“An individual who gets hurt at work as a result of a specific, distinct incident is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if the injury renders that individual disabled. It is easy to overlook instances where the daily grind of work results in the progressive worsening of symptoms over time, but these workers may also be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits if the cumulative injury renders that worker disabled.” 

In Pennsylvania, the Workers’ Compensation Act allows an employee to claim a work injury for more than just a traumatic incident. An injury need not be pinpointed to a specific event or definable incident as long as the injury arises in the course of employment and is related thereto, see Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (Young) v. Bethlehem Steel, 352 A.2d 571 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1976).