An employee has an injury in February 2000. In July 2000 he has an aggravation of his injury. You should:

• A. Combine the two injuries in one file
• B. Set up a separate file for the new injury
• C. Apportion permanent disability
• D. Close the file

Answer: (B)

When an employee experiences an aggravation of a prior work‑related injury, it is treated as a new injury event that warrants its own claim file. Opening a separate file for the July aggravation keeps the February injury distinct, so the medical treatment, indemnity, and any potential permanent disability can be tracked and evaluated on the specific basis of the aggravation incident.

This separation avoids mixing records and benefits from the two time periods, which helps ensure accurate determinations for each injury’s impact. It also sets the stage for any needed apportionment later if disability from both conditions is present, without conflating the two sets of facts. Closing or combining into one file would risk confusing timelines, medical issues, and benefit calculations, whereas maintaining a separate file directly reflects the reality that a new event created new claim considerations.