Westmoreland v. Iowa Beef Processors

Claimant seeks review of a Workers’ Compensation Board order denying him benefits for an allegedly work-related injury to his upper back. The referee had granted benefits. We reverse the Board and reinstate the referee’s order.

According to claimant, he hurt his upper back and neck while cranking the landing gear on a loaded trailer he was connecting to his tractor preparatory to driving back to his home base in Pendleton. He reported the incident to his dispatcher on arrival in Pendleton and soon afterwards went to a hospital emergency room. His physicians found tenderness to the left of his…