Opinion ID: 1598483
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Combination of First and Second Injuries.

Text: The Fund argues its liability can only be invoked when the first and second injuries somehow combine, making the impairment from the second injury greater than it would have been if there had not been a first injury. There are two ways a claimant can suffer an industrial disability. One way is to sustain an unscheduled injury that affects the body as a whole; the second way to sustain an industrial injury is from the cumulative effects of two scheduled injuries. See Braden, 459 N.W.2d at 470. We have held that it is the cumulative effect of scheduled injuries resulting in industrial disability to the body as a wholerather than the injuries considered in isolationthat triggers the Fund's proportional liability. Shank, 516 N.W.2d at 813 (quoting Braden, 459 N.W.2d at 470). Here, Bergeson suffered two scheduled injuries, a ten percent permanent partial impairment to the right leg and a twenty-six percent permanent partial impairment to the left leg. Had he only suffered the second injury, he would have been entitled only to compensation for the scheduled injury. In our review of the commissioner's award, we must construe section 84.64. When construing workers' compensation statutes, our policy is to liberally construe the statutes in favor of the worker. Beier Glass Co. v. Brundige, 329 N.W.2d 280, 283 (Iowa 1983). Under the statute, a second scheduled injury to a hand, arm, foot, leg or eye, invokes the Fund's liability. The Fund is, however, only liable if the injuries result in an industrial disability to the body as a whole. See Shank, 516 N.W.2d at 814; Braden, 459 N.W.2d at 470. Here, Bergeson suffered two scheduled injuries to his legs that resulted in an industrial disability. After the second injury he was no longer able to work as a plumber, the occupation he had held for practically all of his adult life. Although he was able to obtain employment in a related field, his earning capacity was impaired. There is substantial evidence to support the deputy's finding that he suffered a forty percent industrial disability. Because Bergeson had an industrial disability after suffering a second scheduled injury, the Fund is liable for the additional benefit amount.