Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 653
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
No. CV-17-410
Opinion Delivered: November 29, 2017
STEPHEN WILSON
APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE ARKANSAS
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
V. COMMISSION
RICELAND FOODS, INC., AND [NO. G502370]
ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE
COMPANY
APPELLEES AFFIRMED
MIKE MURPHY, Judge
This appeal arises from a workers’ compensation claim in which appellant Stephen
Wilson injured himself when he tripped and fell while working for appellee Riceland Foods,
Inc. (Riceland), on March 23, 2015. Wilson appeals the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation
Commission’s (Commission) determination that (1) he was not entitled to permanent
partial-disability benefits in excess of the percentage of his permanent physical impairment
and (2) he was employed at wages equal to or greater than his average weekly wage at the
time of the accident. We affirm.
Wilson was forty-one years old on March 23, 2015, when, while working as part-
time seasonal help for Riceland, he slipped off a rice pod (described by Wilson in his
testimony as “like a big old mountain”). He fell ten to twelve feet and landed on his
buttocks. A coworker took Wilson to the hospital where it was determined Wilson had
fractured his spine at the L1 vertebra in the fall and required surgery. He was in the hospital
Cite as 2017 Ark. App. 653
for five days, was in a rehabilitation hospital for another three weeks, and required physical
therapy for some time after. His testimony at the July 1, 2016 hearing before the
administrative law judge (ALJ) was that he still had pain from the accident and required pain
medication.
The injury was not controverted. On June 25, 2015, Wilson was cleared to return
to light-duty work with restrictions. Wilson’s anatomical impairment resulting from the
accident was evaluated on January 21, 2016, by Dr. Scott Carle. Dr. Carle concluded that
Wilson’s anatomical impairment was a 19 percent whole-person impairment. The ALJ
accepted this rating and further concluded that Wilson was not entitled to permanent-partial
disability benefits in excess of that 19 percent because, since returning to work, Wilson had
received a raise from $9.75 per hour to $10 per hour. The Commission adopted the ALJ’s
opinion.
Wilson now appeals, arguing that the Commission erred in finding that he was
employed at wages equal to or greater than his average weekly wage at the time of the
accident, and therefore erred in finding he was not entitled to permanent partial-disability
benefits in excess of the percentage of his permanent physical impairment.
Under Arkansas law, the Commission is permitted to adopt an ALJ’s opinion. Godwin
v. Garland Cty. Landfill, 2016 Ark. App. 498, at 4, 504 S.W.3d 660, 662. In so doing, the
Commission makes the ALJ’s findings and conclusions the findings and conclusions of the
Commission. Id. Therefore, for purposes of our review, we consider both the ALJ’s opinion
and the Commission’s majority opinion. Id.
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We review Commission decisions to determine whether there is substantial evidence
to support them. Towler v. Tyson Poultry, Inc., 2012 Ark. App. 546, at 2, 423 S.W.3d 664,
666. Substantial evidence is relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as
adequate to support a conclusion. Id. We review the evidence and all reasonable inferences
deducible therefrom in the light most favorable to the Commission’s findings. Id. Where,
as here, the Commission denies claims because of the failure to show entitlement to benefits
by a preponderance of the evidence, the substantial-evidence standard of review requires
that we affirm if the Commission’s opinion displays a substantial basis for the denial of relief.
Id. The Commission is the ultimate arbiter of weight and credibility. Id. The Commission
has the authority to accept or reject medical opinions, and its resolution of conflicting
medical evidence has the force and effect of a jury verdict. Id.
Wilson argues that the ALJ erred when it did not award him permanent partial-
disability benefits in excess of the 19 percent anatomical-impairment rating.
Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-9-522 (Repl. 2012) provides that when a
permanent-partial disability is apportioned to the body as a whole, a claimant shall be paid
compensation for the proportionate loss of use. This statute, though, also gives discretion to
the Commission to increase that anatomical rating, such that it can even find a claimant
totally and permanently disabled based on wage-loss factors. Id. The wage-loss factor is the
extent to which a compensable injury has affected the claimant’s ability to earn a livelihood.
Emerson Elec. v. Gaston, 75 Ark. App. 232, 58 S.W.3d 848 (2001). The Commission is
charged with the duty of determining disability based on a consideration of medical evidence
and other matters affecting wage loss, such as the claimant’s age, education, and work
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experience. Whitlach v. Southland Land & Dev., 84 Ark. App. 399, 404, 141 S.W.3d 916,
920 (2004).
The statute goes on to provide, however, that
so long as an employee, subsequent to his or her injury, has returned to work, has
obtained other employment, or has a bona fide and reasonably obtainable offer to be
employed at wages equal to or greater than his or her average weekly wage at the
time of the accident, he or she shall not be entitled to permanent partial disability
benefits in excess of the percentage of permanent physical impairment established by
a preponderance of the medical testimony and evidence.
Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-522(b)(2).
Here, the ALJ concluded that Wilson was precluded from additional wage-loss
benefits pursuant to this statute, as Wilson had received a raise at Riceland when he returned,
even while on light-duty work. Wilson says that simply looking at his hourly rate does not,
however, paint a full picture. He argues that ever since his accident, he has been unable to
work overtime or do odd jobs like before and that while he did get a raise, he is making less
money.
Wilson cites Cook v. Aluminum Company of America, 35 Ark. App 16, 811 S.W.2d
329 (1991), for the proposition that to compute an average weekly wage, overtime should
be included in the calculation. In Cook, the issue on appeal was whether the employer had
met the statutory burden of proving the claimant had returned to work after the injury to
wages equal to or greater than his average weekly wage at the time of the accident. Id.
There, the appellant submitted evidence that he was making less money after his accident
than he was before, and this court concluded that difference was because the appellant was
working less overtime after the accident than he was before. Id. Nevertheless, because the
appellant did work some overtime when it was offered and because his hourly rate was the
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same before and after his injury, this court held that was substantial evidence to bar the
appellant from receiving benefits in excess of his permanent physical impairment Id.
Here, there was testimony from Wilson that he received a raise upon returning to
work. Further, Riceland introduced an exhibit documenting the wages and hours worked
by Wilson from August 2014 through May 27, 2016. 1 That exhibit shows, and the ALJ
found, that Wilson has worked consistently since returning from his accident, including
working a substantial amount of overtime. Like in Cook, substantial evidence supports the
ALJ’s findings that Wilson is not entitled to permanent partial-disability benefits in excess of
the percentage of his permanent physical impairment.
Affirmed.
ABRAMSON and BROWN, JJ., agree.
Hunter Law Firm, LLC, by: Scott Hunter, Sr., for appellant.
Womack Phelps Puyear Mayfield & McNeil, P.A., by: Mark Mayfield and Chuck
Gschwend, for appellees.
1
Wilson argues that this exhibit is “flawed” and “misleading.” Wilson, however,
failed to object to this exhibit or otherwise argue its shortcomings below. It is the exclusive
function of the Commission to weigh the evidence. Beyond that, issues may not be raised
on appeal that have not first been raised and decided below. Hanson v. Amfuel, 54 Ark. App.
370, 374–75, 925 S.W.2d 166, 169 (1996).
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