Nomeland v. City of Portland

Claimant seeks review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board that reversed the referee and allowed employer to offset claimant’s preexisting hearing loss in determining his scheduled permanent disability.

Claimant suffered a compensable hearing loss while working for employer. The parties have stipulated that claimant also had a significant hearing loss before his employment, as established by an audiogram. The only question on review is how to treat claimant’s documented, preemployment hearing loss in calculating the extent of his disability. The Board held that claimant was entitled…