Court Opinion

ID: 9693133
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 16:24:04.352213+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:40.674806
License: Public Domain

DISSENTING OPINION BY
Judge COHN.
The majority’s decision to remand this case to the WCJ to consider whether Claimant suffered a “non-daily aggravation” is unnecessary. This is because, in addition to making a finding that Claimant presented no credible evidence of such an injury, the WCJ also found that Dr. Rent, during his course of treatment of Claimant “did not actually notice any real worsening of the condition.” (Adjudication at p. 4.) This is supported by Dr. Rent’s September 18, 2001 deposition, wherein he stated on direct examination that he could not say that Claimant’s condition had gotten worse, but only that it persisted, (N.T. 15-16), his admission on cross examination that in his January 2001 Physician’s Certification he had not indicated that Claimant’s condition worsened or became aggravated and, his admission on re-cross that, as of August 2001, Claimant had had no change in symptoms. (N.T. 44, 47.) This testimony clearly supports the finding that there was no aggravation of the work-related injury, daily or otherwise. Thus, I would affirm the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board’s order.