Opinion ID: 3008648
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Vocational Benefits

Text: KRS 342 .710(1) states that a primary purpose of Chapter 342 is to restore injured workers to gainful employment. Subsection (3) provides rehabilitation services to those who are unable to perform work for which they have previous training or experience . Wilson v. SKW Alloys, Inc ., 893 S .W.2d 800 (Ky. App . 1995), explains that work for which [an individual] has previous training or experience means work that bears a reasonable relationship to the individual's experience and background . The term considers the type of work that the individual performed at the time of injury as well as the individual's age, education, income level, earning capacity, vocational aptitude, mental and physical abilities, and other relevant factors both at the time of injury and at the time the individual reaches MMI. The employer asserted that the claimant's request for rehabilitation services was disingenuous ; that he retained the physical capacity to work as a forklift driver or perform other work ; and that he had made no earnest attempt to find other work. The claimant's previous work experience was as a landscaper, garbage tipper, concrete laborer and manufacturing laborer. He worked part-time in high school as a cook and cashier. Relying largely on the claimant's credible testimony of his physical restrictions and difficulties with standing constantly and walking, the AU determined that he was unable to perform work for which he had previous training or experience . The decision must be affirmed because the employer has pointed to no overwhelming evidence that shows it to be unreasonable .