Final answer:
Under workers' compensation law, the correct rule when an injury aggravates a pre-existing condition is that the employer must cover the aggravation until the injury reaches its pre-injury state (option C). This 'take 'em as you find 'em' philosophy ensures that all new injuries are treated, even if they worsen a condition that was already present.
Step-by-step explanation:
Workers' Compensation and Pre-existing Conditions
Under workers' compensation law, when an injury aggravates a pre-existing condition, the rule that typically applies is often summarized by the phrase "You take 'em as you find 'em." This means that employers must pay for the aggravation of the condition due to the injury until the injury returns to its pre-injury state, according to option (C). It's important to note that while workers' compensation insurance covers injuries that occur on the job, it also applies even if the injury exacerbates a condition that an employee already had. This provision ensures that workers have their new injuries treated appropriately, despite any pre-existing issues.
Throughout the 20th century, particularly during the early 1900s, laborers, unions, and Progressive reformers worked at the state level to pass mandatory compensation laws. Labor and the Mine Wars in West Virginia and Colorado serve as historical contexts underpinning the evolution of such laws. The rationale behind these reforms was multifaceted, aimed at improving workplace safety, reducing the rise of radicalism, preventing labor strikes, and ensuring fair treatment under workman's compensation insurance policies for all employees, regardless of prior conditions.