Opinion ID: 2138994
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ability to Work

Text: To be eligible for benefits, a claimant must be able to work. Section 52-06-01(3), N.D.C.C. Job Service contends that Otto was unable to work for a period of six weeks after her surgery of March 14, and that she therefore was not entitled to receive benefits during that period. Otto testified that on March 18, when she was released from the hospital, her doctor informed her that she could return to work anytime in about a week or so when she felt well enough to work. She further testified that on March 28 she felt capable of doing the same type of work she had done before. Otto's doctor submitted a written statement dated October 28, 1983, stating that [o]rdinarily, the usual limitations are no lifting or straining six weeks from the date of surgery. There are no other restrictions. Upon a request for clarification, the doctor submitted a second statement, dated December 1, 1983, which states in part: Her postoperative course was completely uneventful. She was dismissed from the hospital on 3/18/83. She could return to work after 3/28/83 as long as her work did not involve any lifting or straining. There are no other limitations on working. Job Service apparently ignored this evidence and relied instead on the testimony of Jerry Pierson, Minn-Dak's personnel manager, who testified that Minn-Dak had received a physician's statement dated March 15, the day after Otto's surgery, indicating that Otto could return to work six weeks after her surgery. This written statement by the doctor was not introduced into the record. Job Service has relied entirely upon Pierson's testimony, based upon the doctor's alleged statement made on the day after surgery and which was not introduced into the record, while totally disregarding Otto's testimony and the doctor's two written statements included in the record which, with the hindsight of viewing Otto's postoperative recovery, indicate that Otto was able to work on March 28. Having reviewed the record compiled before the agency, we conclude that a reasoning mind could not reasonably determine that Job Service's finding on this issue is supported by the weight of the evidence. Thus, we conclude that Job Service's finding on this issue is not supported by a preponderance of the evidence.