Opinion ID: 1184458
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Was The Board's Finding Supported By Substantial Evidence? [11]

Text: Appellant sets forth numerous references to the record indicating the extent of her original injuries and the ongoing nature of her symptoms. But, as discussed above, the extent of her disability is not of consequence if it is determined that she had no intention of re-entering the labor market for reasons unconnected with her injuries. Upon reviewing the entire record we find no substantial evidence supporting the Board's finding that Grace was unwilling to find suitable employment, either because her husband was opposed to her working or because she did not desire to work. Indeed, almost all the evidence is to the contrary. Her husband's feelings were explored only indirectly. [12] At several points Grace testified that her husband had expressed a preference that she not work, primarily because the additional income placed them in a higher tax bracket, but nowhere is there any testimony that Grace's husband was opposed to her working [13] and the answer to the only direct question on this issue was that he did not care. On the issue of her desire to work, Grace testified that she considered her job at the Polaris Lunch a permanent one and intended to continue working there as long as they would have her. And her employer, Sue Wagner, testified that she came in frequently following the attack asking if she could return to work. [14] There is also considerable evidence in the record that Grace was unable to return to work due to complications resulting from her injury. While Grace did state that her main reason for not returning to work was that she wanted no more fights or arguments with anyone, she also testified that because of the headaches and kidney problems she suffered as a result of her injury, she had limited her activities in public. [15] She further testified that she had to decline an offer of a waitress job at another restaurant because she was physically unable to perform the work. Grace's physician for 15 years testified that it was his opinion that she was incapacitated as a result of her injury and was not malingering. No other medical testimony was presented. In short, the focus of the hearing was not upon the defense that Grace was unwilling to work but rather upon the defense that her injuries resulted from a deliberate attack by her upon a customer. And whatever testimony reflected adversely upon her willingness to work was given incidentally in response to questions directed to this latter issue. Such testimony, even given its most favorable inference, does not support the finding of her unwillingness to work. We thus find a lack of substantial evidence to support the finding of the Board that appellant Grace Vetter was unwilling to work and reverse the decision of the superior court affirming the Board's refusal to grant appellant disability compensation. We remand this case to the superior court with instructions to in turn remand the case to the Workmen's Compensation Board for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.