Opinion ID: 2503120
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Case Number 35548Charles Bevins

Text: On May 30, 2000, Charles W. Bevins (hereinafter referred to as Mr. Bevins), a coal miner, injured his back in the course of and as a result of his employment when he attempted to move a loaded wheelbarrow. While treating his back injury, Mr. Bevins' physician discovered that Mr. Bevins also had sustained an injury to his ankle, causing his foot to drop. For this condition, Mr. Bevins underwent two surgeries, the most recent of which was on November 27, 2007. On December 10, 2007, Mr. Bevins filed an application to reopen his workers' compensation claim for the purpose of receiving TTD benefits. On his reopening application, Mr. Bevins did not indicate that he had retired; rather, he left both the yes and the no boxes next to the retirement question blank. However, Mr. Bevins did state on his application that I'm receiving Social Security Disability Insurance[;] I no longer work due to this injury. By this application, Mr. Bevins sought TTD benefits for the period from November 27, 2007, to February 27, 2008. At the time he submitted this application, Mr. Bevins was fifty-one years old. By decision dated March 10, 2008, the Workers' Compensation Claims Manager (hereinafter referred to as Claims Manager) ruled that Mr. Bevins' claim could not be reopened, explaining: This claim cannot be reopened because: Title 85-1-5.2 states,  If an individual retires, he or she is disqualified from receiving temporary total disability indemnity benefits as a result of an injury received from the place of employment. Title 85-1-5.3 states,  If a period of disability includes a reasonably ascertainable period of time during which the injured worker would not have been compensated from his or her employer, then temporary total disability indemnity benefits shall not be paid during that period. Thus, the Claims Manager determined that Mr. Bevins was not entitled to receive TTD benefits. Mr. Bevins appealed this determination. By decision dated October 27, 2008, the Workers' Compensation Office of Judges (hereinafter referred to as OOJ) awarded Mr. Bevins TTD benefits, thus reversing the earlier determination. In summary, the OOJ stated that [t]he claimaint [Mr. Bevins] is not disqualified from temporary total disability benefits due to the sole reason that he is receiving Social Security Disability benefits. This ruling was based upon the OOJ's observations that Mr. Bevins is 52 years old and that [t]he preponderance of the evidence shows that the claimant has not retired. Therefore, the OOJ awarded Mr. Bevins the TTD benefits he had requested. Thereafter, the Commissioner appealed the OOJ's decision to the Board of Review. By order entered June 4, 2009, the Board of Review reversed the OOJ's decision, thus denying Mr. Bevins' application for TTD benefits. In this regard, the Board of Review determined that TTD benefits serve as a wage replacement. Thus, because Mr. Bevins is receiving Social Security disability benefits and has not returned to work since the May 30, 2000[,] injury in this claim, Mr. Bevins has no wages to replace and is, therefore, not entitled to reopening on a temporary total disability basis or temporary total disability benefits[.] From this adverse ruling, Mr. Bevins appeals to this Court.