Court Opinion

ID: 9535608
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:51:18.669293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:17.331570
License: Public Domain

THORNTON,
dissenting.
Contrary to the majority, from my review of this record I find that claimant has carried his burden of establishing that he has a disabling foot condition, albeit of unknown cause, which was made progressively worse by his employment. This conclusion was supported by claimant’s treating doctor.
Before claimant’s symptoms became apparent initially, he was able to work long hours on his feet without pain, swelling and discoloration. Now those symptoms recur rapidly whenever he is on his feet very much, and his doctor has suggested that he avoid jobs which require continual standing and walking, for, the doctor opined, claimant’s condition is not medically stationary and will probably worsen if he takes a job requiring prolonged standing. Furthermore, while standing and walking are generally to be encountered in everyday life, one is not always subject, as was this claimant in his employment, to day-long standing and walking on wood, concrete and hard-packed earth.
True, the medical experts were divided in this case. I cannot, however, bring myself to deny this workman benefits because of this.
I agree with the Workers’ Compensation Board that claimant is entitled to compensation.