Vogel v. Liberty Northwest Insurance

Claimant seeks review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board that failed to award him permanent partial disability (PPD) for loss of grip strength and from a refusal to remand the claim to the Department of Insurance and Finance (DIF) for adoption of temporary rating rules.1 We affirm.

Claimant compensably injured his right hand. The insurer closed the claim by notice of closure, but did not award PPD. Claimant requested reconsideration of the notice of closure and the appointment of a medical arbiter. DIF affirmed, without appointing an arbiter, because it could not complete the…