Opinion ID: 1730892
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: date of maximum medical improvement

Text: Stacy argues that the single judge erred in relying on Lockwood's testimony to set Stacy's date of maximum medical improvement as January 20, 2005. The date of maximum medical improvement for purposes of ending a workers' compensation claimant's temporary disability is the date upon which the claimant has attained maximum medical recovery from all of the injuries sustained in a particular compensable accident. A claimant has not reached maximum medical improvement until all the injuries resulting from an accident have reached maximum medical healing. [24] And generally, whether a workers' compensation claimant has reached maximum medical improvement is a question of fact. [25] Stacy notes that after examining him in September 2005, Lockwood was unable to conclude that he was at maximum medical improvement. But in his November medical report, Lockwood clearly articulated the basis for his conclusion that Stacy had reached maximum medical improvement on January 20. Lockwood explained that [t]o specifically ascertain an appropriate date of maximum medical improvement is very difficult, but it would appear as though over the last approximately 10 months his care has been supportive care, i.e., maintenance care. Thus, a reasonable date in hindsight of maximum medical improvement would be January 20, 2005. Lockwood acknowledged that this is a difficult calculation to make, but again, based on the information made available to me, this would appear to be appropriate. Stacy notes that Scheer disagreed with Lockwood's opinion. But Lockwood explained the basis for his opinion, and the single judge is entitled to accept the opinion of one expert over another. [26] Stacy did not present evidence of any meaningful change in his condition that occurred after January 20, 2005. We cannot say the single judge was clearly wrong in finding that Stacy had reached maximum medical healing on that date. Therefore, we find no merit to Stacy's third assigned error.