What factor must be considered when determining if a compensation claim is valid?

Determining if a compensation claim is valid hinges significantly on the nature of the injury. This refers to the severity and type of the injury sustained by the employee, including how it occurred and its direct relation to their job duties. An injury that is work-related and aligned with the tasks performed can typically validate a worker's compensation claim.

Other factors like an employee’s age, performance history, or duration of employment may provide context to the situation, but they do not fundamentally establish the legitimacy of the claim itself. The emphasis is on whether the injury arises out of and in the course of employment, making the nature of the injury the critical factor in determining the validity of the compensation claim.