does not factor into the entitlement for lost wage replacements under these circumstances, as payment is determined by the nature of the appointment rather than the personal characteristics of the employee.