Opinion ID: 2611421
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Although the Division concedes that Gerdes presented sufficient evidence to support her assertion that she had not reached maximum medical improvement, the Division contends she failed to present evidence that her earning power had not been substantially restored. See Wyo. Stat. § 27-14-404(c)(i). [I]f gainful employment permits the employee to earn income while recovery from an injury occurs, there is no necessity for the temporary disability benefits to substitute for such income. Shassetz v. State ex rel. Wyoming Workers' Safety and Compensation Div., 920 P.2d 1246, 1250 (Wyo.1996). However, if a claimant is unable to perform remunerative work with reasonable consistency, without pain and discomfort, temporary disability is deemed total. Pacific Power and Light, 692 P.2d at 229. A review of the record indicates sufficient evidence to support the hearing examiner's conclusion that Gerdes remained temporarily totally disabled at the time of the hearing. The letter from Dr. Kieffer recommends vocational rehabilitation for training in a different occupation, and Dr. Gersoff notes a great deal of patellofemoral pain   . The report submitted after the independent medical examination states that Gerdes is able to return to a sedentary job, but the job must allow for mixed sitting and standing and requires total restriction on kneeling or stooping while at work. At the hearing, Gerdes testified she had previously worked as a clerk at a gasoline station and had secretarial experience, but was unable to work at the present time. She also testified she continued to be in considerable pain and had fallen down on several occasions due to her injury. We find that the record contains sufficient evidence to support the conclusion that Gerdes was unable to work with reasonable consistency without pain and discomfort. Therefore, the retroactive award of temporary total disability benefits is affirmed.