Opinion ID: 389454
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Repeal of the $24,000 Ceiling

Text: 9 Both the ALJ and Benefits Review Board ruled that Congress' 1972 repeal of the $24,000 ceiling on payments for temporary total and permanent partial disabilities could not benefit Davis since he was injured before the repeal took effect. However, in Hastings v. Earth Satellite Corp., 628 F.2d 85 (D.C.Cir.), cert. denied, -- U.S. --, 101 S.Ct. 281, 66 L.Ed.2d 137 (1980), decided after administrative determination of Davis' case, this court held that the 1972 repeal applies to any worker who was receiving benefits on the effective date of the repeal. Davis received his last payment from Hyman's insurer in 1975. Under the reasoning of Hastings he is clearly eligible for additional temporary total or permanent partial disability payments. 10 Davis' counsel urges us to calculate the benefits that Davis is entitled to receive under Hastings. This we decline to do. At the administrative level, attention concentrated on the question whether Davis was permanently and totally disabled. The parties did not fully air the issues of temporary total or permanent partial disability. Therefore, we remand to the agency for consideration, in light of Hastings, of Davis' entitlement to further compensation for temporary total or permanent partial disability. 11 On remand, the agency should take a fresh look at Davis' claims of temporary total and permanent partial disabilities. Earlier findings as to those claims are not binding on the parties since they were made on the assumption, held erroneous in Hastings, that the law precluded recovery for anything short of permanent total disability. The parties need not resubmit evidence already in the record, but they should be free to present additional evidence relevant to Davis' temporary total or permanent partial disability claim. This method of proceeding will accord Davis a full and fair hearing, informed by this court's holding in Hastings, on those claims.