Opinion ID: 2503120
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Case Number 35219-Marty Greathouse

Text: On December 17, 2003, Marty L. Greathouse (hereinafter referred to as Mr. Greathouse), a security guard, injured his arm, neck, and shoulder in the course of and as a result of his employment when a fellow employee pushed him into some office equipment. Mr. Greathouse received treatment for his injuries and ultimately received a six percent permanent partial disability award therefor. Following his maximum degree of medical improvement evaluation on February 28, 2005, however, Mr. Greathouse allegedly experienced an aggravation or progression of his work-related injury. Therefore, on August 16, 2006, Mr. Greathouse filed an application to reopen his workers' compensation claim for the purpose of receiving TTD benefits. On his reopening application, Mr. Greathouse indicated that he had retired and stated that he was receiving benefits from Social Security. By this application, Mr. Greathouse sought TTD benefits for the period from June 26, 2006, to October 1, 2006. At the time he submitted this application, Mr. Greathouse was forty-one years old. By decision dated September 25, 2006, the Claims Manager ruled that Mr. Greathouse's claim could not be reopened, explaining: This claim cannot be reopened because: WV CODE 23-5-3, AND TITLE 85-20-21 AND 85-20-3.9 This decision was based primarily on the following: REVIEW OF MEDICAL RECORDS. Thus, the Claims Manager determined that Mr. Greathouse was not entitled to receive TTD benefits. Mr. Greathouse appealed this determination. By decision dated March 29, 2007, the Office of Judges awarded Mr. Greathouse TTD benefits, thus reversing the earlier determination. In summary, the OOJ stated that [t]he claimaint [Mr. Greathouse] is entitled to additional temporary total disability benefits. The claimant's treating physician has demonstrated that the claimant has suffered a progression or aggravation of his compensable condition. This ruling was based upon the OOJ's observations that Mr. Greathouse was approved for Social Security Disability benefits and not retirement benefits [and] that the claimant is only 41 years of age. The OOJ further explained that [a] claimant cannot be denied additional temporary total disability benefits upon reaching his or her maximum degree of medical improvement if the claimant's treating physician has presented sufficient medical evidence which demonstrates that a claimant has suffered a progression or aggravation of his or her compensable injury. [Mr. Greathouse's treating physician] has demonstrated that the claimant suffered a progression or aggravation of his compensable condition after being evaluated. . . in 2005. The claimant's receiving of Social Security Disability benefits further demonstrates his inability to return to work[.] Therefore, the OOJ awarded Mr. Greathouse the TTD benefits he had requested. Thereafter, the Commissioner appealed the OOJ's decision to the Board of Review. By order entered March 5, 2008, the Board of Review reversed the OOJ's decision, thus denying Mr. Greathouse's application for TTD benefits. In this regard, the Board of Review ruled that [t]he evidence of record establishes that the claimant [Mr. Greathouse] was not entitled to temporary total disability benefits, which are wage replacement benefits. The evidence demonstrates that the claimant was receiving Social Security Disability benefits at the time he signed the Claim Re-opening Application in 2006. Consequently, he had no wages to replace. Therefore, this Board holds that the claimant is not entitled to temporary total disability benefits[.] From this adverse ruling, Mr. Greathouse appeals to this Court.