APPEAL# '. PART C -Decision under Appeal The decision being appealed is the July 14, 2014 reconsideration decision of the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (the "Ministry") in which the Ministry determined that the Appellant was not eligible for Persons with Disabilities ("PWD") designation because he did not meet all the requirements for PWD designation in section 2(2) of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act. Based on the information provided, the Ministry was not satisfied that the Appellant has a severe mental or physical impairment that in the opinion of a prescribed professional (i) directly and significantly restricts his ability to perform daily living activities either continuously or periodically for extended periods; and, (ii) as a result of those restrictions he requires help to perform those activities. The Ministry was satisfied that the Appellant has reached 18 years of age and in the opinion of a medical practitioner his impairment is likely to continue for at least 2 years. PART D -Relevant Legislation Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act ("EAPWDA") Section 2(2) and 2(3). Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation ("EAPWDR") Section 2. EAAT003(10/06/01)
P A R T E S u m m a r y o f F a c t s F o r 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 h a d t h 1 . A p p e l l a n t ' s P W D a p p l i c a t i o n c o n s i s t i n g o f t h • T h e A p p e l l a n t ' s s e l f r e p o rt ( " S R " ) s i g n e d b y h • A p h y s i c i a n ' s r e p o r t ( " P R " ) d a t e d F e b r u a r y 2 s h e h a s b e e n t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s f a m i l y d o c t o r s 1 O t i m e s i n t h e 1 2 m o n t h s p r e c e d i n g t h e r e p • A n a s s e s s o r ' s r e p o r t ( " A R " ) d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 p h y s i c i a n . 2 . W i t h t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s f a m h i s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s , a l l o f w h i c h w e r e b e f o • S p i r o m e t r y t e s t r e p o r t s d a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 6 , i n d i c a t e t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s t e s t r e s u l t s a r e " c o n • C a r d i o p u l m o n a r y e x e r c i s e t e s t r e p o r t o f S e p t • N e u r o l o g i s t r e p o r t o f S e p t e m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 3 f o r w h i c h n e u r o l o g i s t n o t e s , " d i a g n o s i s i s a l c o h o t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a d b e e n p r e s c r i b e d m e d • T h r e e r e p o r t s f r o m a R e s p i r o l o g i s t t h e S e p w i l l b e a t t e n d i n g a r e s p i r a t o r y r e h a b i l i t a t i o n p 2 0 1 3 ) , h a s b e e n u s i n g m e d i c a t i o n , a n d h a s 2 0 1 2 r e p o r t i n d i c a t e s A p p e l l a n t h a s r e t u r n e d N o v e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 2 r e p o rt i n d i c a t e s r e a s s e s h a d b e e n l a s t s e e n i n 2 0 0 9 . • C T s c a n S e p t e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 3 i n d i c a t i n g " s e v e • R e p o r t d a t e d J u n e 1 7 , 2 0 1 3 f r o m a t h o r a c i c a " u p p e r l o b e p r e d o m i n a n t b u l l o u s d i s e a s e " a n s t r o n g e r b e f o r e h e i s b o o k e d f o r s u r g e r y . • P u l m o n a ry f u n c t i o n a n a l y s i s t e s t s r e p o r t d a t e C O P D ( G o l d g r a d e 3 ) w i t h a s i g n i f i c a n t b r o n • R e p o r t s d a t e d N o v e m b e r 7 , 2 0 1 2 a n d O c t o b e t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s h e r n i a t e d d i s c , b u t n o t i n g i n N d i s c h e r n i a t i o n s y m p t o m s h a d l a r g e l y r e s o l v e i n v e s t i g a t i o n o r a c t i v e m a n a g e m e n t w a s t h o u • E c h o c a r d i o g r a p h y r e p o r t d a t e d M a y 2 3 , 2 0 1 3 • Q u a n t i t a t i v e l u n g p e r f u s i o n s t u d y r e p o r t d a t e d 3 . A p p e l l a n t ' s r e q u e s t f o r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d a t e d s u b m i s s i o n p r e p a r e d b y h i s a d v o c a t e . 4 . T w o c o p i e s o f a 2 p a g e d o c u m e n t " I n f o r m a t i o p r e p a r e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s a d v o c a t e s e t t i n g m e d i c a l i m p a i r m e n t s , a n d t h e i m p a c t o f h i s i m D o c u m e n t s " ) . O n e c o o v o f t h e 2 o a a e d o c u m E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )'. A P P E A L # e f o l l o w i n g e v i d e n c e : e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e p a rt s : i m o n O c t o b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 3 ; , 2 0 1 4 c o m p l e t e d a p h y s i c i a n w h o i n d i c a t e d t h a t i n c e A u g u s t 2 0 1 1 a n d s h e ' d s e e n t h e A p p e l l a n t 2 -o rt ; a n d 0 , 2 0 1 4 , a l s o c o m p l e t e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s f a m i l y i l y p h y s i c i a n a t t a c h e d s e v e r a l r e p o r t s r e g a r d i n g r e t h e M i n i s t r y , s u m m a r i z e d a s f o l l o w s : 2 0 1 3 a n d N o v e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2 , b o t h o f w h i c h s i s t e n t w i t h s e v e r e C O P D . " e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 3 . m a n a g e m e n t o f A p p e l l a n t ' s g a i t i m b a l a n c e i n l i n d u c e d m i d l i n e c e r e b e l l a r d e g e n e r a t i o n " a n d i c a t i o n . t e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 r e p o r t n o t e s t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t r o g r a m i n t h e n e x t m o n t h ( S e p t e m b e r O c t o b e r b e e n c u t t i n g d o w n h i s s m o k i n g ; D e c e m b e r 1 2 , f o r f o l l o w u p o f " s e v e r e C O P D a n d b u l l a e " ; a n d s e d A p p e l l a n t f o r " s e v e r e C O P D a n d b u l l a e " a n d r e u p p e r l o b e b i l a t e r a l b u l l o u s d i s e a s e . " n d e s o p h a g e a l s u r g e o n c o n f i r m i n g A p p e l l a n t h a s d r e c o m m e n d e d h e q u i t s m o k i n g s o h e c a n g e t d M a y 2 4 , 2 0 1 3 n o t i n g " c o n s i s t e n t w i t h s e v e r e c h o d i l a t o r r e s p o n s e . " r 2 8 , 2 0 1 1 o f a n o r t h o p e d i c s u r g e o n r e g a r d i n g o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2 r e p o r t t h a t t h e r i g h t l o w e r l u m b a r d b y t h e t i m e o f t h e r e p o r t a n d n o f u r t h e r g h t w a r r a n t e d a t t h e t i m e . ; M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 3 . J u n e 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 w i t h a t t a c h e d J u l y 1 1 , 2 0 1 4 n f o r P e r s o n w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s f o r [ t h e A p p e l l a n t ] " o u t a s e r i e s o f s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p a i r m e n t o n h i s d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s ( " J u l y e n t i s s i a n e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s f a m i l v o h v s i c i a n
a n d d a t e d J u l y 9 , 2 0 1 4 . O n e c o p y o f t h e 2 p r e s p i r o l o g i s t a n d d a t e d J u l y 8 , 2 0 1 4 . A l t h e b i s t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t : " I t i s m y m e d i c a l t h a t w i l l l a s t f o r m o r e t h a n 2 y e a r s . I h a v e c h h e i s 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 e d i n h i r e q u i r e s s i g n i f i c a n t h e l p t o p e r f o r m t h e a c t i v i i n f o r m a t i o n a n d a m e n d e d i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s w w o r d e d i d e n t i c a l l y , a n d s p a c e i s p r o v i d e d f o r p r e s c r i b e d t o t h e A p p e l l a n t ; h o w e v e r , t h e r e a a n d t h e r e a r e n o b o x e s f o r t h e s i g n i n g p h y s i T h e f o l l o w i n g i s a s u m m a r y o f t h e r e l e v a n t e v i d e n c i n f o r m a t i o n b e f o r e t h e M i n i s t r y a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , a D i a g n o s e s a n d S e v e r i t y o f I m p a i r m e n t s I n t h e P R , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n d i a g n o s e d t h e " d e g e n e r a t i v e d i s c d i s e a s e w i t h h e r n i a t e d d i s c s " , i n t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , t h e p e r i o d o f i m s m o k i n g s h o u l d b e h e l p f u l . " T h e m e d i c a l r e p o r t s a t A p p e l l a n t s u f f e r s f r o m s e v e r e C O P D ( D e c e m b e r 1 6 r e p o r t s ; D e c e m b e r 1 2 a n d N o v e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 2 r e s f u n c t i o n a n a l y s i s t e s t s r e p o rt ) , w i t h b u l l a e i n h i s l u n t h o r a c i c s u r g e o n ) , a h e r n i a t e d d i s c ( r e p o r t s o f o r t h o ( n e u r o l o g i s t r e p o r t ) . I n t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s , t h e f o l l o w i n g i s l i s t e d u n d e r r e q u i r e m e n t " : d e g e n e r a t i v e d i s c d i s e a s e w i t h h e r n i a 2 0 0 0 ; a n d d i v e r t i c u l i t i s -2 0 1 4 . A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e A s u r g e r y i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e t o r e m o v e t h e t o p t h i r d o f I n t h e f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l s s e c t i o n o f t h e P R , t h e A p p e l l a w a l k u n a i d e d 4 + b l o c k s , c l i m b 2 -5 s t a i r s u n a i d e d , l i f r e m a i n i n g s e a t e d . I n t h e m o b i l i t y a n d p h y s i c a l a b i l i t y i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t c o u l d i n d e p e n d e n t l y p e r w a l k i n g o u t d o o r s , c l i m b i n g s t a i r s , a n d s t a n d i n g ) , t h a p e o p l e w i t h l i f t i n g , a n d t h a t h e r e q u i r e d p e r i o d i c a s s h o l d i n g . T h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n d i d n o t p r o v i d e a I n t h e A R , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n r e p o rt e d h i s i m p U n d e r t h e h e a d i n g " r e s t r i c t i o n s , " t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t t h a n o n e b l o c k d u e t o t h e s e v e r e b r e a t h i n g p r o b l e m " m o r e t h a n 1 -2 s t a i r s p r o d u c e s t h e s a m e p a i n . " T h e d i f f i c u l t y b e n d i n g d o w n t o r e t r i e v e i t e m s f r o m t h e f l o a n d f u r n i t u r e t o p u l l h i m s e l f b a c k u p " a n d t h a t h e h a i t e m s o r t e n d t o h i s o w n p e r s o n a l h y g i e n e . " E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # : a g e d o c u m e n t i s s i g n e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s o t t o m o f t h e s e c o n d p a g e o f e a c h J u l y D o c u m e n t o p i n i o n t h a t [ t h e A p p e l l a n t ) h a s s e v e r e c o n d i t i o n s e c k e d t h e a p p l i c a b l e b o x e s w h e r e I c o n f i r m t h a t s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m h i s d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s a n d t i e s , n o t e d a b o v e . I h a v e r e v i e w e d t h e a b o v e i t h m e d i c a l o p i n i o n . " B o t h J u l y D o c u m e n t s a r e t h e s i g n i n g p h y s i c i a n t o i n d i c a t e t h e m e d i c a t i o n s r e n o d e s i g n a t e d s p a c e s f o r a d d i t i o n a l c o m m e n t s c i a n t o c h e c k . e f r o m t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n , a s w e l l a s t h e n d t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s e v i d e n c e a t t h e h e a r i n g . A p p e l l a n t w i t h " s e v e r e C O P D [ w i t h ] b u l l a e " a n d d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a d s u f f e r e d f r o m p a i r m e n t w a s i n d e f i n i t e , b u t t h a t " c e s s a t i o n o f t a c h e d t o t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n c o n f i r m t h a t t h e , 2 0 1 3 a n d N o v e m b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2 s p i r o m e t r y t e s t p i r o l o g i s t ' s r e p o r t s ; a n d M a y 2 4 , 2 0 1 3 p u l m o n a r y g s ( r e p i r o l o g i s t ' s r e p o r t s , C T s c a n , a n d r e p o r t o f p e d i c s u r g e o n ) a n d c e r e b e l l a r d e g e n e r a t i o n t h e h e a d i n g " c o n d i t i o n s , s e v e r i t y a n d t i m e t e d d i s c s -2 0 1 1 ; s e v e r e C O P D w i t h b u l l a e -p p e l l a n t t o l d t h e p a n e l t h a t h e e x p e c t s t o h a v e e a c h o f h i s l u n g s , b u t i t i s n o t y e t s c h e d u l e d . n t ' s p h y s i c i a n i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t c a n t 2 -7 k g ( 5 -1 5 l b s ) , a n d h a d n o l i m i t a t i o n s e c t i o n o f t h e A R , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n f o r m 4 o f t h e 6 l i s t e d a c t i v i t i e s ( w a l k i n g i n d o o r s , t h e r e q u i r e d c o n t i n u o u s a s s i s t a n c e f r o m o t h e r i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e r p e r s o n w i t h c a r r y i n g a n d n y c o m m e n t a r y r e g a r d i n g h e r a n s w e r s i n t h e A R . a i r m e n t a s " s h o r t n e s s o f b r e a t h o n e x e r t i o n . " s s t a t e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t i s " u n a b l e t o w a l k m o r e s a n d a c h i n g p a i n i n h i s b a c k " a n d t h a t c l i m b i n g J u l y D o c u m e n t s s t a t e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t " h a s o r o r f r o m b o t t o m c u p b o a r d s a n d u t i l i z e s c o u n t e r s s " d i f f i c u l t y r e a c h i n g a b o v e h i s h e a d t o r e t r i e v e
I n t h e P R , t h e p h y s i c i a n i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n f u n c t i o n a s a r e s u l t o f h i s i m p a i r m e n t s . I n t h e A R , u n d e r l i n e d w o r d s " i d e n t i f i e d m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t o r b f i r s t 3 l i s t e d i t e m s ( b o d i l y f u n c t i o n , c o n s c i o u s n e s s a A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n a l s o l e f t t h e s e c t i o n o f t h e A R T h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s c o n t a i n t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n i s o l a t e d a n d f i n d s h e i s i s o l a t i n g h i m s e l f f r e q u e n t l y t e r m m e m o r y a n d r e c a l l h a v e b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y d i f f i c u l t y o r g a n i z i n g h i s [ t h o u g h t s ] . . . a v o i d s c r o w d s e v e n t h o u g h h e w o u l d b e n e f i t f r o m t h e a s s i s t a n c e o D a il y L i v i n g A c t i v i t i e s I n t h e A R , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n r e p o r t e d t h a t t h o n e o f t h e t a s k s o f a l l o f t h e l i s t e d D L A . F o r t h e t a s s h o p p i n g , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n c h e c k e d t h a t t h a n o t h e r p e r s o n , b u t s h e d i d n o t p r o v i d e a n y c o m m e E a r l i e r i n t h e A R , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n h a d c o m t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t s . T h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s s t a t e t h e f o l l o w i n g a b o u t t h e i m • P e r s o n a l C a r e -" r e q u i r e s m u c h m o r e t i m e t h g e t s v e r y t i r e d a f t e r t a k i n g s h o w e r o r g e t t i n g a m o u n t o f t i m e ( 3 -5 l o n g e r ) f o r [ t h e A p p e l l a n • M e a l P r e p a r a t i o n -" u n a b l e t o s t a n d i n o n e p h e n o l o n g e r s t a n d s i n f r o n t o f t h e s t o v e o r c • B a s i c H o u s e w o r k -" . . . i s u n a b l e t o v a c u u m o s e v e r e b r e a t h i n g p r o b l e m s . " • D a i l y S h o p p i n g , B a n k i n g , P a y i n g B i l l s , A p p o i w e i g h t a b o v e . . . 5 -1 0 l b s " a n d " [ T h e A p p e l l a n f i n d s t h a t h e i s f o r g e t t i n g t a s k s a n d e r r a n d s m • M o b i l i t y I n s i d e / O u t s i d e o f t h e H o m e a n d T r a n h i s b a c k d u e t o t h e r o u g h b o u n c i n g o f t h e b u . b a r r i e r t o t a k i n g t r a n s i t . H e [ c a n ] d r i v e a s h o T h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s a l s o s t a t e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t ) " c h i s a b i l i t y . H i s c o n d i t i o n s a n d s y m p t o m s v a r y f r o m v a r i e s f r o m d a y t o d a y , h o w e v e r , o v e r a l l c a n b e c o n d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s . " A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e A p p e l l a n t s a i d t h a t h e i s f i n e w h e w h e n e v e r h e t r i e s t o d o a n y t h i n g t h a t r e q u i r e s a n y e n o r m a l p e r s o n b e c a u s e o f h i s C O P D . H e s a i d t h a t a n d c a n ' t w a l k a n y d i s t a n c e o r c l i m b a n y s t a i r s b e c a E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 I )� A P P E A L # t h a d n o d e f i c i t s w i t h c o g n i t i v e a n d e m o t i o n a l t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n w r o t e " N / A " b e s i d e t h e r a i n i n j u r y " a n d c h e c k e d " n o i m p a c t " b e s i d e t h e n d e m o t i o n ) a n d l e f t t h e r e s t o f t h e l i s t b l a n k . T h e o n s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g b l a n k . t : " . . . [ t h e A p p e l l a n t ) h a s b e c o m e w i t h d r a w n , a s a m e a n s o f c o p i n g w i t h h i s p a i n . . . h i s s h o r t p o o r . . . . [ h e ) e x p e r i e n c e s c o n f u s i o n a n d h a s . . . [ h e ) a l s o f i n d s i t d i f f i c u l t t o a s k o t h e r s f o r h e l p , f o t h e r s . " e A p p e l l a n t c o u l d i n d e p e n d e n t l y p e r f o r m a l l b u t k o f c a r r y i n g p u r c h a s e s h o m e u n d e r t h e D L A o f e A p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e d p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e f r o m n t a r y o r e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h i s a n s w e r i n t h e A R . m e n t e d " d i f f i c u l t y w i t h v a c u u m i n g " i n d e s c r i b i n g p a c t o f t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t s o n h i s D L A : a n a n o r m a l p e r s o n s a m e a g e w o u l d r e q u i r e . . . d r e s s e d . . . . e v e r y d a y a c t i v i t i e s w i l l t a k e s i g n i f i c a n t t ] . . . . " l a c e f o r m o r e t h a n a f e w m i n u t e s a n d a s a r e s u l t o u n t e r t o p r e p a r e a n d c o o k m e a l s . . . . " r c l e a n h i s b a t h t u b d u e t o t h e p a i n i n h i s b a c k a n d n t m e n t s a n d E r r a n d s -" u n a b l e t o c a r r y a n y t ] . . . s t a t e s t h a t h i s m e m o r y i s v e r y p o o r , a n d h e o r e f r e q u e n t l y . " s p o r t a t i o n -" P u b l i c t r a n s i t c a u s e s s e v e r e p a i n i n s o r s k y t r a i n . W a l k i n g a n d s t a i r s a r e a l s o a r t d i s t a n c e o n h i s g o o d d a y s . " o n t i n u e s t o s t r i v e f o r i n d e p e n d e n c e t o t h e b e s t o f d a y t o d a y a n d a s a r e s u l t h i s n e e d f o r a s s i s t a n c e s i d e r e d a s i g n i f i c a n t n e e d f o r a s s i s t a n c e w i t h h i s n h e i s s i t t i n g d o w n a n d n o t d o i n g a n y t h i n g , b u t f f o r t , i t t a k e s h i m a l o t l o n g e r t h a n i t w o u l d a h e c a n ' t l i f t a n y t h i n g h e a v i e r t h a n a f e w p o u n d s u s e h e i s s o s h o r t o f b r e a t h .
H e l p w i t h 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 p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n n o t e d i n t h e A R t h a t t h e A b a g s , [ a n d ] v a c u u m i n g [ h i s ] h o m e " b u t n o t e d h e d i d a n i m a l . T h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s c o n t a i n s t a t e m e n t s t h a t t h e A p c o o k a n d p r e p a r e p r o p e r m e a l s a n d t o c a r r y g r o c e r g i r l f r i e n d a s s i s t s w i t h b a s i c h o u s e w o r k . A s n o t e d a t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s n e e d f o r a s s i s t a n c e v a r i e s f r o m a s s i s t a n c e w i t h h i s D L A . E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )� A P P E A L # p p e l l a n t " n e e d s h e l p o f f r i e n d s t o c a r r y g r o c e r y n o t n e e d a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e s o r a n a s s i s t a n c e p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f o t h e r s t o h e l p i e s f r o m t h e s t o r e t o h i s r e s i d e n c e , a n d t h a t h i s b o v e , t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s c o n t a i n a s t a t e m e n t d a y t o d a y , b u t t h a t h e h a s a s i g n i f i c a n t n e e d f o r
I APPEAL# PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue in this appeal is whether the Ministry reasonably determined that the Appellant was not eligible for PWD designation because he did not meet all of the requirements in section 2(2) of the EAPWDA, and specifically, that the Appellant does not have a severe mental or physical impairment that in the opinion of a prescribed professional (i) directly and significantly restricts his ability to perform daily living activities either continuously or periodically for extended periods; and, (ii) as a result of those restrictions he requires help to perform those activities. The eligibility criteria for PWD designation are set out in the following sections of the EAPWDA: 2 (2) The minister may designate a person who has reached 18 years of age as a person with disabilities for the purposes of this Act if the minister is satisfied that the person has a severe mental or physical impairment that (a) in the opinion of a medical practitioner is likely to continue for at least 2 years, and (b) in the opinion of a prescribed professional (i) directly and significantly restricts the person's ability to perform daily living activities either (A) continuously, or (B) periodically for extended periods, and (ii) as a result of those restrictions, the person requires help to perform those activities. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), (a) a person who has a severe mental impairment includes a person with a mental disorder, and (b) a person requires help in relation to a daily living activity if, in order to perform it, the person requires (i) an assistive device, (ii) the significant help or supervision of another person, or (iii) the services of an assistance animal. The "daily living activities" referred to in EAPWDA section 2(2)(b) are defined in the EAPWDR as: 2 (1) For the purposes of the Act and this regulation, "daily living activities" , (a) in relation to a person who has a severe physical impairment or a severe mental impairment, means the following activities: (i) prepare own meals; (ii) manage personal finances; (iii) shop for personal needs; (iv) use public or personal transportation facilities; (v) perform housework to maintain the person's place of residence in acceptable sanitary condition; (vi) move about indoors and outdoors; (vii) perform personal hygiene and self-care; (viii) manage personal medication, and (b) in relation to a person who has a severe mental impairment, includes the following activities: (i) make decisions about personal activities, care or finances; (ii) relate to, communicate or interact with others effectively. Panel's decision The panel will now consider each party's position regarding the reasonableness of the Ministry's decision under the applicable PWD criteria at issue in this appeal. Severe Physical Impairment The Appellant submitted that he suffers from a severe physical impairment that significantly impairs his ability to manaqe his daily tasks, namely his severe COPD with bullae in his lunas and oain EAAT 003(10/06/01 I
c a u s e d b y h i s h e r n i a t e d d i s c . T h e A p p e l l a n t n o t e s t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n a n d m e d i c a l r e p o r t s t h a t h e s u t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s s h o u l d b P R a n d A R a n d t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y w a s u n r e a s o n a b l e 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 A p p e l l a n t s a y s t h a t a p h y s i c i a n s t o s i g n b e c a u s e i t i s e a s i e r t o g e t i n f o r m o p p o s e d t o a s k i n g t h e m t o c o m p l e t e a q u e s t i o n n a i r b e c a u s e t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s w e r e s i g n e d b y b o t h h s t a t e m e n t s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s s h o u l d h a v e s i g n e d t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s i f t h e y d i s a g r e e d w D o c u m e n t s . T h e A p p e l l a n t s a y s t h a t h e t h i n k s h i s f a c o m p l e t e t h e P R a n d t h e A R a n d t h a t t h i s e x p l a i n s A R a n d t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s . H e s a y s t h a t b e c a u s e r e c e n t t h a n i n t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n , i t s h o u l d b e g i v t h e M i n i s t r y i s i n c o r r e c t l y c o n f l a t i n g t w o c r i t e r i a s e i m p a i r m e n t s o n h i s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m h i s d a i l y l i v i n g T h e M i n i s t r y c o n s i d e r e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e A p p e r e p o r t s , a n d t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s . I t d e t e r m i n e d t h a t p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g , p a r t i c u l a r l y l i f t i n g , c a r r y i n g a n d a p p l i c a t i o n a n d c o n f i r m e d i n t h e d o c u m e n t s s u b m i t t d e g r e e o f p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t . " T h e M i n i s t r y n o t e d D o c u m e n t s " a r e v i r t u a l l y i d e n t i c a l " a n d t h a t i n t h e J u s u b s t a n t i a l l y c h a n g e d f r o m t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n c o m r a t i o n a l e p r o v i d e d a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o c o n f i r m " w h p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n a l i t y i n s o s h o r t a p e r i o d o f t i m e . " T a s s u m e t h a t [ t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s a r e ] s e l f r e p o r t e d t h a n a p e r s o n a l i z e d r e s p o n s e , c h a r t a n a l y s i s a n d r e p h y s i c i a n s . " T h e M i n i s t r y a l s o n o t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l f i n d i n g s a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o c o n f i r m t h e s i g n i f i c a n t 2 0 1 4 t o t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s . T h e M i n i s t r y w a s n o t s " s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t g i v i n g r i s e t o a n e e d f o T h e P a n e l ' s F i n d i n g s T h e A p p e l l a n t a r g u e s t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y i n c o r r e c t l y c o a n d r e s t r i c t i o n t o D L A . T h e A p p e l l a n t a l s o a r g u e s t h a n d i t i s u n r e a s o n a b l e o f t h e M i n i s t r y t o l o o k t o i n f o r p e r s o n ' s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t i n i t s d o c u m e n t s , t h e M i n i s t r y s e t m e t i n o r d e r t o b e d e s i g n a t e d a P W D b a s e d o n t h e p M i n i s t r y w i l l i n d i c a t e t o a p p l i c a n t s t h r o u g h t h e u s e o f a p p l i c a n t h a s m e t a n d w h i c h a n a p p l i c a n t h a s f a i l e d 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 b y i t s e l f e a p p l i c a n t c a n s u f f e r f r o m a s e v e r e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n 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 D A , e v i d e n E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # � t h e r e f e r e n c e s b y h i s d o c t o r a n d h i s s p e c i a l i s t s i n f f e r s f r o m " s e v e r e C O P D . " T h e A p p e l l a n t a r g u e s e g i v e n m o r e w e i g h t t h a n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e n o t t o g i v e t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s m o r e w e i g h t i n i t s n a d v o c a t e p r e p a r e d t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s f o r h i s a t i o n f r o m b u s y p h y s i c i a n s i n t h i s m a n n e r , a s e , s u c h a s t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n . H e a r g u e s t h a t i s f a m i l y p h y s i c i a n a n d h i s r e s p i r o l o g i s t , t h e b e a t t r i b u t e d t o h i s p h y s i c i a n s , w h o w o u l d n o t i t h t h e p r e p a r e d s t a t e m e n t s s e t o u t i n t h e J u l y m i l y p h y s i c i a n d i d n o t r e a l l y u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o t h e d i s c r e p a n c i e s i n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e P R a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s i s m o r e e n m o r e w e i g h t . T h e A p p e l l a n t a l s o a r g u e s t h a t v e r i t y o f h i s i m p a i r m e n t s a n d t h e i m p a c t o f h i s a c t i v i t i e s 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 . l l a n t ' s P W D a p p l i c a t i o n , t h e a t t a c h e d m e d i c a l w h i l e t h e A p p e l l a n t e x p e r i e n c e s l i m i t a t i o n s t o h i s h o l d i n g , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d i n t h e P W D e d a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s p e a k t o a " m o d e r a t e 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 a t t h e J u l y l y D o c u m e n t s , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s r e s t r i c t i o n s h a d p l e t e d f i v e m o n t h s e a r l i e r , b u t t h a t t h e r e w a s n o y t h e r e w o u l d b e s o s i g n i f i c a n t a d e t e r i o r a t i o n i n h e M i n i s t r y f o u n d t h a t i t w a s " r e a s o n a b l e t o i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d t o [ t h e ] a d v o c a t e , r a t h e r f l e c t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f e a c h o f [ t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s ] a n t d i d n o t p r o v i d e u p d a t e d t e s t r e s u l t s o r d e c l i n e f r o m t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n o f F e b r u a r y a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s e s t a b l i s h a r s i g n i f i c a n t a s s i s t a n c e . " n f l a t e s t h e t w o c r i t e r i a o f s e v e r i t y o f i m p a i r m e n t a t t h e r e i s n o d e f i n i t i o n f o r " s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t " m a t i o n a b o u t t h e i m p a c t o f t h e i m p a i r m e n t o n a t h e s e v e r i t y o f t h e i m p a i r m e n t . T h e p a n e l s o u t a l i s t o f f i v e s e p a r a t e c r i t e r i a t h a t m u s t b e r o v i s i o n s i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e E A P W D A . T h e c h e c k b o x e s w h i c h o f t h e l i s t e d c r i t e r i a a n t o m e e t . 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 a n w i t h o u t b e i n g s e v e r e l y i m p a i r e d . T o s a t i s f y t h e 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 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 c o n s i d e A p p e l l a n t a n d f r o m t h e p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s r e g 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 I n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s c i r c u m s t a n c e s w a y e a r s i n t h e P R a n d A R c o m p l e t e d i n e a r l y F e b r u a r m e d i c a l t e s t s a n d r e p o r t s d a t i n g f r o m 2 0 1 1 -2 0 1 3 s u n o t e s t h a t t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l r e f e r e n c e s b y m e d i c a l a c c o m p a n y i n g m e d i c a l r e p o r t s t o t h e A p p e l l a n t s u f f t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t s u f f e r s f r o m s e v e r e C O P D . I n c o n s i d e r i n g w h e t h e r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d a b o h i s o t h e r m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s ) e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t t h e A i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l s a n T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w a s p r o v i d e d i n t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i r e p o r t s a t t a c h e d t o t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n d o n o t s p e c o n d i t i o n s o n h i s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m h i s D L A . I n t h e P R c o m p l e t e d i n F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4 , t h e A p p e l l a n w a l k u n a i d e d 4 + b l o c k s , c l i m b 2 -5 s t a i r s u n a i d e d , l i f r e m a i n i n g s e a t e d . S h e r e i t e r a t e d t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i n A R , n o t i n g o n l y t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e d c o n t i n u o t h a t h e r e q u i r e d p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e r p e e x p l a n a t i o n ) . I n t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s , i t s t a t e s t h a t t b l o c k o r c l i m b m o r e t h a n 1 -2 s t a i r s d u e t o s e v e r e b r h a s d i f f i c u l t y b e n d i n g d o w n a n d r e a c h i n g a b o v e h i s a r g u e s t h a t h i s p h y s i c i a n d i d n o t u n d e r s t a n d h o w t o f o r t h e d i s c r e p a n c i e s b e t w e e n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e n o t e s t h a t t h e r e i s n o i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e A p p e l l a n t s u p p o r t t h i s a s s e r t i o n a n d t h e p a n e l c a n n o t d r a w t h i b e c a u s e t h e w o r d i n g o f t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s i s i d e n t a d v o c a t e ( a s o p p o s e d t o a p h y s i c i a n ' s a s s e s s m e n t i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d d i r e c t l y f r o m t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h m e d i c a t i o n s ) ( e . g . n o c o r r e c t i o n s o r e d i t i n g , n o p e r s a g r e e i n g o r d i s a g r e e i n g w i t h t h e s t a t e m e n t s ) , t h e p a D o c u m e n t s c o n t a i n " b e t t e r ' ' o r m o r e a c c u r a t e i n f o r m P W D a p p l i c a t i o n . T h e p a n e l p l a c e s m o r e w e i g h t o n T h e r e f o r e , w h e n t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e f i n d s t h a t i t w a s r e a s o n a b l e f o r t h e M i n i s t ry t o d e t e r m 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 p h y s i c a l i m S e v e r e M e n t a l I m p a i r m e n t I n t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n , t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n i n d c o g n i t i v e a n d e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n a s a r e s u l t o f h i s i m w o r d s " i d e n t i f i e d m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t o r b r a i n i n j u r y , " E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )� A P P E A L # 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 a r d 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 . s p r o v i d e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s f a m i l y p h y s i c i a n o f 3 y 2 0 1 4 . I n f o r m a t i o n w a s a l s o p r o v i d e d i n t h e b m i t t e d w i t h t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n . T h e p a n e l p r o f e s s i o n a l s i n t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n a n d e r i n g f r o m " s e v e r e C O P D " a n d t h e p a n e l f i n d s u t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s s e v e r e C O P D ( t o g e t h e r w i t h p p e l l a n t s u f f e r s f r o m a s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t , t h e d a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m h i s D L A m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d . o n a n d i n t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s t h e m e d i c a l a k t o t h e i m p a c t o f t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s m e d i c a l t ' s p h y s i c i a n i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t c a n t 2 -7 k g ( 5 -1 5 l b s ) , a n d h a d n o l i m i t a t i o n t h e m o b i l i t y a n d p h y s i c a l a b i l i t y s e c t i o n o f t h e u s a s s i s t a n c e f r o m o t h e r p e o p l e w i t h l i f t i n g , a n d r s o n w i t h c a r r y i n g a n d h o l d i n g ( b u t w i t h o u t h e A p p e l l a n t i s u n a b l e t o w a l k m o r e t h a n o n e e a t h i n g p r o b l e m s a n d p a i n i n h i s b a c k a n d t h a t h e h e a d t o r e t r i e v e i t e m s . A l t h o u g h t h e A p p e l l a n t c o m p l e t e t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n , w h i c h a c c o u n t s P R a n d A R a n d t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s , t h e p a n e l ' s p h y s i c i a n s e t o u t i n t h e J u l y D o c u m e n t s t o s i n f e r e n c e . F u r t h e r , t h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t i c a l r e f l e c t i n g t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s s t a t e m e n t s t o h i s o f h i s s t a t e m e n t s ) a n d t h e y d o n o t c o n t a i n a n y y s i c i a n s ( o t h e r t h a n t h e n a m e s o f t h e t y p e s o f o n a l c o m m e n t s o f t h e p h y s i c i a n s , n o c h e c k b o x e s n e l c a n n o t d r a w t h e i n f e r e n c e t h a t t h e J u l y a t i o n a b o u t t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t s t h a n t h e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d i n t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n . A p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n i s c o n s i d e r e d , t h e p a n e l i n e t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d d i d n o t p a i r m e n t . i c a t e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a d n o d e f i c i t s w i t h p a i r m e n t s a n d w r o t e " N / A " b e s i d e t h e u n d e r l i n e d c h e c k i n a " n o i m p a c t " 3 l i s t e d i t e m s / b o d i l y
I APPEAL# function, consciousness and emotion) and leaving the rest of the list and the section on social functioning blank. However, the July Documents contain a statement that the Appellant has become withdrawn and isolated, has increasingly poor short-term memory and recall, and experiences confusion. At the hearing, the Appellant confirmed that he does not assert that he suffers from a severe mental impairment. The Ministry found that based on the information provided, it could not determine that the Appellant has a severe mental impairment. The Ministry found that the information about the Appellant's ability to manage those DLA that involve the ability to make decisions about personal activities, care or finance and relating to, communicating or interacting with others effectively, demonstrated that these DLA are not restricted. The Panel's Findings The panel finds that there is no diagnosis of a mental health condition or mental impairment, only the statement in the July Documents that the Appellant is withdrawn and isolated. The panel also notes that the Appellant confirmed at the hearing that he does not assert that he suffers from a severe mental impairment. The panel finds that the Ministry reasonably determined that the evidence does not establish a severe mental impairment. Restrictions to Daily Living Activities The Appellant submitted that his ability to manage daily living activities is significantly restricted, pointing to the information provided in the July Documents. The Appellant's physician (the prescribed professional) reported in the AR that he is periodically restricted with the task of carrying purchases home (without comment), noting in a comment further in the AR that the Appellant needs the help of his friends to carry groceries and vacuum. In the July Documents, it is stated that the Appellant takes significantly longer than a normal person to perform the DLA of personal care, requires assistance from others to perform the DLA of meal preparation, basic housework and shopping. The Appellant argues that because his physicians signed their names on the July Documents, the statements in the July Documents are their professional opinion and should be given more weight than the AR. The Ministry determined in its reconsideration decision that the information provided by the Appellant's physician does not establish that a severe impairment significantly restricts his ability to perform DLA either continuously or periodically for extended periods. The Ministry noted that the term "directly" "means there must be a causal link between the severe impairment and the restriction." The Ministry also noted that the direct restriction must be significant and there is a component of time or duration. The Ministry found that the restrictions indicated for the Appellant are "more mid-range than severe" and do not speak to a need for assistance. The Panel's Findings Section 2(2)(b) of the EAPWDA requires that a prescribed professional provide an opinion that an applicant's severe impairment directly and significantly restricts his daily living activities, continuously or periodically for extended periods. In this case, the Appellant's physician 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. EAAT003(10/06/01)
In the AR compl eted in February 201 4, the Appellant's p indepe ndently pertorm all except one of the listed tasks home for the DLA of shopping). In the July Documents, t restrictions to the A ppella nt 's abil ities to pertorm the DLA of personal care, meal preparation, b housework, and daily shopp i ng ; ho w e ver, the panel notes that these stateme inf ormation linking the Appel lant's impairment to the informatio n about the du r ation of h is need f or assi stance. explanatio n from the Appellant's phys i cian to account for the deterioration in the Appellan to pertor m his DLA from the date of the PWD appl ication t he p an el c a n not infer that the ph ysician did n ot know how to com The Pa ne l finds t hat when r e a d ing t ogether the inf o i nf ormation provided by t he Appellant 's physician in peri odicall y restrict s his ability to p e rtorm o ne task of t du r ati on and fre qu e ncy of t h e re s t r ic t i on is not clea r. w as r easonabl e in deter mi nin g t hat the A pp el lan t' s activi t ie s eith er co nti nu o usly o r peri odic ally for extend He l p with Da il y Living Activities The A ppell ant s ubmit s t h a t bec ause of his im pairm ent particular ho us e work a nd sh oppin g b e cause h is CO and he ca nnot c a r ry anyt hin g weigh ing m or e th an a f A pp ell a n t' s ph ys i ci a n noted that the Ap pell a nt requ ire hom e, but did n ot prov ide any c om men tary . The Appe Appe llant nee ds th e help of fri en ds to ca rry g r oceries and wit t he st a t e ments refer t o the Appella nt's n e ed fo r assista c arr yi ng gr oce rie s an d b asic ho u sewo rk, noti ng that hi signif icant n e ed fo r a ssi st an ce with h is DLA. " The Ministr y's posi t i on is t hat because the e v i denc e signific ant l y restric ted, i t canno t b e d etermined t hat significant The Panel's Findings Section 2(2)(b)(ii) of the EAPWDA also re quires the opi tha t because of restrict io ns in his ability to manage daily living activitie with those activities. In the AR, there is information that the Appellant requires assistance carrying groceries and with va cuuming -inf ormation re stat e d notes that there is no information from a prescribed professi of assistance required -other than it var ies. Therefore, the panel finds that the Ministry reaso concluded that it cou ld not determine w h et h er t h e App to manage daily living activities. EAAT 003(10/06/01) APPEAL# : h y sic ian reported that t he Ap pellant cou ld of hi s DLA (the task of carrying purchases here are g e nera l sta t ements about the a sic nts do not provide r estrictions in h is DLA and d o no t provid e T he p an el notes that there is no t 's abil ities to the J uly Doc u m ents, and as noted above, plete the PWD application. rmation i n the July Do cuments with the the AR that the Appellant's impairme nt he DLA of shoppi ng, the causal link and t he A c cordi ng l y , the pane l fi nds that t he Mi nistry impair ments d o not sign ifican tly restr ict d aily l i ving ed peri ods. s , he nee ds as sistan ce from o thers with D L A, in PD re s tri ct s his abil ity to ex ert h imse lf in an y way ew pounds. In t he PWD applic ati on, t h e s continuo us assistance ca r ryin g pu rc hases lla nt 's phy sicia n a ls o noted in the AR th a t th e h vacuum ing. In t he July D ocumen ts, nce wi th c ook ing an d m eal p re p a r a tio n, s ne ed for a ssi s tanc e v ari es , b u t t h a t h e has "a does not e sta bli sh t hat d a ily livi ng a ctiv ities ar e help i s requ ir ed fro m o ther persons. nion o f a p re scribed professional confirmi ng s, the Appellant require s help in the July Documents. However, the panel onal indica t in g the amount and duration nab ly ellant needs significant help from other pers ons
C o n c l u s i o n H a v i n g r e v i e w e d a n d c o n s i d e r e d a l l o f t h e e v i d e n c e t h e M i n i s t r y ' s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , w h i c h d e t e r d e s i g n a t i o n , w a s r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o r t e d b y t h e e v i d E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )� A P P E A L # a n d t h e r e l e v a n t l e g i s l a t i o n , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t 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 l i g i b l e f o r P W D e n c e . T h e r e f o r e t h e p a n e l c o n f i r m s t h a t d e c i s i o n .
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.