I APPEAL# PART C -Decision under Appeal The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (the ministry) reconsideration decision dated September 19, 2014 which found that the appellant did not meet the statutory requirements of Section 2 of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act for designation as a Person With Disabilities (PWD). The ministry found that the appellant met the age requirement and that he has an impairment that is likely to continue for at least two years. However, the ministry was not satisfied that the evidence establishes that: • the appellant has a severe physical or mental impairment; • the appellant's daily living activities (DLA) are, in the opinion of a prescribed professional, directly and significantly restricted either continuously or periodically for extended periods; and • as a result of these restrictions, the appellant requires the significant help or supervision of another person, the use of an assistive device, or the services of an assistance animal to perform DLA. PART D -Relevant Legislation Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act (EAPWDA), section 2 Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation (EAPWDR), section 2
P A R T E S u m m a ry o f F a c t s W i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f b o t h p a r t i e s , t h e h e a r i n g w a s c o n d u c o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t A s s i s t a n c e A c t . T h e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f t h e r e c o n A p p l i c a t i o n c o m p r i s e d o f t h e a p p l i c a n t i n f o r m a t i o n a n d s e M a y 7 , 2 0 1 4 , a s w e l l a s a p h y s i c i a n r e p o r t ( " P R " ) d a t e d M p r a c t i t i o n e r ( " t h e G P " ) w h o h a s k n o w n t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r a o c c a s i o n s i n t h e p r e v i o u s 1 2 m o n t h s a n d a n a s s e s s o r r e a p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c a l t h e r a p i s t ( " t h e P T " ) w h o h a s k n o w n t s e e n h i m 1 1 o r m o r e t i m e s . T h e P T h a s a s s e s s e d t h e a p a n d k n e e c o n d i t i o n s . F u rt h e r e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f t h e r e 1 . 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P h y s i c a l I m p a i r m e n t I n t h e S R , t h e a p p e l l a n t d e s c r i b e s h i s p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n • S h o u l d e r , b a c k a n d n e c k p a i n s e c o n d a ry t o a m o t I A P P E A L # t e d a s a w r i t t e n h e a r i n g p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 3 ) ( b ) s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n i n c l u d e d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s P W D l f r e p o rt ( " S R " ) p r e p a r e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d d a t e d a y 7 , 2 0 1 4 a n d p r e p a r e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s g e n e r a l p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 9 y e a r s a n d t r e a t e d h i m o n 1 1 o r m o r e p o r t ( " A R " ) d a t e d M a y 2 , 2 0 1 4 a n d p r e p a r e d b y t h e h e a p p e l l a n t f o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 m o n t h s a n d h a s p e l l a n t d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t r e a t m e n t f o r h i s s h o u l d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : R " ) d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 4 ; 1 4 c o m m e n t i n g o n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n s u l t s o f a n M R I S c a n o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s l e f t k n e e ( " t h e e p a r e d b y a h o s p i t a l d o c u m e n t i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f a n o g r a m R e p o rt " ) . s : J u l y 2 6 , 2 0 1 2 ; t e d ; a n d 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 . a m i n e d t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r s y m p t o m s r e g a r d i n g k n e e e c i a l i s t w h o s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s s h o w e d " u n r e m a r k a b l e u r e d o f t h e s e f i n d i n g s a n d r e c o m m e n d e d t o c o n t i n u e t . a p o s s i b l e r e m o t e l i g a m e n t o u s t e a r i n t h e m e n t . " T h e S o n o g r a m R e p o rt d o c u m e n t s a l l f i n d i n g s e s s t e a r i n t h e m i d s u p r a s p i n a t u s t e n d o n a t i t s m m . " m a n a c u t e i n j u r y t o h i s l e ft k n e e a n d t h a t i t i s n t a l s o s u f f e r s f r o m a c h r o n i c l e f t s h o u l d e r c o n d i t i o n m e n d s a n F A E ( " f u n c t i o n a l a b i l i t i e s e v a l u a t i o n " t o t a n d s y m p t o m s a s i n c l u d i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g : o r v e h i c l e a c c i d e n t o n J u l y 2 0 , 2 0 1 2 ;
• R e f e r e n c e t o s h o u l d e r s u r g e r y o n J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 1 3 • L a c k o f s l e e p d u e t o o n g o i n g p a i n ; • L e f t k n e e i n j u r y s e c o n d a r y t o m o t o r v e h i c l e a c c i d • N e r v e p r o b l e m s i n l e f t l e g , l e f t s h o u l d e r a n d b a c k l e f t l e g . I n t h e P R , t h e G P r e p o r t s 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 o f t t i s s u e p a i n i n h i s • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a d s u r g e ry o n h i s l e f t s h o u l d e r o n p a i n a n d s t i f f n e s s . • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s s e v e r e l e f t k n e e d a m a g e f r o m • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t e d a s 5 ' 9 " t a l l a n d 2 0 0 l b s . • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n p r e s c r i b e d p a i n m e d i c a t i m e d i c a t i o n i s g r e a t e r t h a n 1 0 m o n t h s . • T h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s n o a i d s o r p r o s t h e s e s f o r o r m o r e . • F u n c t i o n a l s k i l l s r e p o r t e d i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a l i f t u n d e r 2 k g a n d r e m a i n s e a t e d f o r l e s s t h a n 1 h U n d e r A d d i t i o n a l C o m m e n t s , t h e G P n o t e s t h a t t h e a p p e i s u n d e r t r e a t m e n t a n d m a y n e e d s u r g e r y . " I n t h e A R , t h e P T r e p o r t s t h a t : • T h e a p p e l l a n t l i v e s w i t h a r o o m m a t e a n d t h a t h i s h i s l e f t s h o u l d e r a n d t h a t w a l k i n g , s t a n d i n g a n d c w h i c h i s d e s c r i b e d a s a c u t e . • T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h r o u g h s p s a t i s f a c t o r y . • T h e a p p e l l a n t i s d e s c r i b e d a s b e i n g i n d e p e n d e n t s t a n d i n g , l i ft i n g , c a r r y i n g a n d h o l d i n g w i t h t h e a d d c a p a c i t y i s u n k n o w n a n d n e e d s t o b e a s s e s s e d t h I n t h e R F R t h e a p p e l l a n t a p p e a r s t o i n d i c a t e t h a t h e " c a n [ s i c ] n o s l e e p " d u e t o p a i n . T h e S o n o g r a m R e p o rt n o t e s s h o u l d e r . M e n t a l I m p a i r m e n t I n t h e S R , t h e a p p e l l a n t d e s c r i b e s h i s m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t a n d h e w r i t e s t h a t h e h a s t a k e n a n u n s p e c i f i e d a n t i d e p r e I n t h e P R , t h e G P h a s n o t d i a g n o s e d t h e a p p e l l a n t w i t h a a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t e x p e r i e n c e a n y s i g n i f i c a n t d e f i c i t s w i t i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n p r e s c r i b e d a n t i d e p r e m e d i c a t i o n i s g r e a t e r t h a n 1 0 m o n t h s . I n t h e A R , t h e P T h a s n o t c o m p l e t e d t h e s e c t i o n w h i c h w m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t t h a t r e s t r i c t s o r i m p a c t s h i s f u n c t i o n i n I A P P E A L # a n d o n g o i n g p a i n ; e n t d a t e d M a r c h 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 ; r e s u l t i n g i n l o s s o f c o n t r o l i n l e f t a r m a n d n u m b n e s s i n u p p e r b a c k . J u n e 2 5 , 2 0 1 3 a n d c o n t i n u e s t o s u f f e r f r o m o n g o i n g a m o t o r v e h i c l e a c c i d e n t . o n a n d a m u s c l e r e l a x a n t a n d t h a t t h e d u r a t i o n o f h i s h i s i m p a i r m e n t w h i c h i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r t w o y e a r s n t c a n w a l k 1 -2 b l o c k s a n d c l i m b 2 -5 s t e p s u n a i d e d , o u r . l l a n t i s a " m o t i v a t e d p a t i e n t w h o h a s b e e n i n j u r e d a n d p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t s i n c l u d e l i f t i n g a n d c a r r y i n g w i t h l i m b i n g s t a i r s a r e l i m i t e d d u e t o h i s l e f t k n e e i n j u r y e a k i n g , r e a d i n g , w r i t i n g a n d h e a r i n g a r e a l l 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 s t a i r s , e d c o m m e n t t h a t h i s l e f t s h o u l d e r t o l e r a n c e a n d r o u g h a F A E . [ n o t ] s i t o r s t a n d " d u e t o p a i n a n d h e r e p o r t s " n o s t a r s a d e c r e a s e d r a n g e o f m o t i o n i n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s l e f t a s i n c l u d i n g s h o rt t e r m m e m o r y l o s s a n d d e p r e s s i o n s s a n t m e d i c a t i o n f o r t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s . m e n t a l d i s o r d e r a n d h a s f u r t h e r i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e h 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 . · T h e G P d o e s s s a n t m e d i c a t i o n a n d t h a t t h e d u r a t i o n o f h i s o u l d o t h e r w i s e i n d i c a t e w h e t h e r t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s a g a n d c o m m e n t s " N o t w i t h i n m y s c o p e o f p r a c t i c e ! "
Dail y Li ving A c t ivit ies (DLA) In t he PR, th e GP notes th a t the app ellant's i mpairment does tha t th e im p ac t on his s ocial fu n cti oni ng is "n il ." H e co mm pai n an d that t he assi stance he nee d s wi t h D LA is "mon ey." has b e en pres cri b ed three m ed i cations t ha t int e rf e re with as to w hich activi ti e s they would in t erfere with or to what In the AR, t he P T re ports that the a p pe llant is i n d e p en dent respect to go ing t o an d fr om store s the a pp e ll a nt h a s limited w di s tan ce f o r each is note d as "u nknown." Wi t h r espect to a s t o wheth e r the appell ant expe rie n c es an y re striction s. Ne ed for He l p In the P R, the G P did n ot in dic a te th at th e a p pellan t requir that th e app ellan t liv es wi th a ro omm ate and no t e s that the ap not e t hat t h e appellant u se s a bra ce for h i s le ft kn e e b u t I n his N otic e o f Ap pea l w hich is dated Se pt e m be r 29 , 2014, the to hi s physic a l injury. He states t hat he has a "di sc bac k he is stil l not doin g good. H e continues th at he had sur g suf fers from me mo r y loss , d epr ess ion and a ski n infec ti on. The m i nistry r el ied on the Re c on sider ation Decisi on and s I APPEA L . ----------J no t di re ctl y r estrict his ability to pe rform DLA an d ents th at t he ap pellant needs he lp because he is in The GP c omme nts in the PR tha t t he appel l an t his ab i li t y to perfor m D LA bu t he do es no t el abora t e e x ten t. in all as pects of h is D LA an d comm e nts th at with a l king and st and ing tol era nc e al though t he soc i al f unctio nin g, the PT has prov ided no c ommen t e s an assis ti v e device . In the AR, the PT indi c ate s pe l la n t requires n o as si stance. The PT do e s that this is "short term." appe ll a nt writes th a t he is unab le to w or k du e injury and knee i nju ry for the last 2 ½ y ears " a nd th at ery on his shoulde r and that he is sti ll in pain, t hat he The ap pel lant say s th at he is disab led. u bmi tted no fu r ther e vide nc e.
I A P P E A L # 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 o n t h e 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 ' 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 f o u n d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r d e s i g n a t i o n a s a p e r s o n w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s ( P W D ) , 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 n c e o r w a s a r e a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e e n a c t m e n t i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . T h e m i n i s t r y f o u n d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t m e t t h e a g e r e q u i r e m e n t a n d t h a t h e h a s a n i m p a i r m e n t t h a t i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s t t w o y e a r s . H o w e v e r , 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 e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e s 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 o r 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 ' s d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s ( D L A ) a r e , 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 , 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 e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r 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 , • a s a r e s u l t o f t h e s e r e s t r i c t i o n s , t h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u i r e s t h e s i g n i f i c a n t h e 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 , t h e u s e o f a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , o r 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 o p e r f o r m D L A . T h e c r i t e r i a f o r b e i n g d e s i g n a t e d a s a P W D a r e s e t o u t i n S e c t i o n 2 o f t h e E A P W D A a s f o l l o w s : P e r s o n s w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s 2 ( 1 ) I n t h i s s e c t i o n : " a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e " m e a n s a d e v i c e d e s i g n e d t o e n a b l e a p e r s o n t o p e r f o r m a d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t y t h a t , b e c a u s e o f 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 , t h e p e r s o n i s u n a b l e t o p e rf o r m ; " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t y " h a s t h e p r e s c r i b e d m e a n i n g ; " p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l " h a s t h e p r e s c r i b e d m e a n i n g . ( 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 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 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 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 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 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 ( 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 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 ( A ) c o n t i n u o u s l y , o r ( 8 ) 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 , t h e p e r s o n r e q u i 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 . ( 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 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 ( 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 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 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 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 ( i i i ) t h e s e r v i c e s o f a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l . ( 4 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y r e s c i n d a d e s i g n a t i o n u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) . S e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) ( a ) o f t h e E A P W D R d e f i n e s D L A f o r 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 l o r m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t a s f o l l o w s : D e f i n i t i o n s f o r A c t 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 , " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s " , ( 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 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 , m e a n s t h e f o l l o w i n g
acti vitie s: (i) pr e pare o w n me als ; (ii) manage p ersonal f inan ce s; (iii) sh op for perso na l n eeds; ( iv) use publi c or perso n al tr an s po r t a tion fac ilit ies; ( v) perf orm housewo r k to maintain the pers on' s place (vi) move abou t indoors and o ut do ors; ( vii) perform pe rsona l hygie ne and se l f c ar e; (v ii i) ma nage p ersonal me dication, a n d (b) in re l ati o n to a pe r s on wh o has a sev ere m e n tal imp a (i) m a ke d ecisions a bout pe rso na l a ctivitie s, care or fi (ii) relate to, commun icate or inte ra ct w ith oth ers e f fe ctiv Se verity o f impairmen t Se ction 2(2)(a) of the EAPWDA pr ovides that w hen addre im pa irmen t i n t h e c o ntext o f a p er s on applying for a PWD des sev ere phy sic a l o r men tal impairment th a t, in the opinion of a me le ast 2 yea rs . A diagnosis of a s eriou s medical cond ition o r conditions a sev ere impairme nt. An " impa ir me n t" i s a me d ical condition that functi on i ndependent l y or effectively. To ass ess th e sev er ity of an impa ir ment o n e m ust cons ider i mpact o n d a i ly f u n ctio n ing a s evidenced b y funct iona l skill l is restricte d. In making it s deter minat i o n, the m inistr y m u the appella nt. How eve r, th e legis latio n is cl ear that the fu a p r escribed p rofe s sional -in t his cas e, the GP and t he Severity o f m ental imp air m e nt The appellant takes the posit ion that he suffers from dep anti-depressant medication. The ministry takes the position that the evidence does not support a finding that the appellant has a severe mental impairment. Panel Decision On May 7, 2014, the appellant's GP o f 19 yea rs c omplete appellant 11 or more times in the 12 months prior to completing the PR. diagnose the appellant as suffering from a mental impairment and that he further not no significant deficits with cognitive o r e m otiona l f u nction. appellant has be en prescribed antidepressant medication and that the duration of that medication is greater than 10 mon ths . Similar! , in the AR the PT declines to comment on whether the a AP PE A L# I of res idenc e in accep t able sanitar y con d ition; irment , i ncl ude s the fo llo w in g a ctivitie s: nance s; ely. s sin g t h e issue of a seve re ph y si cal or men tal i g nat i o n, that pe rson must be found to ha ve a d ical practition er, is likely t o co nt inue for at d oe s not in its e lf deter m ine PWD e li gibi lity or e s ta bl ish r e sults in re s trictions t o a p e r son's a bi lity to t he nature o f th e impairm e nt and th e ex t e nt o f it s im i tations and the d e gree to wh ic h p erfor ming D L A st consid e r all the relevant evi d e nc e , incl uding that of ndamen tal basis for t h e an aly sis is th e ev id e nce f rom P T. res sion, memory loss and that he is being treated with d the PR. The GP notes that h e had seen the The pan el note s th at the GP does not e s that t he appellant h a s The pa nel notes however that the GP writes that the acts on his
APPEA.l# I cognitive and emotional functioning stating that to do so is not within his scope of practice. In cases where there are variations in evidence, the panel must look to the evidence to determine what those variances are, why they have occurred and what weight to attach to the evidence. In this case, the appellant says in the RFR that he suffers from depression and short term memory loss and that he has been prescribed antidepressant medication. However, while the GP appears in the PR to substantiate the appellant's evidence of being prescribed antidepressant medication, he does not provide a diagnosis of a mental impairment and does not indicate that the appellant experiences any significant deficits with cognitive and emotional function. As well, the GP reported that there are no difficulties with communication and no restrictions to the appellant's social functioning. After considering the evidence as set out in the PR and after considering the appellant's evidence in the SR and the RFR, the panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish that the appellant has a severe mental impairment under section 2(2) of the EAPWDA. Severity of physical impairment The appellant takes the position that a severe physical impairment is established by the evidence of his ongoing injuries to his left shoulder, left knee and back and their impact on his functional skills and ability. The ministry takes the position that the appellant's functional skill limitations do not support a finding that the he suffers from a severe physical impairment. Panel Decision In the PR, the appellant's GP diagnoses the appellant as suffering from a soft tissue injury to his back as well as injuries to his left shoulder and left knee. He describes the appellant as able to walk 1-2 blocks unaided on a flat surface, climb 2-5 steps unaided, lift under 2kg and sit for less than one hour. In the AR, the PT notes that the appellant is independent in all listed aspects of mobility and physical ability while commenting that the appellant's left shoulder tolerance and capacity f o r carrying and holding is unknown pending an assessment. The PT reports that the appellant does not require an aid f o r his impairment aside from a short term knee brace and for those DLA which are of a physical nature, the appellant is noted by the PT as being independent in all respects. In the SR, the appellant describes shoulder, back and neck pain secondary to a motor vehicle accident on July 20, 2012, shoulder surgery on June 25, 2013 and ongoing pain causing lack of sleep, a left knee injury secondary to motor vehicle accident on March 13, 2014 as well as nerve problems in his left leg, left shoulder and back resulting in loss of control in his left arm and numbness in his left leg. While the MRI Report's findings "may reflect a remote ligamentous tear" all other findings are noted as normal with "no other internal knee derangement." Similarly, while the Physician Letter indicates that the appellant has been referred to a specialist and recommended to continue with ongoing physical therapy and symptomatic treatment, the investigations undertaken by the specialist show "unremarkable findings with mild spondylosis." Lastly, the Sonogram Report, which pre-dates the appellant's left shoulder surgery by approximately 9 months, indicates a "small incomplete/partial thickness tear in the mid supraspinatus tendon at its insertion." The evidence as a whole indicates that the appellant suffers from a number of physical conditions but, as indicated above, these do not in and of themselves constitute a severe h sical im airment. It is necessa to
c o n s i d e r h o w t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s r e s t r i c t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a b m e n t i o n e d p r e v i o u s l y , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t e d a s b e i n g i n d p h y s i c a l n a t u r e a n d t h e P T h a s f o u n d t h e a p p e l l a n t t o b e a b i l i t y . T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t h e s u f f e r s c o n d i t i o n b u t t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e G P d o e s n o t p r o v i d e a c o m m e n t s o n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s l e f t s h o u l d e r a n d l e f t k n e e d e t e r m i n e a p r o g n o s i s f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s k n e e a n d t h a t a p p e l l a n t ' s o v e r a l l s h o u l d e r f u n c t i o n w i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o O v e r a l l , w h i l e i t i s c l e a r t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s s u f f e r f r o t h e m i n i s t r y w a s r e a s o n a b l e i n i t s f i n d i n g t h a t t h a t t h e r e h a s a s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t R e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t h i s p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l i m t o p e r f o r m D L A o n a n o n g o i n g b a s i s . T h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t i t h a s n o t b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A h a s b e e n d i r e c t l y a n d i m p a i r m e n t s e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d E A P W D A . P a n e l D e c i s i o n S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A P W D A r e q u i r e s t h a t a p r e s c r i b e o p i n i o n t h a t a n a p p l i c a n t ' s s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t d i r e c t l y a n 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 . D L A a r e d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) o f t h e E A P W D R a n d a r e t h e A R . T h e r e f o r e , a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l c o m p l e t i n g a n y , D L A a r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s i m p e r i o d s . I n t h e P R , t h e G P n o t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t d w h i l e i n t h e A R , t h e P T d e s c r i b e s t h e a p p e l l a n t a s i n d e p o n l y t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s l i m i t e d w a l k i n g a n d s t a n d i n g t f r o m s t o r e s . T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e G P a n d t h e P T t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t i n a l l t a s k s o f D L A . T h e r e f o m i n i s t r y w a s r e a s o n a b l e i n f i n d i n g t h a t t h e r e i s n o t s u ff i c a n d p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t 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 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 u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) o H e l p w i t h D L A T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t t h a t h i s p h y s i c a l a n d m e n a s s i s t a n c e f r o m o t h e r s i s n e c e s s a r y .A P P E A L U I i l i t y t o f u n c t i o n i n d e p e n d e n t l y o r e ff e c t i v e l y . A s e p e n d e n t i n a l l D L A i n c l u d i n g t h o s e w h i c h a r e o f a i n d e p e n d e n t i n a l l a s p e c t s o f m o b i l i t y a n d p h y s i c a l f r o m n u m b n e s s a n d n e r v e p r o b l e m s a s w e l l a s a s k i n c l i n i c a l f i n d i n g t o s u p p o rt t h i s . F u r t h e r , w h i l e t h e P T c o n d i t i o n s , h e i s o f t h e v i e w t h a t i t i s t o o e a r l y t o a n a s s e s s m e n t i s n e c e s s a r y t o d e t e r m i n e t h e f h i s D L A . m a n u m b e r o f p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n s , t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o 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 e E A P W D A . p a i r m e n t 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 h i s a b i l i t y b y t h e e v i d e n c e 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 t h a t t h e s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d b y h i s p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l e d p e r i o d s a s r e q u i r e d b y s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e d p r o f e s s i o n a l , i n t h i s c a s e t h e G P a n d P T , p r o v i d e 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 o r h e r D L A , c o n t i n u o u s l y o r a l s o l i s t e d i n t h e P R a n d , w i t h a d d i t i o n a l d e t a i l s , i n t h e s e f o r m s h a s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n d i c a t e w h i c h , i f p a i r m e n t s c o n t i n u o u s l y o r p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d o e s n o t d i r e c t l y r e s t r i c t h i s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A e n d e n t i n a l l o f t h e 2 8 l i s t e d t a s k s o f D L A c o m m e n t i n g o l e r a n c e ( " d i s t a n c e u n k n o w n " ) w h i l e g o i n g t o a n d , b o t h w h o a r e p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l s , i n d i c a t e s t h a t r e , b a s e d o n t h i s e v i d e n c e t h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e i e n t e v i d e n c e t o 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 ' s m e n t a l t h i s a b i l i t y t o p e rf o r m D L A , e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r f t h e E A P W D A . t a l i m p a i r m e n t s a f f e c t h i s D L A t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t
T h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t b e c a u s e i t h a s n o t b e e n e s c a n n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t s i g n i f i c a n t h e l p i s r e q u i r e d . P a n e l D e c i s i o n S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( i i ) o f t h e E A P W D A r e q u i r e s t h a t , a s a r e s p e r f o r m D L A , a p e r s o n r e q u i r e s h e l p t o p e r f o r m t h o s e a c 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 L A i f , i n o r d e r t o p e s i g n i f i c a n t h e 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 t h e s I n t h e P R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t r t h a t t h e a s s i s t a n c e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t n e e d s w i t h D L A i s a p p e l l a n t l i v e s w i t h a r o o m m a t e , w e a r s a b r a c e o n h i s l e r e q u i r e a s s i s t a n c e w i t h D L A T h e 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 d e t e r m i n e d a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A h a v e n o t b e e n e s t a b l i s r e q u i r e s h e l p t o p e r f o r m D L A a s a r e s u l t o f t h o s e r e s t r i c t 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 a n d 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 m i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e r e a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e e n a c t m e n t i n t h e c o n f i r m s t h e d e c i s i o n .I A P P E A L # t a b l i s h e d t h a t D L A a r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d , i t u l t o f d i r e c t a n d s i g n i f i c a n t r e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e a b i l i t y t o t i v i t i e s . S e c t i o n 2 ( 3 ) o f t h e E A P W D A p r o v i d e s t h a t a r f o r m i t , t h e p e r s o n r e q u i r e s a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , t h e 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 . e q u i r e a n y a i d s o r p r o s t h e s e s f o r h i s i m p a i r m e n t a n d " m o n e y . " I n t h e A R , t h e P T i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e f t k n e e w h i c h i s o f s h o rt t e r m d u r a t i o n a n d d o e s n o t t h a t a s d i r e c t a n d s i g n i f i c a n t r e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e h e d , i t c a n n o t b e 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 i o n s , a s d e f i n e d b y s e c t i o n 2 ( 3 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A P W D A . 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 t h e m i n i s t r y ' s 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 d e s i g n a t i o n w a s a c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t , a n d t h e r e f o r e
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.