Dowhower v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board

OPINION

Justice BALDWIN.

Appellant, Paul Dowhower (Claimant), sustained a work-related injury on September 13, 1996. On May 29, 1998, a Workers’ Compensation Judge (WCJ) issued an order awarding Claimant total disability benefits retroactive to April 18, 1997. Thereafter, Claimant returned to work for a period of time, but later returned to total disability status.

On May 20, 1999, ITT Hartford, the insurer of Claimant’s employer, filed a petition requesting that a physician be designated to perform an impairment rating evaluation (IRE) on Claimant in accordance with section 306(a.2)(l) of the…