Howerton v. State Accident Insurance Fund Corp.

This is a workers’ compensation case. The issue is the extent of permanent partial disability claimant sustained as a result of a compensable injury to her lower back. In July, 1981, she was awarded 30 percent disability by determination order. The referee increased that award to 75 percent. The Workers’ Compensation Board reduced the award to 45 percent. Claimant contends that the Board erred in reducing her award, and she asks us to reinstate the referee’s award.

Claimant, age 55 at the time of the hearing, was employed as a nurse’s aide. Her employment required her to do heavy lifting when…