# Compensable Injury

_Glossary_

Canonical: https://www.claimspages.com/learn/glossary/compensable-injury/

An injury or illness that arises out of and in the course of employment and qualifies for workers compensation benefits.

Compensability requires employment connection — not commuting (going and coming rule exceptions exist), not horseplay in some cases, and not purely idiopathic events unless work contributed. Occupational diseases have additional tests.



A nurse contracts a bloodborne pathogen from a needlestick at work — likely compensable; same disease from community exposure is not.