Opinion ID: 1399383
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did the Board apply the correct legal standard?

Text: In a proceeding for the enforcement of a workers' compensation claim, it is presumed that the claim is compensable in the absence of substantial evidence to the contrary. Former AS 23.30.120(a)(1). In Burgess Constr. Co. v. Smallwood, 623 P.2d 312, 316 (Alaska 1981), we held that for the presumption of compensability to apply to an employee's claim, the employee must establish a preliminary link between the injury and continuing symptoms. When a preliminary link is established, it becomes incumbent upon the employer to come forward with substantial evidence to rebut the presumption. Resler v. Universal Serv., Inc., 778 P.2d 1146, 1149 (Alaska 1989). To overcome the presumption of compensability, the employer must present substantial evidence that the injury was not work-related. Id. We have consistently defined `substantial evidence' as `such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.' Miller v. ITT Arctic Serv., 577 P.2d 1044, 1046 (Alaska 1978). If the presumption of compensability is successfully rebutted, the employee must then prove all of the elements of the case by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. The employer argues that while the Board discussed the presumption of compensability, it failed to actually apply the presumption, or any part of the legally-required analysis, in reaching its conclusion that Harp had a TTD. Specifically, the employer claims that the Board failed to determine whether Harp established a preliminary link between her employment and her physical impairment, whether the employer rebutted the presumption of compensability, and whether Harp proved her case by a preponderance of the evidence. Because the Board applied the incorrect legal standard, the employer argues, the superior court's order should be vacated. [5] We agree that the Board failed to explicitly apply the proper legal analysis. The Board simply ruled that, based on the evidence presented at the hearing, Harp's work aggravated her preexisting thoracic outlet syndrome condition and was a substantial factor in bringing about her current disability. We believe, however, that the Board's failure to explicitly state that Harp was entitled to the presumption of compensability was a harmless error. Because the Board articulated the correct legal standard, and then concluded that Harp should be compensated because her work aggravated her preexisting injury and was a substantial factor in bringing about her current disability, no doubt can exist that the Board applied the proper legal analysis. See Kodiak Oilfield Haulers v. Adams, 777 P.2d 1145, 1150-51 (Alaska 1989) (holding that the Board's failure to apply the statutory presumption of compensability was harmless since the employer had presented sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption). We note, however, that the conclusory findings of the Board made our review of the Board's decision quite difficult. In future cases involving the presumption of compensability, the Board should explicitly state whether the employee established a preliminary link between her employment and her physical impairment, whether the employer rebutted the presumption of compensability, and if so, whether the employee proved her case by a preponderance of the evidence.