An employee's injury results from a domestic dispute, which is assessed under workers' compensation guidelines. What is the most likely conclusion regarding the compensability of this injury?

• A. Not compensable because it did not arise out of employment
• B. Not compensable because it did not occur in the course of employment
• C. Compensable because it arose out of employment
• D. Compensable because it occurred in the course of employment

Answer: (A)

The correct conclusion is that the injury is not compensable because it did not arise out of employment. Workers' compensation regulations generally require that for an injury to be compensable, it must directly relate to the employee's work duties or activities associated with their job. In this scenario, the injury stemming from a domestic dispute is a personal matter and not connected to the job or work environment.

Compensability typically requires a clear link to employment, which the dispute does not provide. The nature of the injury and its circumstances are crucial—if it occurs due to personal issues outside of work responsibilities, it falls outside the scope of workers' compensation claims. Hence, the assessment aligns with the legal framework surrounding workers' compensation, which emphasizes that injuries must arise from the employer-employee relationship and occur within the scope of employment-related activities.