Opinion ID: 1280719
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Repass v. WCD and U.S. Steel Mining Co., Inc.

Text: William R. Repass suffered an injury to his lower back on June 29, 1992 while working for his employer, U.S. Steel Mining Company. Mr. Repass filed a claim, and some time later the West Virginia Workers' Compensation Division (the Division) referred Mr. Repass to a Dr. Landis for an evaluation to determine his degree of permanent partial disability, if any. During an examination based upon the DRE Model conducted on October 30, 1996, Dr. Landis found evidence of a healed fracture of one of Mr. Repass' lumbar vertebrae, and a full range of motion of the lumbar spine. Dr. Landis concluded that Mr. Repass had reached maximum medical improvement, and that he suffered a 5 percent impairment as result of the June 29, 1992 injury. Upon receipt of Dr. Landis' evaluation, the Division awarded Mr. Repass an award for a 5 percent permanent partial disability. Mr. Repass protested the Division's award and submitted an evaluation report conducted by a Dr. Carlson on August 1, 1997. Dr. Carlson examined Mr. Repass using the ROM Model and concluded that Mr. Repass suffered a 9 percent impairment, specifically, 5 percent for the fracture and 4 percent for limitation of flexion in his back. Thereafter, Mr. Repass' employer, U.S. Steel Mining Company, had yet another doctor examine Mr. Repass. Dr. Paul Bachwitt examined Mr. Repass on October 14, 1997, and his report referenced both the DRE and ROM methods, but apparently the doctor claimed that the ROM findings were not credible and that the ROM method should not be used. Under the DRE method, Dr. Bachwitt, in agreement with the report of Dr. Landis, found that Mr. Repass should be granted a 5 percent award. The Workers' Compensation Office of Judges considered Mr. Repass' appeal and on March 11, 1998, issued a decision reversing the Division's prior award of 5 percent, and granting Mr. Repass a 9 percent award based on Dr. Carlson's findings. In reaching this conclusion, the administrative law judge referenced an earlier opinion of the Office of Judges, known as the Cottrell decision of August 1997, [2] in which the chief administrative law judge had determined that examinations conducted using the DRE were unreliable. U.S. Steel Mining Company appealed, and on September 30, 1998, the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board reversed and reinstated the initial 5 percent award for permanent partial disability granted by the Division. Mr. Repass now challenges the Appeal Board's final decision. B.