Court Opinion

ID: 9397786
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-26 14:05:39.802253+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:27.635389
License: Public Domain

RENDERED: MAY 19, 2023; 10:00 A.M.
                        NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                Commonwealth of Kentucky
                         Court of Appeals

                            NO. 2022-CA-1221-WC

COLUMBUS STEEL ERECTORS INC.                                       APPELLANT

                 PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A DECISION
v.             OF THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD
                       ACTION NO. WC-20-91668

GEORGE MARSHALL; HONORABLE
PETER J. NAAKE,
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE;
AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION                                          APPELLEES
BOARD

                                OPINION
                           AFFIRMING IN PART
                         AND REVERSING IN PART

                                 ** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: THOMPSON, CHIEF JUDGE; CALDWELL AND GOODWINE,
JUDGES.

CALDWELL, JUDGE: Columbus Steel Erectors, Inc. (Columbus) petitions for

review of an opinion of the Workers’ Compensation Board (the Board) affirming

an award of benefits, but also remanding to the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to
enter an amended order to resolve an alleged hip injury. We affirm the Board’s

affirmation of the award, but we reverse its remand concerning hip issues. The

Board should have simply affirmed the ALJ’s decision. The ALJ’s decision must

be reinstated.

                                          FACTS

              George Marshall (Marshall) filed a claim alleging work-related injury

to various body parts stemming from a fall on or about February 11, 2020.

Following the presentation of evidence, the ALJ determined that Marshall was

entitled to permanent partial disability (PPD) income benefits and medical benefits

for right elbow/wrist, and low back injuries1 in an April 2022 Opinion, Order, and

Award (ALJ decision).

              Among the medical evidence considered by the ALJ were reports by

Dr. Ellen Ballard and Dr. Jeffrey Fadel. The ALJ found Dr. Fadel’s opinion more

persuasive than that of Dr. Ballard. Unlike Dr. Fadel, Dr. Ballad concluded there

was no permanent impairment from any work-related injury.

              Columbus filed a petition for reconsideration, arguing that Dr. Fadel’s

impairment ratings for the elbow and low back were problematic and should be

disregarded. Marshall filed a response to Columbus’ petition. But Marshall did

1
 The ALJ also awarded Marshall temporary total disability (TTD) benefits for the period
between the February 2020 work injury and June 17, 2021.

                                             -2-
not file a petition for reconsideration himself. The ALJ denied Columbus’ petition

for reconsideration, noting his limited scope of authority on reconsideration. See

KRS2 342.281 (“The administrative law judge shall be limited in the review to the

correction of errors patently appearing upon the face of the award, order, or

decision” when faced with a petition for reconsideration.).

                Columbus filed an appeal with the Board. The Board affirmed the

ALJ’s decision. But it also remanded to the ALJ to enter an amended order to

resolve Marshall’s allegation of a work-related right hip injury which, in the

Board’s view, was noted in ALJ’s decision but not fully resolved by it.

                Columbus filed a petition for our review of the Board’s opinion. It

contends this Court should reverse the Board’s affirmation of the ALJ’s decision

and remand to the ALJ to enter an order adopting a 0% impairment rating based on

Dr. Ballard’s report. It also argues that the Board erred in remanding to the ALJ to

resolve hip injury issues not raised upon reconsideration to the ALJ or upon appeal

to the Board. Further facts will be discussed as we consider these arguments.

                                      ANALYSIS

                                  Standard of Review

                “This Court’s standard of review in workers’ compensation appeals is

well-settled in the Commonwealth.” Roberts v. Commonwealth Dodge, 644

2
    Kentucky Revised Statutes.

                                           -3-
S.W.3d 543, 544 (Ky. App. 2022). Our task is to review the Board’s opinions and

“to correct the Board only where [the] Court perceives the Board has overlooked or

misconstrued controlling statutes or precedent, or committed an error in assessing

the evidence so flagrant as to cause gross injustice.” Id. (quoting Western Baptist

Hosp. v. Kelly, 827 S.W.2d 685, 687-88 (Ky. 1992)).

               Columbus’ petition for review first challenges the Board’s affirmance

of the ALJ’s award of PPD benefits.3 The amount of PPD benefits is calculated

based on factors including “the permanent impairment rating caused by the

injury[.]” KRS 342.730(1)(b). Permanent impairment rating means “percentage

of whole body impairment caused by the injury or occupational disease as

determined by the [American Medical Association] Guides to the Evaluation of

Permanent Impairment[.]” KRS 342.0011(35) (internal quotation marks omitted).

    I.     No Reversible Error in Board’s Affirming ALJ’s Award of PPD
           Which Was Based on Dr. Fadel’s Opinion

               Columbus first argues that the Board erred in affirming the ALJ’s

award of PPD benefits because, in its view, the ALJ improperly relied on Dr.

Fadel’s opinion rather than Dr. Ballard’s opinion in determining Marshall’s

permanent impairment rating.

3
 The petition for review does not clearly and explicitly raise any issues challenging the Board’s
affirmance of the ALJ’s award of temporary total disability benefits or medical expenses.

                                               -4-
             Dr. Fadel conducted an independent medical examination (IME) of

Marshall on June 17, 2021. Dr. Fadel made the following statement about the low

back condition:

             The lumbar spine pathology found with digital imaging
             will also be rated at this time, despite the fact that
             injection therapy has not been completed and therefore,
             in my view, MMI [maximum medical improvement] in
             its regard has yet to be met. This is being calculated at
             this examination assuming that no further treatment is
             anticipated.

(Administrative Record (AR), p. 199.) Fadel also stated in his conclusions and

recommendations: “Mr. Marshall has reached maximum medical improvement as

of this examination, again if no further treatment is anticipated.” (AR, p. 200).

             Columbus contends the ALJ improperly relied on Dr. Fadel’s

assessment of impairment from the low back condition since Dr. Fadel issued a

conditional impairment rating for the low back that was not based on Marshall

being at MMI. And it further asserts that all conditions from a work injury must be

at MMI for a physician’s whole person impairment rating to be valid.

             Columbus points out that Dr. Fadel’s impairment rating related to the

low back is based on Marshall’s condition at the time of examination. And

according to Columbus, Dr. Fadel stated that further improvement could be

expected if Marshall received injection therapy.

                                         -5-
             According to the summary of evidence in the ALJ decision, Dr. Fadel

“stated injection therapy has yet to be completed for the lumbar spine and MMI

had not yet been met. A lumbar impairment would be given on the assumption

that no further treatment was anticipated.” The ALJ also noted in findings of fact

and conclusions of law that two years had passed since the accident, and that

Columbus refused to pay for treatment for Marshall’s low back.

             The ALJ emphasized Dr. Fadel’s statement opining Marshall was at

MMI if no additional treatment would be provided. And based on Columbus’

refusal to authorize the injection therapy, the ALJ deemed it appropriate to infer or

assume that Marshall was at MMI for his low back condition. The ALJ also cited

authority indicating that a need for additional treatment did not necessarily

preclude a finding of MMI. See Miller v. Go Hire Employment Development, Inc.,

473 S.W.3d 621, 632 (Ky. App. 2015); Tokico (USA), Inc. v. Kelly, 281 S.W.3d

771, 776 (Ky. 2009).

             In taking note of Dr. Fadel’s statements about whether Marshall was

at MMI, the ALJ perhaps recognized that Dr. Fadel’s report may in some ways

appear internally inconsistent on this issue. An ALJ has the sole discretion to

resolve conflicts in the evidence and to draw reasonable inferences from the

evidence and to believe or reject parts of the evidence regardless of whether it

comes from the same witness. Miller, 473 S.W.3d at 629.

                                         -6-
              The Board may not substitute its judgment for that of the ALJ on the

weighing of the evidence. But it does conduct a limited review to determine if

findings are supported by substantial evidence or if the ALJ’s decision should be

disturbed as clearly erroneous, an abuse of discretion, outside the ALJ’s powers, or

resulting from fraud or lack of compliance with KRS Chapter 342’s requirements.

Dreisbach Wholesale Florists, Inc. v. Leitner, 655 S.W.3d 763, 767 (Ky. App.

2022) (citing KRS 342.285(2); Western Baptist, 827 S.W.2d at 687).

              In affirming the ALJ, the Board noted similarities between the present

case and Miller, 473 S.W.3d at 621. Specifically, the doctor’s opinions relied on

by the ALJ in both cases contained similar language – stating a condition was at

MMI assuming no further treatment would be provided. See id. at 626. So, as in

Miller, the Board concluded the ALJ could reasonably infer that Marshall was at

MMI because he had not received the treatment upon which the physician’s

opinion was contingent. See id. at 633. Deferring to the ALJ’s authority to weigh

the evidence, the Board’s opinion also concluded that the ALJ provided an

“adequate rationale” and that Dr. Fadel’s impairment rating complied with AMA

guidelines.

              The Board rejected Columbus’ argument that this case is

distinguishable based on “certainty” in Dr. Fadel’s opinion about Marshall’s low

back condition not being at MMI. Instead, the Board construed Dr. Fadel’s

                                         -7-
opinion regarding whether the low back condition was at MMI as “fully

contingent” on receiving treatment which Marshall did not receive (the injection

therapy). And the Board concluded similar inferences could be made in this case

as in Miller and Tokico and that both those cited cases supported the ALJ’s

reliance on Dr. Fadel’s low back impairment rating.

              Columbus contends that the Board misconstrued Miller and Tokico

and points out both cases quoted W.L. Harper Construction Co. v. Baker, 858

S.W.2d 202, 204 (Ky. App. 1993) (involving issues about temporary total

disability under former statutes).4 Columbus argues that Baker distinguishes

between future treatment that would improve a medical condition and future

treatment needed only for symptom maintenance such as pain medicine or physical

therapy. It also argues that despite the Board’s noting the ALJ did not rely on

Baker, the Board failed to fully analyze Baker or the context of precedent. And it

alludes to Baker’s statement that “just because some treatment is still necessary,

such as drug treatment or physical therapy, does not preclude a finding that the

condition is stabilized if the underlying condition causing the disability has become

stable and no additional treatment will improve the condition.” Id.

4
  As noted by our Supreme Court in an unpublished opinion, KRS Chapter 342 did not define the
term temporary total disability or TTD at the time Baker was rendered, but such a definition was
later provided under the 1996 amendments to KRS Chapter 342 and included a requirement that
the claimant had not reached MMI. Sights Denim Systems v. Debortoli, No. 2003-SC-0239-WC,
2004 WL 868588, at *3-4 (Ky. Apr. 22, 2004).

                                              -8-
             In its petition for review, Columbus asserts that the Board’s opinion

failed to take note that the physician opinion at issue in Miller “could be construed

by the ALJ to be referencing only maintenance treatment instead of treatment that

would improve the claimant’s condition.” Furthermore, it argues that Miller is

distinguishable because the physician opinion at issue there alluded only to

unspecified treatment – which might have only included pain medicine – rather

than the specific treatment recommended by Dr. Fadel here (injection therapy).

And it argues that Miller does not indicate physicians could assign impairment

ratings when additional treatment would improve the claimant’s condition.

             But Columbus fails to point to any actual language in Dr. Fadel’s

report stating that injection therapy would actually improve the low back

condition, such as repairing the herniated disc which Dr. Fadel found to exist. And

perhaps Dr. Fadel’s report could be reasonably construed as indicating that the

injection therapy was for pain or symptom management rather than actually

changing a medical condition. For example, Dr. Fadel’s report takes note injection

therapy was recommended by a pain management physician and would be

administered by an interventional pain management physician.

             We recognize that the ALJ and Board may not have explicitly

discussed whether the injection therapy appeared to be merely for pain and

symptom management in the manner we have discussed. Nonetheless, this factor

                                         -9-
indicates to us that the Board’s assessment of the evidence as supporting the ALJ’s

reliance on Dr. Fadel’s report does not amount to flagrant error resulting in gross

injustice. See Roberts, 644 S.W.3d at 544.

                Furthermore, contrary to Columbus’ arguments, we do not perceive

that the Board ignored or misconstrued controlling authority. See id. Despite

Columbus’ arguments that the dissent in Miller advocates for a better approach,5 a

dissenting opinion is not binding authority. And despite any faults Columbus finds

with the majority opinion in Miller, Miller states a principle recognized in

precedent from our Supreme Court – which we lack authority to overrule under

SCR6 1.030(8)(a). 473 S.W.3d at 632 (“The need for additional treatment does not

preclude a finding that a worker is at MMI.”) (quoting Tokico, 281 S.W.3d at 776).

5
  Judge Kramer’s dissent asserted that whether a claimant had reached MMI did not depend on
whether the employer had volunteered to pay for treatment which would improve a medical
condition and that it was improper to rely on a physician’s conditional impairment rating. And
the dissent further stated:

         If Miller wished to obligate her employer to pay for the medical treatment she
         needed in order to reach MMI and secure a valid WPI rating for the purpose of
         receiving PPD, her proper course of action would have been to have sought an
         interlocutory determination of her employer’s liability and an interlocutory award
         of medical benefits. If successful, she could have then held her claim in abeyance
         until she achieved MMI. But having submitted her claim for final adjudication
         based solely upon Dr. Hughes’ invalid WPI rating, her evidence, such as it was,
         simply could not have supported an award of PPD.

Miller, 473 S.W.3d at 636 (Kramer, J., dissenting) (citation omitted).
6
    Rules of the Supreme Court.

                                               -10-
(Miller also notes that Tokico cited Baker, 858 S.W.2d at 204 for the quoted

statement. See 473 S.W.3d at 632.)

             Despite any factual distinctions with the case at hand (such as the

claimant in Tokico actually receiving the recommended treatment), our Supreme

Court expressly stated in Tokico that the need for further treatment did not preclude

a finding of MMI. 281 S.W.3d at 776. And it affirmed the Board’s affirmance of

the ALJ’s resolution of conflicting medical evidence as it rejected arguments that

the ALJ was compelled to believe one physician over another. Id. Likewise, the

Board here properly affirmed the ALJ’s resolution of conflicting medical evidence

– including possible inconsistencies in the language of Dr. Fadel’s report.

             In sum, the Board properly deferred to the ALJ’s weighing of

conflicting medical evidence and there is no reason for us to correct its affirmation

of the ALJ’s award of PPD benefits based on Dr. Fadel’s report. However, we

agree with Columbus that the remand to resolve hip injury issues must be reversed.

   II.    Remand to Discuss Hip Issues Must be Reversed

             Columbus points out Marshall did not preserve any issues about an

alleged hip injury through filing a petition for reconsideration, appeal or cross-

appeal. It also argues the Board erred in sua sponte remanding for resolution of an

unpreserved issue of fact. And it contends the ALJ’s “stated considerations

regarding Dr. Freedberg ruling out a right hip injury are sufficient to dispense with

                                         -11-
that aspect of the claim in any event.” Marshall does not substantively respond to

these arguments about the alleged impropriety of the remand in his brief, although

he generally urges this Court to affirm the Board’s opinion and remand for further

proceedings.

               Though we need not resolve whether the Board may ever properly

remand for further findings on issues not raised by parties on reconsideration or

appeal,7 here we agree with Columbus. The remand for further discussion of hip

issues was improper and must be reversed based on the record and applicable law.

7
  Kentucky appellate precedent concerning whether one must file a petition for reconsideration
of initial decisions in Workers’ Compensation cases to preserve certain types of errors for appeal
has changed over the years in response to amendments to KRS 342.281 as described by our
Supreme Court:

               In Eaton Axle Corp. v. Nally, Ky., 688 S.W.2d 334 (1985), and in Osborne
       v. Pepsi Cola, Ky., 816 S.W.2d 643 (1991), we held that patent errors in an ALJ’s
       opinion and award are unpreserved for appeal if not asserted in a petition for
       reconsideration. However, those cases involved errors of fact, not law, and turned
       on the language of KRS 342.285(1), viz:

                       An award or order of the administrative law judge as
               provided in KRS 342.275, if petition for reconsideration is not
               filed as provided for in KRS 342.281, shall be conclusive and
               binding as to all questions of fact.

               The error in Eaton Axle was the Board’s failure to make findings of fact
       with respect to the issue of notice. Eaton Axle, 688 S.W.2d at 337. The error in
       Osborne was the ALJ’s finding that the injury was not work related despite a
       stipulation by the parties to the contrary. Osborne, 816 S.W.2d at 644.

              Smith v. Dixie Fuel Co., Ky., 900 S.W.2d 609 (1995), suggested that
       Eaton Axle and Osborne might apply to an erroneous calculation of an award as
       occurred here. Id. at 610. However, Dixie Fuel turned on a 1994 amendment of
       KRS 342.281 that added the following sentence: “The failure to file a petition for
       reconsideration shall not preclude an appeal on any issue.” 1994 Ky. Acts, ch.

                                              -12-
               KRS 342.285(1) states the ALJ’s factual findings are “conclusive and

binding” unless a petition for reconsideration is filed.

               KRS 342.285(2) provides the Board shall not substitute its judgment

on the ALJ’s weighing of evidence on factual issues but shall conduct a limited

review to decide whether the ALJ’s decision must be disturbed based on specific

grounds including acting outside the ALJ’s authority, fraud, lack of compliance

with KRS Chapter 342, clear error based on the evidence in the record, or abuse of

discretion.

               KRS 342.285(3) provides the Board shall “enter its decision

affirming, modifying, or setting aside the order, decision, or award, or in its

discretion remanding the claim to the administrative law judge for further

       181, Part 14, § 75. That sentence was deleted after Dixie Fuel was rendered. 1996
       Ky. Acts (1st Ex.Sess.), ch. 1, § 14. Thus, Dixie Fuel cannot be cited for the
       proposition that a patent error of law not presented in a petition for
       reconsideration is unpreserved for appellate review.

Brown v. Cabinet for Families and Children, No. 2003-SC-0449-WC, 2004 WL 2913233, at *2-
3 (Ky. Dec. 16, 2004).

       We recognize this unpublished opinion is not binding authority. See Kentucky Rules of
Appellate Procedure (RAP) 41(A); former Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (CR) 76.28(4)(c).
However, our Supreme Court’s summary of prior changes in precedent and in KRS 342.281 in
Brown is accurate and does not appear to have been duplicated in published precedent.

        The current version of KRS 342.281 does not explicitly state whether the failure to file a
petition for reconsideration precludes appeal on any issues.

                                               -13-
proceedings in conformity with the direction of the board.” (Emphasis added.)

Alternatively, “the board may, before decision and upon a sufficient showing of

fact, remand the claim to the administrative law judge.” KRS 342.285(3).

(Emphasis added.)

             Obviously, some degree of discretion in the Board’s power to remand

is explicitly recognized in KRS 342.285(3). But our Supreme Court has

recognized that the Board’s discretion to remand is not unlimited:

             If the ALJ has made all necessary findings to resolve the
             issue at hand and the Board has erred in remanding for
             additional, unneeded findings that would be of no
             additional value in resolving the issues in the case, if for
             no other reason than judicial economy alone, that
             decision, just as any other, is subject to review and
             reversal by the appellate courts.

Tryon Trucking, Inc. v. Medlin, 586 S.W.3d 233, 238 (Ky. 2019).

             “[T]he Board should have wide latitude and deference in whether to

remand a particular issue to the ALJ for additional findings and analysis” but the

Board does not have “absolute discretion” to remand. Id. So, like other workers’

compensation issues, a reviewing court must “assess the Board’s decision to

remand based upon whether it has ‘overlooked or misconstrued controlling statutes

or precedent, or committed an error in assessing the evidence so flagrant as to

cause gross injustice.’” Id. (quoting Western Baptist, 827 S.W.2d at 687-88).

                                         -14-
              Under the circumstances presented here, we conclude that the Board

overlooked or misconstrued controlling authority in ordering the remand for

further findings on an issue not raised in reconsideration proceedings or on appeal.

Furthermore, the Board remanded for further findings which were unnecessary for

resolving the issues before it. Thus, we must correct the Board by reversing the

remand for further discussion of hip issues. See Medlin, 586 S.W.3d at 238.

              Any issues about the existence or extent of a work-related hip injury

appear to be primarily factual issues. And clearly the Board remanded to the ALJ

to issue an amended order based on the Board’s sua sponte determination that the

ALJ had failed to make essential findings concerning the existence or extent of any

work-related hip injury.

               Though one does not have to file a petition for reconsideration to

preserve issues of law,8 any failure to make essential findings on a factual issue is a

patent error and must be brought to the ALJ’s attention through a petition for

reconsideration to properly preserve this issue. See Anderson v. Mountain

Comprehensive Health Corporation, 628 S.W.3d 10, 16-17 (Ky. 2021)

(recognizing that a “petition for reconsideration is required where the ALJ fails to

8
  “Pursuant to our interpretation of KRS 342.285 and the plain language contained therein,
issues regarding questions of law need not be preserved pursuant to a petition for
reconsideration, but rather, may be appealed directly to the Board.” Brasch-Barry General
Contractors v. Jones, 175 S.W.3d 81, 83 (Ky. 2005).

                                             -15-
make an essential finding of fact, and in such reconsideration, the ALJ is limited to

review of errors patently appearing upon the face of the award, order, or decision”

though determining that the ALJ had not failed to make essential findings of fact in

that case and that the alleged error was not patently obvious based on the record).

See also Wilkerson v. Kimball International, Inc., 585 S.W.3d 231, 236-37 (Ky.

2019).

                To the extent that the ALJ’s discussion of hip issues did not provide

essential findings of fact, we agree with Columbus that this issue was not

preserved since Marshall did not file a petition for reconsideration. And as

Columbus alternatively argues, the ALJ’s discussion of hip issues – albeit limited –

could also be construed as finding no work-related hip injury based on the medical

evidence. Marshall does not explicitly dispute this in his brief.

                The ALJ’s summary of evidence discussed medical evidence noting

complaints of hip pain and diagnostics conducted on Marshall’s hips. For

example, the ALJ took note of Marshall’s reporting a right hip injury to Dr.

Freedberg and Dr. Freedberg initially diagnosing a sprain or strain to the hip

pending further testing. The ALJ also noted Dr. Freedberg’s finding no acute

pathology in a hip MRI9 though Dr. Freedberg checked yes in response to a

question on a form regarding whether Marshall suffered a right hip strain/sprain.

9
    Magnetic resonance imaging.

                                           -16-
And the ALJ noted Dr. Fadel diagnosed Marshall as suffering from hip pain, but

Dr. Fadel also opined that “Marshall’s right hip pain was a result of referred pain

from the back, and was not ratable.”

             The ALJ did not assess any impairment ratings related to Marshall’s

hip, but he had previously noted Dr. Fadel did not consider any hip injury ratable

in the summary of evidence. The ALJ also did not expressly state whether

Marshall was entitled to medical benefits for any hip injury. There was no separate

heading in the ALJ’s findings of fact and conclusions of law about hip injury

issues – although hip issues were briefly discussed in analysis of low back issues.

             In the findings of fact and conclusions of law about the low back

injury, the ALJ noted: “Dr. Freedberg’s notes demonstrate that he suspected and

investigated a hip injury as the reason for Mr. Marshall’s right groin and thigh

pain, but ruled it out after he prescribed an MRI and injections.” He further found

that Dr. Freedberg’s records and report supported Dr. Fadel’s opinion about the

low back injury.

             Ultimately, the ALJ stated he relied on Dr. Fadel’s testimony to find a

14% impairment to the body as a whole resulting from right elbow and low back

injuries – thus implicitly also relying on Dr. Fadel’s not finding a ratable

impairment from a hip injury. But the ALJ did not expressly find whether there

was a work-related hip injury and if so, whether such injury was permanent.

                                         -17-
             In contrast, the ALJ expressly found there was a work-related neck

injury but that it was temporary and was resolved by the date of Dr. Fadel’s IME

(June 17, 2021) – thus resulting in no permanent impairment. Additionally, the

ALJ separately found work-related injuries to Marshall’s right elbow/wrist and

lower back and assessed permanent impairment ratings for these injuries.

             Despite the less detailed discussion of hip issues than other bodily

conditions, the ALJ’s decision as a whole indicates the ALJ found no work-related

hip injury based on the medical evidence including Dr. Fadel’s and Dr.

Freedberg’s opinions. And clearly, the ALJ’s decision found no permanent

impairment resulting from a work-related hip injury. So, we question the need to

remand for further findings to resolve allegations of a hip injury.

             In sum, the ALJ either failed to make essential findings of fact which

Marshall was required to raise in a petition for reconsideration to obtain further

relief on hip issues or the ALJ essentially found no work-related hip injury – a

finding which Marshall did not challenge by appeal to the Board. Either way, the

Board’s remand for further discussion of hip issues was improper and must be

reversed with directions to reinstate the ALJ’s decision.

             Further issues raised in the briefs which are not discussed herein have

been determined to lack merit or relevancy to our resolution of petition for review.

                                         -18-
                                 CONCLUSION

              For the reasons stated herein, we AFFIRM that part of the Board’s

opinion affirming the ALJ’s decision to award Marshall benefits, but we

REVERSE that part of the Board’s opinion remanding for further discussion of hip

injury issues and REINSTATE the ALJ’s Opinion, Award, and Order as entered in

April 2022.

              ALL CONCUR.

BRIEF FOR APPELLANT:                      BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

Jeremy N. Faulk                           Haley S. Stamm
Louisville, Kentucky                      Fort Mitchell, Kentucky

                                        -19-