Opinion ID: 2070301
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Applicability of Varying Rates Compensation

Text: [¶ 28] UPS also contends that the Board erred in its subsequent motion for findings of fact by awarding varying rates compensation, i.e., compensation based on the difference between pre-injury and actual post-injury wages. As UPS contends, because McAdam did not seek employment while he was enrolled in vocational rehabilitation, varying rates benefits would approximate 100% partial incapacity benefits. [¶ 29] We recently held that the determination of the availability of post-injury employment must be based on the traditional criteria of an employee's physical capacity and qualifications, and not the employee's enrollment in vocational retraining. Johnson v. Shaw's Distribution Ctr., 2000 ME 191, ¶¶ 14, 17, 760 A.2d 1057, 1061. Accordingly, we held that it was not error to treat full-time work in the employee's local community as available to a partially incapacitated employee, notwithstanding the employee's enrollment in Board-ordered vocational rehabilitation, as long as the employee is physically capable and otherwise qualified to obtain and perform that employment. Id. [¶ 30] In this case, it is unclear from the hearing officer's subsequent findings of fact whether the determination that McAdam could not safely continue in his work as a school bus driver for the City of Portland, is an explanation of the hearing officer's original finding that McAdam has a continuing capacity to earn $240 a week, or whether it constitutes a new determination that McAdam suffers a greater level of incapacity. Because the hearing officer's findings are unclear on this crucial point, we cannot determine whether the use of varying rates was based on McAdam's actual incapacity or his enrollment in the rehabilitation program. Thus, this issue must also be addressed on remand.