the carrier admits liability for lifetime compensationbenefits for au injury enumeratedin section Lla case is pending before the Board aud makes payments,It is difficultto conceivehow uncertaintycan still exist as to liabili.tyfor necessary and reasonable future medical expensesfor the iuj~ury.The only questionremainingcan be over the amount of future stadicalexpenses. i.e., whether specific expenses are in fact necessary and reasonable. This question will always be "uncertain." Comequently, if we interpreted"uncertainty" in section12 of article83C7 to cover uncertaintyas to the amount of specific medical sxpenses, the provision would not limit any settlementsand would thus bave no purpose. Section lla of article 8306 establishesthat certsLn emmerated injuries are conclusively held to be total and pernanra,t; thus it is unlikelythat the extent of the specific injury, either as to degree or duration, will be uncertain. We believe tha.ta disagreementabout whether specific medical expenses are reag,anableand necessary will not justify settlementof all section 12 of article 8307. In light of this result.we do not addressyour suggestionthat the prerequisiteto settlementof a "disputed"case in section 10(d) of article8306 also applier,to the situationat band.
Your second questionis conditionedupon an affirmativeresponse to your first question. Iecause of our negative response to this question,we do not reach your secondquestion.
SUMMARY
The IndustrialA.ccidentBoard nay not approvea CompromiseSettleiaent Agreenentwhen the carrier admits liability'bleforethe board and makes con- pensation paynents for an injury enunarated in section lla of article 8306. V.T.C.S..and seeks to finally settle only future medical expensesin the CompromiseSet.tlenentAgreenent.
J-/h Very truly yours .
JIn HATTOX AttorneyGeneralof Texas
TOMGREEN First AssistantAttorneyGereral
DAVID R. RICHABDS ExecutiveAssistantAttorney General
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Ms. Margaretn. Maisel - Page:5 (~~-361)
ROBERT GRAY SpecialAssistantAttorneyGtrueral
RICK GILPIN Chairman,OpinionComnittee
Preparedby JenniferRiggs AssistantAttorney General
APPROVED: OPINIONCOMMITTEE
Rick Gilpin.Chai- Colin Carl Susan Garrison Tony Gulllory Jim Noellinger JenniferRiggs Nancy Sutton Sarah Woelk
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