Court Opinion

ID: 9586712
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:14:14.565588+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:32:48.269756
License: Public Domain

Felton, Chief Judge,
dissenting. In my opinion, the finding of the board that claimant had suffered “temporary total disability” and the award of compensation based thereon are not supported by any evidence. In regard to the nature of the claimant’s heart condition, the doctor who* treated him in the hospital and afterwards testified that on the first examination the claimant suffered from pallor and cold perspiration, weak pulse, respiration rate of approximately 30 and chest pain; that it was felt mandatory to carry him along as a possible coronary thrombosis; that he was given treatment of a patient suffering from a coronary, mainly sedatives, bed rest and blood pressure stabilizers; that he improved under this treatment; that after the claimant’s symptoms had disappeared for some time there was no reason for him not to work and he recommended a two-hour day with an increase every day until claimant got used to working but that the important thing was not to get himself under pressure. On cross-examination this doctor testified that an electrocardiogram did not reveal any permanent heart damage, that the claimant had suffered from cardiac ischemia, a temporary non-function of a blood vessel in the heart which, if not controlled, could develop into coronary thrombosis.
Doctor Robert P. Coggins was appointed to make an impartial examination of the claimant’s heart condition and in his opinion, he does have some angina pectoris but by taking drugs to alleviate the angina pains the man could return to his employment with strict limitations as to the magnitude of his exertion.
The claimant’s own testimony shows that he was able to return to work in a supervisory capacity for several days and drew pay for one week ending May 9,1958.
Considering the. medical testimony and that of the claimant as a whole, there is no basis in the evidence for the finding of *648“temporary total disability.” Where the injured employee is able to resume, his former occupation or to procure remunerative employment at a different occupation suitable to his impaired capacity, he can not be classified as totally disabled. Employers Liability &c. Corp. v. Hollifield, 93 Ga. App. 51, 53 (90 S.E. 2d 681) and cases cited. The uncontradicted evidence shows that the claimant has been physically able since before his discharge from work to engage in some remunerative employment suitable to his impaired capacity. Under these circumstances the award based upon “temporary total disability” should not be allowed to stand and, in my opinion, the superior court did not err in setting it aside.