Appeal of Francis Lorette

This is an appeal from a decision of the New Hampshire Compensation Appeals Board (Board) that the petitioner, Francis Lorette, is entitled to a valueless permanent impairment award under RSA 281-A:32 (Supp. 2005). The petitioner argues that the Board erred in calculating his average weekly wage as zero upon the basis that he was unemployed at the time of his permanent impairment assessment. We reverse and remand.

*272The parties stipulated to the following facts before the Board. On October 7, 1996, the petitioner was injured while working for the respondent, Seppala Construction Company. At the…