Court Opinion

ID: 9793692
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:51:33.195776+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:40.670004
License: Public Domain

DONNELLY, Judge (concurring in result). Although I concur with the result reached by the majority, I do not concur in the analysis or that the question of aggravation was a false issue. The trial court found that claimant was initially injured on June 16, 1981, in a work-related accident, and was temporarily totally disabled from the date of his injury to February 1, 1982. Thereafter, claimant returned to work and continued working from February 1, 1982 until March 16, 1984, when he again became disabled. The trial court specifically found that claimant’s initial back injury suffered in 1981, “was aggravated by his continued work” with his employer. (Finding No. 19.) The trial court’s award of compensation was predicated in part upon a finding that claimant’s initial injury was aggravated by his continued work and that the aggravation of the injury produced claimant’s disability. See Herndon v. Albuquerque Public Schools, 92 N.M. 635, 593 P.2d 470 (Ct.App.1978); see also Pena v. N.M. Highway Department, 100 N.M. 408, 671 P.2d 656 (Ct.App.1983); Casias v. Zia Co., 93 N.M. 78, 596 P.2d 521 (Ct.App.1979). Compensation is not payable until and unless a work-related accident produces an injury which becomes disabling. Casias. Claimant’s cause of action was timely filed within one year from the date of aggravation of his initial injury and the award of compensation was properly based upon his earnings at the time of the aggravation of the injury.