Opinion ID: 1265451
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the trial tribunal's permanent total disability award is supported by competent evidence

Text: While the panel's review of the trial tribunal's findings is governed by a clear-weight-of-the-evidence test, [31] this court, when examining that tribunal's factual resolutions, applies the any-competent-evidence standard. [32] If supported by competent evidence, the panel's findings may not be disturbed on review. [33]
The employer's expert evidence, consisting mostly of medical reports and records, was admitted without objection. Its proof included reports from (a) Dr. C., the employer's rating physician, and (b) Dr. H., the court-appointed physician, who also treated the claimant. Dr. H., who gave him an 11% permanent partial impairment rating (to the whole person,) stated that the claimant could return to work but recommended that he receive some vocational counselling. According to Dr. C.'s report, the claimant had sustained 16% permanent partial impairment. The claimant's proof consists of two letter-reports by his medical expert, Dr. E., and of some other medical records. In his reports (one eight-page and another one-page analyses), Dr. E. opines that the claimant is permanently totally disabled. The longer report gave the claimant an 85% permanent partial impairment rating and attributed it to the combined injury of his neck, back, spinal cord, and left shoulder. According to Dr. E.'s shorter report, he did not think the claimant is going to be able to be retrained. In the next sentence this physician opines that because the claimant is well motivated. he may possibly be re-trained. This report was admitted over the employer's challenge to its probative value based on a seeming inconsistency in the quoted language. Our review of the record reveals that the award of permanent total disability rests on competent evidence. The claimant's medical proof fully explains the reasons for Dr. E.'s opinion. His comprehensive (eight-page) report contains (a) a relevant history of the claimant's injuries, complaints and medical treatment, (b) a description of the examination, tests, and medical records reviewed, as well as (c) an evaluation of the extent of his impairment. This report clearly informs that were the claimant returned to work, he could not perform if he were required to stand for more than an hour or to sit for more than 20 minutes. According to Dr. E.'s explanation, the claimant cannot do repetitive work with his left arm or any work with his left arm above his waist. This is so because the claimant cannot do any work if he has to sit with his neck in one position, such as he would occupy when reading or looking at a monitor. The claimant, who has but a high school education, must have the ability to move and lay down. He had previously worked as a maintenance man. As a result of his injuries (serve pain in his neck and left shoulder, coupled with pain and weakness in his left arm and leg), Dr. E. finally concludes in his bottom line that it is doubtful Bucek could return to any type of gainful employment for which he is or could become reasonably suited by education, training or experience.
The employer also argues that the claimant has the ability to earn any wages in any employment within the meaning of § 3(12). [34] In support of its position the employer directs us to the claimant's testimony that (a) he has been employed twice since his accidental injury for a period of about six weeks; (b) he is an Army veteran with a GED (general high school equivalent diploma) and some microscopic college credits; (c) he is able to drive and was employed as a driver after his injuries; and (d) he has custody of, and cares for, his 4- and 5-year old grand children. Although ordinarily the employer has the burden of establishing facts that challenge the claimant's entitlement to benefits under the workers' compensation law, when, as here, the record shows the worker has been continuously employed since the initial injury, the onus shifts to the worker to produce expert evidence that will overcome the contrary proof from the employer. [35] The claimant met the law's requirement. According to the record, the claimant attempted to work after his injury, but was unable to keep a job because of intense pain that prevented him from meeting his employer's standards. His testimony is supported by competent medical evidence based on Dr. E.'s clinical findings. Bucek has been a manual laborer for some 30 years, working in the oil field as a roughneck and driller. According to him, he has relied upon manual labor for his livelihood because he has neither formal education nor training. He acquired his GED while in the Army, where he also received his only two college credits (the latter some 27 years ago). The claimant explained that while his grandchildren live with him, he is not their primary care giver while they remain in his home. He does not drive them to and from school. The grandchildren are away from the home during the day from 9:00 a.m. until his wife picks them up at 5:00 p.m. We hold that, on this record, there is competent medical evidence to support the trial tribunal's award for permanent total disability.