Opinion ID: 1280719
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bower v. WCD and Maple Meadow Mining Company

Text: Mr. Randall Z. Bower suffered two separate injuries to his back, one on October 3, 1994, and one about two years later on July 16, 1996. Also, while Mr. Bower was in the midst of his examinations for these injuries, the Office of Judges released the Cottrell decision and accompanying policy memorandum, which necessitated even more examinations. Accordingly, Mr. Bower's examination history is quite complicated, and the briefs actually contain a chart that sets forth the doctors who examined him and their corresponding findings. No fewer than eight doctors examined Mr. Bower between January 1996 and December 1998, using either the DRE Model, the ROM Model, or both, and giving him impairment ratings from 4 percent to 16 percent. By April 22, 1997, the Division had made awards for a total of 5 percent permanent partial disability. After the issuance of Cottrell and a flurry of additional examinations, the Office of Judges reversed the Division and granted Mr. Bower a disability rating of 16 percent. The Office of Judges apparently disregarded any examination based upon the DRE and applied the liberality rule, basing the award upon the highest impairment rating found under the ROM Model. The employer appealed, and on June 29, 2000, the Appeal Board reversed and reinstated the earlier award by the Division of a 5 percent permanent partial disability. Mr. Bower now asks this Court to reverse the Appeal Board's June 29, 2000 decision.