Van Blokland v. OR. HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY

Claimant seeks review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board which affirmed the referee’s award of an additional 35 percent unscheduled permanent partial disability of the low back, rejected claimant’s contention that the claim had been prematurely closed and upheld SAIF’s denial of payment for a weight loss program. On de novo review, we hold that the weight loss program is compensable and that the claim was prematurely closed.

Claimant is five feet six inches tall. Her weight has fluctuated from 234 pounds (in November 1981) to 300 pounds (in April 1983). She had compensable left…