Opinion ID: 1423917
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Retroactive Compensation

Text: Bringmann contends that the Board erred by refusing to retroactively apply the journeyman electrician's compensation as of March 16, 1988, the date he became eligible to take the journeyman electrician's examination. He relies on AS 23.30.220(a)(3) for the proposition that the Board may consider the fact that an apprentice electrician would have received a wage increase absent an injury. [4] According to Bringmann, the Board erroneously relied on actual post injury occurrences rather than a determination of what would have been likely absent an injury. Alcan responds that there is substantial evidence to support the Board's finding that Bringmann's injury did not prevent him from qualifying as a journeyman before September 1, 1988, the date he passed the examination. We will affirm the Board's decision if it is based on substantial evidence. Black v. Universal Servs., Inc., 627 P.2d 1073, 1075 (Alaska 1981). Finding that the increased rate of compensation was effective on September 1, 1988, the Board stated, [t]here are two requirements to become a journeyman wireman, and Employee did not complete both requirements until September 1, 1988 when he passed the written test. We are not persuaded by Employee's excuses for not taking the test sooner than he did. Besides, Employee admitted he could have studied two or three hours per day despite his initial dim employment outlook and the medications he was taking.... We find no persuasive evidence that this status would have been attained sooner. (Footnote omitted). Affirming the board, the superior court summarized the evidence as follows: Bringmann himself testified that the examination required 40 hours of study and that he was capable of two to three hours of study per day in spite of his injury. Tr. at 34. Bringmann also testified that he vacationed on the Island of Maui for the month of January. Tr. at 45. Had Bringmann chosen, he could have studied two to three hours a day while he was on vacation and adequately prepared to take the examination in March. (Citations in original). [5] Since there is substantial evidence in the record to support the Board's decision to retroactively grant the agreed compensation rate increase only to September 1, 1988, we affirm this portion of the superior court's decision affirming the Board's disposition of this issue. The decision of the superior court is AFFIRMED.