OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Rick Wester, an 18 year old roustabout on a Cook Inlet drilling rig, was seriously injured while working for Parker Drilling Company on April 2, 1975. He fell some thirty feet to the steel deck of the rig, fracturing his hip and right arm, shattering his right elbow, and suffering internal injuries.
Wester was temporarily totally disabled through July 1975. At that time his doctor released him to return to work on a trial basis.
The doctor suggested vocational rehabilitation and stated "at this point [Wester] realizes that his future is not in this type of heavy labor."
Wester evidently decided to take his chances and to continue work on the rig. He was given a permanent partial disability rating of loss of 50% of an arm, a lump sum payment was made, and his workers' compensation file was closed in early 1976.
Wester suffered a traumatic on-the-job injury to his right elbow and arm in October 1976, but continued to work on the drilling rig during those periods that he was not disabled.
In 1978, Wester lost three weeks work time when he cut his left hand. He injured his right elbow again in January 1979. The 1979 injury healed completely and did not aggravate or accelerate the pre-existing degenerative arthritis of the right arm. Once again, however, Wester's doctor advised him not to return to his previous employment "because of the degenerative disease that is in his elbow as a result of his initial surgery and fracture."
This time, Wester evidently decided to heed his doctor's advice and he requested vocational rehabilitation funds. Parker Drilling Company had switched workers' compensation carriers in February 1977, changing from Commercial Union Assurance Company [Commercial Union] to Alaska Pacific Assurance Company [ALPAC]. Both carriers refused to provide Wester with vocational rehabilitation funds, each claiming that it was the other carrier's duty to make the payment.
Wester brought an amended application before the Workers' Compensation Board seeking temporary total disability compensation, permanent partial disability compensation, the statutory 20% penalty for late payments, vocational rehabilitation funds, medical costs, costs and attorney's fees.
A hearing was held before the Board on August 1, 1979. The Board found that Wester's need for vocational rehabilitation was a direct consequence of the 1975 injury, and that there had been no additional injury or aggravation of the original injury. Thus, the Board concluded that Commercial Union, the insurer at the time of the original injury, was responsible for payment of the rehabilitation funds.
Commercial Union appealed to the superior court. In a memorandum decision, the superior court affirmed the Board's decision. Commercial Union appeals again.
Commercial Union argues that Wester's employment after the change in insurance carriers contributed to his present disability and that under the last injurious exposure rule adopted in Ketchikan Gateway Borough v. Saling, 604 P.2d 590 (Alaska 1979), ALPAC should be liable for all vocational retraining or other payments. In Saling, we held that when employment with successive employers contributes to a worker's disability, the employer at the time of the most recent injury is liable for disability payments. We also made it clear that aggravation of a preexisting condition is sufficient to impose liability on the successor employer. 604 P.2d at 592 n. 4. Although Saling involved successive employers, while this case involves successive carriers, the distinction is of no significance as far as application of the last injurious exposure
In this light, the factual issue before the Board was whether Wester's employment while ALPAC was the carrier aggravated or accelerated the degenerative arthritis in his right arm. On appeal, the factual findings of the Board must be upheld if there is substantial evidence to support them. Vetter v. Alaska Workmen's Compensation Board, 524 P.2d 264, 265 (Alaska 1974).
In its decision, the Board focused solely on the 1979 injury, finding that it was not an additional injury or an aggravation, but rather that it was merely a recurrence of the 1975 injury. The evidence is clear and uncontradicted, and it is uncontested by Commercial Union, that the 1979 injury did not contribute to Wester's current disability. However, the Board's focus was too narrow; it should have also considered whether Wester's employment while ALPAC was the carrier in any other way accelerated or aggravated the degenerative arthritic condition originally caused by the 1975 accident.
The evidence is clear that Wester's continued use of his arm in heavy labor aggravated or accelerated his preexisting injury.
The remaining issue before us is whether the last injurious exposure rule adopted in Saling as to permanent total disability benefits is also applicable as to vocational retraining benefits. We see no reason why the Saling rationale should not be extended to cover vocational rehabilitation benefits. In Saling, we concluded that the Board's finding of a preexisting total disability was without support in view of Saling's demonstrated earning capacity following the first injury. It would be inconsistent to reach a different result as to the need for retraining. Wester's demonstrated earning capacity following his first injury is thus equally decisive on the question of his need for vocational retraining. As long as Wester continued to work at his former job, his earning capacity was not impaired and he was not entitled to receive retraining benefits.
In conclusion, we hold that there was no substantial evidence before the Board from which it could be determined that Wester's "last injurious exposure" occurred at any time prior to the time he was forced to cease working due to his 1979 injury. The judgment of the superior court affirming the Board's decision is REVERSED and this case is REMANDED for further remand to the Board for entry of such orders consistent with this opinion as may be appropriate.
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