Sprague v. Lucas Tree Experts

[¶ 1] Lucas Tree Experts appeals from a decision of a Workers’ Compensation Board hearing officer (Sprague, HO) determining that David J. Sprague suffers from 12% permanent impairment as a result of a work injury to his lower back. Lucas contends that pursuant to the American Medical Association, Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (4th ed. 1993) (AMA Guides), it was error for the hearing officer to establish the permanent impairment rating based on a medical opinion formulated using the “Range of Motion” model rather than the “Injury” or “Diagnostic Related Estimate” model. We…