Workers' comp claim denied in Nevada: what to do next

If the insurer denies your claim or makes another written decision you disagree with, file a Request for Hearing with the Hearings Division within 70 days from the date of the decision letter, following the instructions in the letter.

Your employer's insurer, not the state, usually decides first. If they deny or delay, the free help listed here can explain your options.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Deadlines are strict. If you are near one, call the state agency or free help today.

If your claim is denied or delayed in Nevada

Who decides

Nevada Department of Administration, Hearings Division (hearing officers and appeals officers)

First step

Source: Form D-12a

Form

Request for Hearing - Contested Claim (Form D-12a)

Deadline

Appeal the insurer's written determination within 70 days from the date of the determination letter. Appeal a hearing officer's decision within 30 days, and a managed care organization's determination to the appeals officer within 30 days.

Medical disagreements

Medical decisions by the insurer or its managed care organization are appealed the same way (to the hearing officer within 70 days, or to the appeals officer within 30 days for an MCO determination). To change from your first panel doctor within 90 days, tell the insurer; later changes need written approval, which is treated as granted if the insurer does not act within 10 days.

Request for Hearing Before the Appeals Officer

Appealing the decision

Appeals officer (within 30 days of the hearing officer's decision), then a petition for judicial review in District Court (within 30 days of the appeals officer's decision).

File a Request for Hearing - Contested Claim with the Hearings Division within 70 days of the insurer's written determination.
Informal hearing before a hearing officer (a trained layperson); many workers represent themselves at this level.
If you disagree with the hearing officer's decision, appeal to an appeals officer within 30 days. NAIW can represent you for free at this level.
If you disagree with the appeals officer, file a petition for judicial review in District Court within 30 days.

Law: NRS 616C.315, 616C.345, 616C.370

Source: naiw.nv.gov

Sources

The official sources for Nevada are listed on the Nevada page.

National rules that may also matter

Not covered by state workers' comp?

These federal programs and laws cover some groups of workers instead of, or in addition to, state workers' compensation. If one of them may apply to you, check its rules and deadlines too. They are different from your state's.

Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA): Civilian employees of the federal government, including Postal Service employees. Official page

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (Longshore Act): Maritime workers such as longshore workers, harbor workers, ship repairers, shipbuilders and ship-breakers, hurt on navigable waters of the United States or on an adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, terminal or other area used to load, unload, repair or build ships. Some groups are excluded. Official page
Longshore maximum and minimum for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (fiscal year 2027): maximum $2,163.92 a week, minimum $540.98 a week.

Law: 33 U.S.C. 906(b); DOL Longshore NAWW table

Defense Base Act: Civilian employees working outside the United States on U.S. military bases or under a contract with the U.S. government for public works or national defense. Claims are handled by the Longshore program. Official page

Federal Black Lung Program: Coal miners who are totally disabled by black lung disease (pneumoconiosis) from coal mine work, and survivors of miners whose deaths were caused by it. Official page

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program: Current or former employees of the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors and subcontractors, and certain uranium miners, millers and ore transporters, who became ill from toxic exposures such as radiation, beryllium or silica at covered work sites, and their survivors. The program is set up by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Official page

Railroad workers (Federal Employers' Liability Act): Employees of railroads in interstate commerce. Instead of a workers' compensation claim, a federal law lets an injured railroad worker sue the railroad for damages caused by its negligence.

Seamen (Jones Act): A seaman injured in the course of employment may bring a lawsuit against the employer, with the right to a jury trial, under the same federal rules that apply to railroad workers.

National help

Your state workers' compensation agency answers questions about claims. Many have a free help line, an ombudsman or information officers for injured workers.

The Legal Services Corporation funds 129 nonprofit legal aid organizations in every state, D.C. and the territories. Enter your address on its website to find one near you. You can also look up legal information and free forms at LawHelp.org. Whether a local program handles workers' compensation cases varies.

LawHelp.org