In California, you can reopen a workers' compensation claim if your medical condition worsens, you develop new work‑related symptoms, or you discover an injury that should have been compensable. Reopening is not a new claim; it reactivates an existing closed claim so you can receive additional medical care and, if eligible, temporary disability or supplemental job displacement benefits. The process and strict deadlines differ from an initial claim, and success depends on clear medical evidence and correct filing with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). The following explains who is eligible, key deadlines, required documentation, and practical steps specific to California.
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