Garcia v. Fence Masters, Inc.

Claimant challenges an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) denying his claim for permanent total disability (PTD) benefits. Claimant argues the JCC erred by relying on the opinion of a vocational expert retained by the employer/carrier (E/C) because the opinion was not sufficiently supported by valid data. For reasons explained herein, we reverse and remand this case for further proceedings.

Background

Claimant, a fifty-nine-year-old welder with limited education and a work history restricted to the field of welding, was displaced from his employment of sixteen years by a…