Opinion ID: 1133703
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Denial of Claim for Permanent Partial Disability

Text: Wright contends that his injury resulted in a disability that, despite a diligent and thorough work search, rendered him incapable of finding any work other than his temporary position subsidized by DVR. He argues that benefits were improperly denied because the hearing examiner improperly construed Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-405(h) to require an injured worker earning approximately the minimum wage at the time of injury to prove by a preponderance of the evidence an inability to return to any employment whatsoever. He contends that such a construction is not permitted by the statutory language or this Court's recognition of the odd-lot doctrine and is, therefore, not in accordance with the law. The Division contends that the basis of the hearing examiner's decision to deny benefits was its finding that Wright had failed to prove that he was unable to return to work because of his injury. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-405(h) states: (h) An injured employee awarded permanent partial impairment benefits may apply for a permanent disability award subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) The injured employee is because of the injury, unable to return to employment at a comparable or higher wage than the wage the employee was earning at the time of injury; (ii) An application for permanent partial disability is filed not before three (3) months after the date of ascertainable loss or three (3) months before the last scheduled impairment payment, whichever occurs later, but in no event later than one (1) year following the later date; and (iii) The employee has actively sought suitable work, considering the employee's health, education, training and experience. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-405(h) (Michie 1997) (emphasis added). We read unambiguous statutory language to give meaning to each word or phrase and so as not to render any part as superfluous. Russell v. State ex rel. Wyoming Workers' Safety and Compensation Div., 944 P.2d 1151, 1155 (Wyo.1997); Desotell v. State ex rel. Wyoming Worker's Comp. Div., 767 P.2d 998, 1002 (Wyo.1989). Plainly, the statutory language of Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-405(h)(i) requires that, as a threshold matter, the hearing examiner was required to determine if Wright's failure to return to a comparable wage was the result of his injury or other circumstances. On this issue, the hearing examiner concluded: Wright has submitted no evidence to support the position that he is not able to return to work at a comparable wage. He has been working as a counter person selling auto parts at the same hourly rate he was earning prior to the accident. Wright believes he can perform the duties required at that job. Wright applied for numerous jobs he believed he was qualified to do. Wright's application reflects that these potential employers either were not hiring or would get back to him. There have been no restrictions placed upon Wright by his physicians as far as the number of hours Wright is physically able to work. The functional capacity evaluation shows that Wright is capable of working at minimum wage positions. Minimum wage is 95 percent of Wright's pre-injury wage and is therefore comparable. The positions for which Wright applied pay comparable wages. No evidence has been submitted that Wright has been turned away from employment because of the limited use of his right arm. Our review of the record shows that Wright did not present any evidence that his injury prevented him from returning to full-time employment. A worker's compensation claimant applying for permanent partial disability benefits must prove each essential element of his claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Tenorio, 931 P.2d at 238 (citing Martinez, 917 P.2d at 621). Without evidence that because of the injury he was unable to return to employment at a comparable or higher wage than the wage he was earning at the time of injury, Wright has failed to prove an essential element of his claim by a preponderance of the evidence.