P A R T C D e c i s i o n u n d e r A p p e a l T h e d e c i s i o n b e i n g a p p e a l e d i s t h e M i n i s t ry o f S o c i a " M i n i s t r y " ) A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n i n w a s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s ( " P W D r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r P W D d e s i g n a t i o n i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s A c t . B a s e d o n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v A p p e l l a n t h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l o r p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e ( i ) d i r e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t s h i s a b i l i t y t o p p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s ; a n d , ( i i ) a s a r e s u l t o f t h o s e r e s t r i c t i o n s h e r e q u i r e s h e T h e M i n i s t r y w a s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s r e a m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r h i s i m p a i r m e n t i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n P A R T D R e l e v a n t L e g i s l a t i o n E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 ): A P P <= A I H l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d S o c i a l I n n o v a t i o n ( t h e w h i c h t h e M i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t " ) d e s i g n a t i o n b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t m e e t a l l t h e f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s i d e d , t h e M i n i s t r y w a s n o t s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e n t t h a t i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l e r f o r m d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r l p t o p e r f o r m t h o s e a c t i v i t i e s . c h e d 1 8 y e a r s o f a g e a n d i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 y e a r s . i l i t i e s A c t ( " E A P W D A " ) S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) a n d 2 ( 3 ) . i l i t i e s R e g u l a t i o n ( " E A P W D R " ) S e c t i o n 2 .
APPEAL# � PART E -Summarv of Facts With the consent of both parties, the hearing was conducted as a written hearing pursuant to section 22(3)(b) of the Employment and Assistance Act. For its reconsideration decision, the Ministry had the following evidence: 1. Appellant's PWD application consisting of: • Appellant's self-report dated October 17, 2013. • Physician's Report ("PR") and Assessor's Report ("AR") both completed on November 22, 2013 by a doctor who indicated that he knew the Appellant for 6 months and he had seen the Appellant between 2· 1 O times in that period of time. • Radiology/echo report dated November 20, 2013 attached to the doctor's reports. 2. Appellant's request for reconsideration with a statement from his doctor dated April 14, 2014. For this appeal, the Appellant submitted a statement describing the effects from his heart attack and a Functional Capacity Evaluation from a rehabilitation service, dated September 4, 2010. According to summary of findings/conclusions in that report, the evaluation focused on the Appellant's cardiovascular functioning, his reports of chest pain and disability and was a good indicator of his then physical functioning within his cardiovascular tolerance. The Panel has reviewed the Appellant's appeal statement and the evaluation report. Pursuant to section 22(4) of the Employment and Assistance Act, the Panel admits both because they provide information about the Appellant's cardiac condition and how that impacts the Appellant's functioning, consistent with and in support of the evidence the Ministry had at reconsideration. The Panel has summarized the relevant evidence from these two documents as well as from the appeal record as follows. Diagnoses In the PR, the doctor diagnosed the Appellant with ischemic heart disease (cardiomyopathy), heart attack myocardial infarction March 2009 and congestive heart failure. Physical Impairment In his self-reports, the Appellant wrote that: • He had a heart attack and has followed the doctor's instructions as best he could. • He is still taking medications and will be for the rest of his life; the damage to his heart can't be repaired. • He gets light headed when he bends over for too long when cleaning his home and gets dizzy spells. • He has heart murmurs which slow him down and he gets quite weak. • He is only allowed to lift 15 lbs. maximum; he tried heavier amounts but he had heart murmurs causing him to stop. • As for walking, he is slowly getting better, walking 4-5 blocks before he has to stop and rest and use his nitroglycerine spray to calm his heart down. This causes unwanted stress. • He has learned a diet that helped him lose weight, but is still a struggle causing unwanted stress and depression. EAAT003(10/06/01)
• He keeps l o oking for w ork , but the re are a lot o where he had to move at a constant rate of spee now unable to do b ecause o f his heart. • He w ould l ike to go back to scho ol for a new ca • In job appl icat ions he has to indicate that tha t he rejected becaus e he is a risk to th e c o mpa n y, a • Ath ird of his heart is dama ged beyond r ep air become d izzy, light h eaded and faint. T he f unctional evaluation report provided th e f ollowing • He w as riding h i s bike e ver y where as a means of transportation. • He re po r ted ches t pa in w i th prolonged wal k ing or repe • He w as abl e to ass ume a sustained crouch and sq • He had good amb u lato ry a bility over short d istances, • Bas ed on his cardio v a scular s t a t us an d risk for anot weight for th e Ap pellant was 2 0 lbs. w ith a n abi In the PR, th e do c t or rep orte d th a t t h e A pp ellant: • Takes medic ations and /or t re atments a n d the antic • Do e s not require a n y prosth eses o r a i ds for his' • Ca n wa l k u na id e d on a fla t surface for l ess t h limitations w h en rema ining se ated; and his li mit • Is not re stricted i n m o bil it y insi d e o r outsi de t • Has poo r ca rd i ac e je ctio n fra ctio n follow i n g his he e cho re port . In the AR, t he do ctor des cribe d the Appel lant' s ph ysica swel ling. The do c t or reported that the A ppe ll a nt indep outdoo r s , climb i ng s tairs, sta nding , l i fting , a n d carrying an A ppell ant is " physi cally i mpa i red b y p oo r c a r d i a c functi In the r eq uest for reconsideration, the doctor wrote th damage from a heart attack. He is not fit for physical labor and has no qualifica Ap pellant's work expe rience is ma n ual l abor which he Mental Impairment In his self-rep ort, the Appel lant wrote that the d iet that hel caus i n g unwanted st ress an d d e pression. H e a l s o s because he had a heart attack and is a risk to a c o mpa In the PR, the doctor did not diagnose any mental health condition has no significant de ficits with cognitive and emotional function. Ap pellant's impairment as emotional depre ssion and lethargy, but provided no d health condition or other information about a mental impairment. • The Annellant's abilitv to communicate (speakina, readina, writina and hearinn\ is aood. EAA T 0 03 ( 10/06/01) APPEAL# '. f r oad blocks; he wo rked as a laborer in jobs d and heavy lifting was involved, which he is reer path. ha d a h eart atta ck a nd then h e thinks he is d ding more s t re ss and dep ression. , affec t in g his blood flow to 3 5 -40%, making him assess ment of the Appellant's conditions: t itive lifting . uat posi t i on , and repea ts of these . su ch as a 6 minute wal k. h er cardio vascu l a r event , a safe li ft ing lit y to car r y over a 5 0 foot dis t a n c e. ipat ed du ra t ion is li felong. impai rm e nt . an 1 b loc k; c an c l i m b 2 -5 s t ai rs unaide d ; has no a t i o ns i n lifting are un known. h e home. art att a ck, and refe rred to the rad i o logy/ l im p ai rment s a s external d y spn ea and leg en d en t ly manages w al k i n g indo ors and d h oldi ng. T he docto r w r ote tha t t he on f o l lowin g heart at tack." a t th e Appellant has poo r heart fun ction due t o tions. The will no t b e able to do again. ped hi m lose weight, is still a struggle tated that he th inks he has been rej ected for jobs ny , adding mo re stress a nd depression. s and reported that the Appellant In the AR, the doctor described the iagnosis of a men tal The doctor also indicated that:
�APP EAL # • There are no i m pacts to any areas of cogn i tive and emotional functionin g. Daily Living Activities In the PR, the doctor report ed that the Appellant: • Has b ee n pr escribed lifelong medic a tions and/or trea tm ents which inte rfere w ith his ability to perform da ily l iving act iviti e s . • Has no restricti ons in his ability to mana ge per s onal self care, meal preparati on , medications, basic hou sework, dai ly shopping, mobility inside and outside the home, u se of tran sportation a nd f inances. • Is not impaired in his social fu nctioning. I n the AR, the d o c to r report ed t h at the App e l lant: • Independently manages all a s pects of personal care, ba sic housekee pi n g, shopping, me al s, paying rent and bills , medications an d transportation. • Independently manages all aspects of social functio ning. • Has good functioni ng with hi s immediate and ext ended soci al networks. H elp wi t h Da ily Livin g Activities I n the A R, the do cto r in d icated tha t the Ap pella nt is "ful ly independent", with no a ssi stance pro v i de d b y o ther p e op le o r assista n c e anim als. For this appeal, th e Mini str y re l ie d on a nd reaffir med it s reco nsi derati on decision. EMT003(10/06/01)
P A R T F R e a s o n s f o r P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e i s s u e i n t h i s a p p e a l i s w h e t h e r t h e M i n i s t r y r e a s e l i g i b l e f o r P W D d e s i g n a t i o n b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t m e E A P W D A , a n d s p e c i f i c a l l y , t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t d o e s t h a t i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l ( i ) d i p e rf o r m d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r p r e s u l t o f t h o s e r e s t r i c t i o n s h e r e q u i r e s h e l p t o p e r f o r T h e e l i g i b i l i t y c r i t e r i a f o r P W D d e s i g n a t i o n a r e s e t o 2 ( 2 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y d e s i g n a t e a p e r s o n w h o h a s d i s a b i l i t i e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s A c t i f t h e m i n i s t e o r p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t t h a t ( a ) i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r i s l i k e l y t o ( b ) i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l ( i ) d i r e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t s t h e p e r s o n ' s a b ( A ) c o n t i n u o u s l y , o r ( B ) p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e ( i i ) a s a r e s u l t o f t h o s e r e s t r i c t i o n s , t h e p e r s o n r e q u i ( 3 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) , ( a ) a p e r s o n w h o h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t i n ( b ) a p e r s o n r e q u i r e s h e l p i n r e l a t i o n t o a d a i l y l i v i n g r e q u i r e s ( i ) a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , ( i i ) t h e s i g n i f i c a n t h e ( i i i ) t h e s e rv i c e s o f a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l . T h e " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s " r e f e r r e d t o i n E A P W D A s 2 ( 1 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e A c t a n d t h i s r e g u l a t i o n ( a ) i n r e l a t i o n t o a p e r s o n w h o h a s a s e v e r e p h y s i c a m e a n s t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : ( i ) p r e p a r e o w n m e a l s ; ( i i ) m a n a g e p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e p e r s o n a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s ; ( v ) p e r f o r m h o u s e w a c c e p t a b l e s a n i t a r y c o n d i t i o n ; ( v i ) m o v e a b o u t i n d o o a n d s e l f c a r e ; ( v i i i ) m a n a g e p e r s o n a l m e d i c a t i o n , a n ( b ) i n r e l a t i o n t o a p e r s o n w h o h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l ( i ) m a k e d e c i s i o n s a b o u t p e r s o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , c a r e o r w i t h o t h e r s e f f e c t i v e l y . T h e P a n e l w i l l c o n s i d e r e a c h p a rt y ' s p o s i t i o n r e g a r d u n d e r t h e a p p l i c a b l e P W D c r i t e r i a a t i s s u e i n t h i s a p S e v e r e P h y s i c a l I m p a i r m e n t T h e A p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d t h a t a t h i r d o f h i s h e a r t i s d d i z z y , l i g h t h e a d e d a n d f a i n t . H e a r t m u r m u r s s l o w h a l l o w e d t o l i f t 1 5 l b s . a n d a s f o r w a l k i n g , h e c a n w a l k I n i t s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , t h e M i n i s t r y i n d i c a t e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e d o c t o r , n o t i n g t h a t t h e d o c t o w a l k i n d o o r s a n d o u t d o o r s , s t a n d , l i f t , c a r r v a n d h o l d E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )'. A P P E A L # o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s n o t e t a l l o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e n o t h a v e a s e v e r e m e n t a l o r p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t r e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t s h i s a b i l i t y t o e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s ; a n d , ( i i ) a s a m t h o s e a c t i v i t i e s . u t i n t h e f o l l o w i n g s e c t i o n s o f t h e E A P W D A : r e a c h e d 1 8 y e a r s o f a g e a s a p e r s o n w i t h r i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e p e r s o n h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t 2 y e a r s , a n d i l i t y t o p e r f o r m d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s e i t h e r r i o d s , a n d r e s h e l p t o p e r f o r m t h o s e a c t i v i t i e s . c l u d e s a p e r s o n w i t h a m e n t a l d i s o r d e r , a n d a c t i v i t y i f , i n o r d e r t o p e r f o r m i t , t h e p e r s o n l p o r s u p e r v i s i o n o f a n o t h e r p e r s o n , o r e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) a r e d e f i n e d i n t h e E A P W D R a s : , " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s " , l i m p a i r m e n t o r a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t , s ; ( i i i ) s h o p f o r p e r s o n a l n e e d s ; ( i v ) u s e p u b l i c o r o r k t o m a i n t a i n t h e p e r s o n ' s p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e i n r s a n d o u t d o o r s ; ( v i i ) p e r f o r m p e r s o n a l h y g i e n e d i m p a i r m e n t , i n c l u d e s t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : f i n a n c e s ; ( i i ) r e l a t e t o , c o m m u n i c a t e o r i n t e r a c t i n g t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e M i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n p e a l . a m a g e d b e y o n d r e p a i r , m a k i n g h i m b e c o m e i m d o w n a n d h e g e t s q u i t e w e a k . H e i s o n l y 4 -5 b l o c k s b e f o r e h e h a s t o s t o p a n d r e s t . t h a t i t c o n s i d e r e d t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s s e l f r e p o r t a n d r r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t c a n i n d e p e n d e n t l y . T h e M i n i s t r v f o u n d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o t e n o u a h
e v i d e n c e t o d e t e r m i n e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s a s e v e T h e P a n e l ' s F i n d i n g s T h e d i a g n o s i s o f a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n i s n o t i n a n d o s a t i s f y t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e E A P W m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n r e s t r i c t s d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g m u s t b e A p p e l l a n t a n d f r o m a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l r e g a r d o n t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o m a n a g e t h e d a i l y l i v i n g A s f o r f i n d i n g w o r k a n d / o r w o r k i n g , t h e P a n e l n o t e s e l i g i b i l i t y f o r P W D d e s i g n a t i o n i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s i n s e c t i o n 2 o f t h e E A P W D R . W i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e e v a l u a t i o n r e p o r t t h e A p p e l l a n t p i t i s 4 y e a r s o l d a n d t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s m o r e r e c e n t d e s h e a l t h m a y h a v e w o r s e n e d s i n c e t h e n . T h e A p p e l l a d i z z y , l i g h t h e a d e d , w e a k a n d f a i n t . H e i s o n l y a l l o w h a s t o s t o p a n d r e s t . T h e A p p e l l a n t ' s d o c t o r r e p o r t e b e i n g s o m e w h a t m o r e r e s t r i c t e d ; t h a t i s , t h e A p p e l l a s t a i r s u n a i d e d . T h e d o c t o r d i a g n o s e d t h e A p p e l l a n t A p p e l l a n t a s h a v i n g p o o r h e a r t f u n c t i o n . H e a l s o d e H o w e v e r , w h e n a s s e s s i n g t h e i m p a c t s o f t h e A p p e l d o c t o r r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t i n d e p e n d e n t l y m a s t a i r s a n d l i f t i n g , a s w e l l a s a l l a c t i v i t i e s r e q u i r i n g p h b a s i c h o u s e k e e p i n g . T h e d o c t o r d e s c r i b e d t h e A p p i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t n e e d e d a n y h e l p f r o m o t h a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l . T h e P a n e l a l s o n o t e s t h a t t h e A h e l p h e n e e d s w i t h d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g . T h e r e f o r e , t h e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o t e n o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n t o p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t . S e v e r e M e n t a l I m p a i r m e n t T h e A p p e l l a n t d e s c r i b e d f e e l i n g s t r e s s e d a n d d e p r e T h e M i n i s t r y f o u n d t h a t t h e d o c t o r d i d n o t p r o v i d e e n h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t . T h e P a n e l ' s F i n d i n g s T h e P a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e o n l y e v i d e n c e o f d e p r e s s i o n w h e n h e b e n t d o w n a n d g o t d i z z y , a n d a b o u t h i s i n a t h e A R , b u t g a v e n o i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g a n y m e n t h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n a n d s p e c i f i c a l l y r e p o r t e d n o i m p a c t s f u n c t i o n i n g o r s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g . T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a n t h a t t h e r e w a s n o t e n o u g h e v i d e n c e t o d e t e r m i n e t h R e s t r i c t i o n s t o D a i l y L i v i n g A c t i v i t i e s T h e A o o e l l a n t p r o v i d e d n o i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t r e s t r i c t E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L # � --_ _ _ _ _ _ ___J r e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t . f i t s e l f e v i d e n c e o f t h e s e v e r i t y o f i m p a i r m e n t . T o D A , e v i d e n c e o f h o w a n d t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h a c o n s i d e r e d . T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e e v i d e n c e f r o m t h e i n g t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i m p a i r m e n t a n d i t s i m p a c t a c t i v i t i e s l i s t e d i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) o f t h e E A P W D R . t h a t e m p l o y a b i l i t y i s n o t a c r i t e r i o n f o r d e t e r m i n i n g E A P W D A n o r i s i t l i s t e d a m o n g t h e p r e s c r i b e d r o v i d e d , t h e P a n e l g i v e s t h a t l i t t l e w e i g h t b e c a u s e c r i p t i o n s o f h i s i m p a i r m e n t s i n d i c a t e t h a t h i s n t d e s c r i b e d h i s h e a r t c o n d i t i o n a s m a k i n g h i m e d t o l i f t 1 5 l b s . H e c a n w a l k 4 -5 b l o c k s b e f o r e h e d t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g a b i l i t i e s a s n t i s a b l e t o w a l k l e s s t h a n 1 b l o c k a n d c l i m b 2 -5 w i t h c a r d i a c c o n d i t i o n s a n d d e s c r i b e d t h e s c r i b e d t h e A p p e l l a n t a s p h y s i c a l l y i m p a i r e d . l a n t ' s p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t o n d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g , t h e n a g e s w a l k i n g i n d o o r s a n d o u t d o o r s , c l i m b i n g y s i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g s u c h a s p e r s o n a l s e l f c a r e a n d e l l a n t a s b e i n g f u l l y i n d e p e n d e n t a n d d i d n o t e r p e o p l e , f r o m a n y a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e s o r a n p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e d n o i n f o r m a t i o n a t a l l a b o u t a n y P a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s a s e v e r e s s e d w h e n d e a l i n g w i t h h i s p h y s i c a l r e s t r i c t i o n s . o u g h i n f o r m a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t i s t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s n o t e a b o u t f e e l i n g d e p r e s s e d b i l i t y t o w o r k . T h e d o c t o r r e f e r r e d t o l e t h a r g y i n a l h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n , n o d i a g n o s i s o f a n y m e n t a l t o t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s c o g n i t i v e a n d e m o t i o n a l e l f i n d s t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t . i o n s t o d a i l v l i v i n q a c t i v i t i e s , e x c e o t f o r l i m i t s i n
� � A_ P_ P_ E_ AL_ -_ # -----� ' his ability to walk and lift The Ministry noted the doctor's report that the Appellant is not restricted in his ability to manage any of his daily living activities and is fully independent. Therefore, the Ministry found that there was not enough evidence to establish that the Appellant's impairment directly and significantly restricted his ability to manage daily living activities continuously or periodically for extended periods. The Panel's Findings Section 2(2)(b) of the EAPWDA requires that a prescribed professional provide an opinion that the Appellant's severe impairment directly and significantly restricts his daily living activities, continuously or periodically for extended periods. In this case the Appellant's doctor is the prescribed professional. Daily living activities are defined in section 2(1) of the EAPWDR and are also listed in the PR and in the AR for the doctor to assess. Although the Appellant's doctor wrote that the Appellant is physically impaired by poor cardiac function and that he has been prescribed lifelong medications which interfere with his ability to perform daily living activities, the Appellant's doctor reported that the Appellant independently manages all daily living activities, even adding the comment "fully independent". Also, the doctor reported no assistance from other people, no use of any assistive devices or an assistance animal. There was also no information from the Appellant about restrictions to his daily living activities that require him to have help. Therefore, the Panel finds that the Ministry reasonably determined that there was not enough information to determine that the Appellant's impairment directly and significantly restricts his daily living activities continuously or periodically for extended periods. Help with Daily Living Activities The Appellant provided no information about any help he needs or any assistive devices he uses to manage his daily living activities. The Ministry's position is that because the evidence does not establish that daily living activities are significantly restricted, it cannot determine that significant help is required from other persons. It noted that the Appellant's doctor indicated that he did not require the use of any assistive device. The Panel's Findings Section 2(2)(b )(ii) of the EAPWDA also requires the opinion of a prescribed professional confirming that because of direct and significant restrictions in his ability to manage daily living activities, the Appellant requires help with those activities. In this case, the Appellant provided no information about any help he gets or needs. The Appellant's doctor reported that the Appellant is fully independent and does not use any assistive devices or an assistance animal. Therefore, the Panel finds that the Ministry reasonably concluded that it could not determine that the Appellant needs significant help to manage his daily living activities. Conclusion Having reviewed and considered all of the evidence and the relevant legislation, the Panel finds that the Ministry's reconsideration decision, which determined that the Appellant was not eligible for PWD desiqnation, was reasonablv suooorted bv the evidence. Therefore the Panel confirms that decision. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.