Opinion ID: 2524544
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Proof of Injury

Text: [¶ 16] At first glance, it would appear that the hearing examiner found the untimely report dispositive of the case; however, the hearing examiner's finding of fact about Rice's credibility is the apparent basis for the legal conclusion that Rice did not carry his burden of proving all elements of his claim. One finding, stating that Rice's testimony about the events and dates associated with the chemical exposure was not credible, was preceded by a finding that the employer's testimony established that Rice worked with the stripper on August 3, 1998, and for one day only. Consequently, Rice did not prove that he had suffered chemical exposure on July 19 and 20, that led to his first appearance at an emergency room on July 22, 1998. Rice's medical testimony establishing causation was based solely on the history he provided to Dr. Painter. If the hearing examiner did not believe that chemical exposure occurred immediately preceding Rice's initial shoulder pain, then Rice failed to establish the essential elements of his claim that he had suffered a work-related chemical exposure that caused his injuries requiring chelation therapy. [¶ 17] The hearing examiner's findings of fact, however, did not ultimately conclude that Rice had failed to prove an injury or causation. Ordinarily, having determined that the hearing examiner erred on the timely filing issue, we would remand for further findings to support the denial of benefits. Mekss v. Wyo. Girls School, 813 P.2d 185, 202 (Wyo.1991), cert. denied, 502 U.S. 1032, 112 S.Ct. 872, 116 L.Ed.2d 777 (1992). Because of the credibility determination, however, we will not do so in this case because the evidence supports the finding that he did not prove an injury or causation and is not clearly contrary to the great weight of the evidence, because the Division provided medical evidence that Rice's pain was caused by arthritis. Credibility determinations are the unique province of the hearing examiner, and we eschew re-weighing those conclusions. Carrillo, 987 P.2d at 693. Because Rice failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he suffered a work-related chemical exposure that caused his injuries, the hearing examiner's decision is affirmed. [¶ 18] We would remind all hearing examiners that when they conduct contested case hearings that take evidence on all issues, judicial economy is served and appellate review facilitated when the hearing examiner makes proper findings of fact and conclusions of law on all issues properly before it. [¶ 19] We affirm the order denying benefits.