Opinion ID: 2357344
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Commission's Credibility Determinations

Text: [¶ 23] In addition to its conclusion that the IME report and the opinions of Dr. Williams were probative and credible, the Commission also based its decision on its finding that appellant was not credible. The hearing examiner, as the trier of fact, is responsible for determining relevancy, assigning probative value and ascribing the relevant weight given to medical testimony. Matter of Worker's Compensation Claim of Thornberg, 913 P.2d 863, 867 (Wyo.1996). Ambiguities in evidence trigger the process of weighing the evidence and assessing the credibility of the witness. Latimer v. Rissler & McMurry Co., 902 P.2d 706, 711 (Wyo.1995). As we have previously stated: The fact finder was left with weighing these opinions, and to do so he had to consider (1) the opinion, (2) the reasons, if any, given for it, (3) the strength of it, and (4) the qualifications and credibility of the witness[es] expressing it. Thornberg, 913 P.2d at 868. Accord Matter of Krause, 803 P.2d 81, 83 (Wyo.1990); Rice v. State, 500 P.2d 675, 676 (Wyo.1972). Clark v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers' Safety & Comp. Div., 934 P.2d 1269, 1271 (Wyo.1997). Credibility determinations are the unique province of the hearing examiner, and we eschew re-weighing those conclusions. Hamilton v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers' Safety & Comp. Div., 2001 WY 20, ¶ 11, 18 P.3d 637, 640 (Wyo.2001). We defer to the agency's determination of witness credibility unless it is clearly contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Glaze v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers' Safety & Comp. Div., 2009 WY 102, ¶ 29, 214 P.3d 228, 235 (Wyo.2009). If, in the course of its decision making process, the agency disregards certain evidence and explains its reasons for doing so based upon determinations of credibility or other factors contained in the record, its decision will be sustainable under the substantial evidence test. Dale, 2008 WY 84, ¶ 22, 188 P.3d at 561; see also Chavez v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers' Safety & Comp. Div., 2009 WY 46, ¶ 18, 204 P.3d 967, 971 (Wyo.2009). [¶ 24] Given the subjective nature of the appellant's physical ailments and the dearth of medical evidence connecting his continuing reported pain to his work injury, the appellant's credibility was a vital component to his case. [5] The above-quoted portion of the Commission's conclusions show specific findings regarding the appellant's credibility and detailed reasoning supporting its credibility determinations. See supra ¶ 17. We do not find the Commission's conclusion regarding the appellant's credibility to be clearly contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. To the contrary, the record reveals that the appellant was less than forthright in his providing accurate medical information and that his behavior was inconsistent with the symptoms he was reporting to his doctors. Therefore, we must defer to the Commission's credibility determination as it is not against the great weight of the evidence. [¶ 25] The Commission also stated that it was not persuaded by the opinions of Dr. Beer. We have said, a hearing examiner is entitled to disregard an expert opinion if he finds the opinion unreasonable, not adequately supported by the facts upon which the opinion is based, or based upon an incomplete and inaccurate medical history provided by the claimant. Taylor v. State ex rel. Wyo. Workers' Safety & Comp. Div., 2005 WY 148, ¶ 15, 123 P.3d 143, 148 (Wyo.2005). Not only did the Commission discount many of Dr. Beer's conclusions as they were based on his reliance on the appellant's subjective reports, but it also specifically found many of Dr. Beer's opinions to be inconsistent with the medical evidence. See supra ¶ 17. Determining whether a claimant is entitled to benefits where, as here, there exists conflicting medical testimony is precisely the purpose for which the Medical Commission was created. French v. Amax Coal West, 960 P.2d 1023, 1030 (Wyo.1998) (The creation of the Medical Commission reflects the legislature's recognition that many contested claims involve complex medical issues, and in some cases, those issues are dispositive. Thus, each medical hearing panel will have at least one physician, and all will be health care providers, with the expertise to determine the medical issues before them.) As has been said, our task is not to re-weigh the evidence presented to the Commission but only to determine if substantial evidence exists to support its conclusion. Upon reviewing the record before us, we find that there is substantial evidence to support the Commission's conclusion regarding the credibility and weight given to Dr. Beer's opinions and testimony.