Opinion ID: 1421477
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Malland

Text: Appellant David Malland commenced employment as a Seattle police officer in March 1966. He was granted disability retirement effective November 1979 due to hearing problems. RCW 41.26.130(5) and RCW 41.26.140 permit periodic reexaminations of LEOFF members who have been granted disability retirement allowances. Pursuant to these provisions, Malland was reexamined in 1982. The Seattle Police Pension Board determined Malland was no longer disabled and, following a hearing, canceled his disability retirement allowance. Malland appealed to the Director of the Department of Retirement Systems. The Director affirmed the local board, stating that a change or improvement in condition need not be proven because RCW 41.26 requires determinations of an individual's condition at different times. Subsequently, a de novo hearing was held before an administrative law judge. At the administrative hearing, two medical doctors and an audiologist testified that Malland's condition had not improved since the original grant of disability. The experts, however, reached contrary conclusions on the central issue of whether Malland was still disabled. One doctor concluded Malland remained disabled. A second doctor, Dr. Sennewald, testified that Malland's condition did not prevent him from performing most of the functions of a police officer with average efficiency. The administrative law judge concluded no change in medical condition need be shown to cancel a disability allowance but that Malland was still disabled. The Director agreed no change in condition need be proven, but concluded that Malland was not disabled. The Director therefore ordered cancellation of Malland's allowance.