Arndt v. National Appliance Co.

Claimant seeks review of a Workers’ Compensation Board order reducing the referee’s award of permanent total disability to 75 percent unscheduled back and psychiatric disability. On de novo review, we conclude that claimant meets the statutory criteria for permanent total disability; therefore, we reverse the Board and reinstate the referee’s order.

Claimant was employed as a sheet metal worker and welder for employer for 21 years. He suffered a compensable low-back injury in 1975 while lifting 120 pounds. As a result, he underwent surgery for the removal of a “huge” herniated disc at L5-S1…