Which type of injury is NOT recognized as compensable under West Virginia workers' compensation?

In West Virginia, workers' compensation is designed to cover injuries that occur as a result of employment-related activities. This includes physical injuries sustained from trauma, injuries incurred during specific work activities like training exercises, and even injuries that may arise from the improper use of equipment if they are linked to the job.

However, injuries that are solely psychiatric and do not involve any physical contribution or manifestation are generally not compensable. This is because workers' compensation laws in West Virginia typically require a clear connection between the injury and a tangible physical event occurring in the workplace. While mental health claims are recognized when they have a physical component or arise from specific occupational hazards, purely psychiatric conditions without a physical injury do not meet the established criteria for compensation. Thus, the distinction here is crucial and underscores the system's focus on physical as opposed to purely psychological injuries.