Commonwealth, Central State Hospital v. Gray

OPINION OF THE COURT

Claimant, a licensed practical nurse, injured his back at work on October 1, 1989, when he was shoved by an unruly psychiatric patient and struck his low back against a stair railing. Later that day, while assisting in lifting the same patient, he again was shoved to the floor. His injuries required back surgery, and it was determined that he was temporarily totally disabled for various periods up until October 24, 1990, at which time he reached maximum medical improvement. The Administrative Law Judge (AL J) awarded claimant a 50% permanent, partial occupational…