Opinion ID: 1677741
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Physical Ingredient

Text: The workers' compensation hearing officer strictly construed La.Rev.Stat. 23:1221(2), the statutory definition of permanently, totally disabled, as limiting the inquiry to only the physical ingredient. The hearing officer reasoned that the relevant inquiry is to consider the physical capacity to engage in employment, as opposed to the SEB provision, which ... has a component of suitability from the intellectual, educational, socioeconomic standpoint. Addressing solely the physical ingredient, the hearing officer noted that Dr. Heard's medical reports reflect that since 1995 plaintiff's physical condition has not changed and that since the August 2, 1995 report, Dr. Heard has fairly consistently said approved for light and sedentary activities as tolerated, although saying unable to work. The hearing officer further relied upon the functional capacity evaluation (FCE) and Dr. Gidman's report, which both reflect at least sedentary physical capabilities. [B]ased strictly on the physical component, the hearing officer concluded that plaintiff is capable of sedentary activities and that Dr. Heard goes furthersedentary to light activities. Describing her reasoning as a process of exclusion, [7] the hearing officer reasoned that plaintiff's disability status was within the supplemental earnings benefits classification since he is physically capable of sedentary work activity. In arriving at that conclusion, the hearing officer excluded any consideration of education, work experience or age, noting that suitability of employment, from the intellectual standpoint, is simply not an issue . The hearing officer thus found plaintiff entitled to supplemental earning benefits at the full rate without any reduction for earning capacity. Reversing, the court of appeal, relying on this court's decision in Pinkins v. Cardinal Wholesale Supply, Inc., 619 So.2d 52 (La.1993), found it appropriate to consider a totality of factors, including education, experience and age, reasoning: Louisiana Revised Statutes 23:1221(2) should be interpreted to include a totality of factors when determining whether a claimant is totally and permanently disabled such as access to employment, physical factors, age, race, literacy, and experience. A totality of factors comports with the spirit of workers' compensation law. To rely solely on physical factors is too restrictive.... 00-928 at p. 5, 773 So.2d at 902. The court of appeal also cited the failed rehabilitation attempt, and noted that it was no longer premature to declare plaintiff permanently, totally disabled since all attempts at rehabilitation and retraining have been exhausted and have failed. 00-928 at p. 9, 773 So.2d at 904. We disagree with the court of appeal's extension of Pinkins, supra, a supplemental earnings benefits case, to this permanently, totally disabled case. [8] We agree with, however, and further expand upon, the appellate court's reliance on the unsuccessful rehabilitation attempt to support our finding of permanently, totally disabled.