Opinion ID: 1414232
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: there was sufficient evidence to support the combination of garcia's pre-existing impairments and her work-related impairments, rendering her totally and permanently disabled.

Text: ISIF argues that the condition of Garcia's back and thumb did not combine with the loss of her arm and the impairment to her knee to render her totally and permanently disabled. ISIF contends that it is not sufficient under I.C. § 72-332(1) to show simply that a claimant is totally and permanently disabled and suffered from some pre-existing condition that can be defined as a permanent physical impairment. It is asserted that there must be proof either that the last accident aggravated and accelerated the pre-existing condition, or that the impairment due to the pre-existing condition combined, contributed and made a difference in bringing about total permanent disability. ISIF invites us to hold that the burden of proof is on the party seeking to invoke the liability of ISIF under the statute to show that the disability would not have been total but for the pre-existing condition. ISIF contends that Garcia is totally disabled because of the impairments and limitations of the work-related accident, together with non-medical factors, without regard to the condition of her back and thumb. We acknowledge that the but for standard is the appropriate test to determine whether the total permanent disability is the result of the combined effects of the pre-existing condition and the work-related injury. We reject the argument that this standard was not met here. In this case the Commission found that the condition of Garcia's back and thumb, combined with the injuries to her arm and knee, produced her total permanent disability. The Commission did not specify what standard it followed to determine that the combined effects required by the statute existed. We note that in Jussila v. Department of Labor and Industries, 370 P.2d 582 (Wash. 1962), cited by ISIF in support of the but for standard, the finding at issue was that the total disability was entirely a result of the accident and injuries incurred during employment, and that the earlier disability had no effect on the finding of total disability. Id. at 584. The Washington Supreme Court held that it was bound by that finding. Likewise, if there is substantial competent evidence here to support the finding of the Commission, that there was combination, we must accept the finding. A vocational evaluator testified that taking into account the loss of Garcia's arm, the impairment to her hip, and the condition of her back and thumb, there were no jobs among the 2500 he considered that Garcia could perform. He indicated the specific ways in which the condition of her back eliminated her from some jobs and stated that the condition of her thumb prevented her from being able to handle equipment that required fine motor coordination. We accept this as substantial competent evidence that sustains the finding of the Commission that Garcia's pre-existing impairments combined with her work-related impairments to cause her total permanent disability. This evidence is sufficient to fulfill the requirement that but for the pre-existing impairments, Garcia would not have been totally and permanently disabled.