PART C -DECISION UNDER APPEAL The decision under appeal is the reconsideration decision of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (the ministry) dated September 19, 2018, which held that the appellant did not meet 3 of the 5 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 and duration requirements, but was not satisfied that: • the appellant has a severe physical and/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 pe riodically for extended periods; and • as a result of those restrictions, the appellant requires an assistive device, the significant help or supervision of another person, 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
PART E -SUMMARY OF FACTS 1. The information before the ministry at the time of reconsideration included the appellant's PWD application comprised of a Medical Report (MR) and an Assessor Report (AR) both completed by the appellant's general practitioner (the "GP") and dated June 11, 2018. The GP has known the appellant for 10 years and saw the appellant 11 or more times in the past 12 months prior to completing the PWD application. The PWD application was completed by conducting an interview with the appellant and an interview with family/friends/caregivers. The PWD application also included the appellant's Self-Report (SR) dated June 11, 2018. 2. The evidence included the appellant's Request for Reconsideration (RFR) dated September 10, 2018. In the RFR the appellant described the impacts of his new medication and discussed t he results of his MRI. The following was also stated: • The new medication has impacted his hearing, speaking, memory and breathing. • Reaching and bending is difficult and straightening out after reaching or bending is difficult. • He can only drive for 1 O minutes, sit or stand for 20 minutes, walk for 5-1 O minutes (or 25 feet}, lift 1 Dibs and carry this weight for 10 feet, before his back pain gets too intense. • The back pain has impacted his ability for personal care, toileting, household maintenance and sleeping. • He does not use public transportation. • His bladder and bowel patterns and movements have changed due to his new medication. 3. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Lumbar Spine (MRI) which was dated August 8, 2018 and stated, in part, the following: • "Mild multilevel degenerative disc disease predominantly involving the lower 3 levels of the lumbar spine as described above, with impingement of the traversing nerve roots L3-L4 and L4-L5. Mild degenerative OA changes at the SI joints". Diagnoses In the MR, the GP diagnosed the appellant with diabetes, atrial fibrillation and degenerative disc disease (DDD) -bulging disc. The onset of each diagnosis was not indicated and the GP commented: "waiting [for a] MRI [on the] lower spine". Physical Impairment In the MR, the GP indicated the following about the appellant: • "Diabetes: [illegible] incurable disease. Lower spine: waiting MRI and then back surgery consult. Atrial fibrillation: on permanent [medication]". • "Patient will be on [medication] rest of his life". • The appellant can walk 1 -2 blocks and climb 5+ steps unaided, lift 5-15lbs, and remain seated less than 1 hour. In the AR, the GP indicated the following about the appellant: • "Patient has chronic pain, fatigue and has to test his blood glucose daily" • "Patient has chronic fatigue and pain". • The appellant independently performs walking indoor/outdoor, climbing stairs ("no more than 5"), standing ("less than½ hour"), lifting ("less than 151bs"), and carrying and holding ("less than 5 lbs"). In the SR, the annellant stated, in oart, the followina:
• T h e b a c k p a i n i s p r o g r e s s i n g a n d h e i s e x p e o s t e o a r t h r i t i s i n b o t h k n e e s . C o m b i n e d , t h e t o g e t a r o u n d . • B u l g i n g d i s c s i n h i s b a c k c a u s e s e v e r e p a i n • T h e p a i n m e d i c a t i o n u s e d o n l y p r o v i d e s t e m • H e t a k e s t i m e g o i n g u p a n d d o w n s t a i r s a n d • H e c a n n o t l i f t 2 0 1 b s w i t h o u t d i ff i c u l t y a n d i m m • H e h a s d i ff i c u l t y t y i n g h i s s h o e s , s h o w e r i n g , M e n t a l I m p a i r m e n t I n t h e M R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a b o u t t h e • T h e r e a r e n o s i g n i f i c a n t d e f i c i t s w i t h c o g n i t i v • T h e r e a r e n o r e s t r i c t i o n s w i t h s o c i a l f u n c t i o n I n t h e A R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a b o u t t h e • T h e a b i l i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e ( s p e a k , r e a d , h e • T h e r e a r e m i n i m a l o r n o i m p a c t s t o t h e l i s t e I n t h e S R , t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t h i s d i s a b i l i t y i s c n o r m a l l i f e . 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 M R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a b o u t t h e • H e u s e s m e d i c a t i o n t h a t i n t e r f e r e s w i t h h i s a • H e i s c o n t i n u o u s l y r e s t r i c t e d w i t h p e r s o n a l s ' m o b i l i t y i n s i d e t h e h o m e ' a n d ' m o b i l i t y o u t s • H e h a s n o r e s t r i c t i o n s w i t h ' m e a l p r e p a r a t i o t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ' a n d ' m a n a g e m e n t o f f i n a n c e • T h e G P c o m m e n t e d : " p a t i e n t h a s p e r m a n e n d a i l y m e d [ i c a t i o n ] " . I n t h e A R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a b o u t t h e • H e i n d e p e n d e n t l y p e rf o r m s a l l l i s t e d i t e m s u ' m e d i c a t i o n s ' , a n d ' t r a n s p o rt a t i o n ' . • H e i s i n d e p e n d e n t w i t h a l l l i s t e d a s p e c t s o f s i m m e d i a t e a n d e x t e n d e d s o c i a l n e t w o r k s . • H e r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h a l l l i s t e h o u s e k e e p i n g ) . • U n d e r t h e c a t e g o r y o f ' s h o p p i n g ' , t h e a p p e l l ' m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t e c h o i c e s ' a n d ' p a y i n g f o r ' g o i n g t o a n d f r o m s t o r e s ' a n d r e q u i r e s c o n t H e l p I n t h e M R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a b o u t t h e • H e d o e s n o t r e q u i r e a n y p r o s t h e s e s o r a i d e s • W h e n a s k e d " w h a t a s s i s t a n c e d o e s y o u r p a n a t u r e a n d e x t e n t o f t h e a s s i s t a n c e r e q u i r e d m e d [ i c a t i o n s ] " . • T h e G P l e f t b l a n k t h e s e c t i o n s r e g a r d i n g h e l i n d i c a t e d ' n o ' t o t h e u s e o f a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a r i e n c i n g i t f o r o v e r a m o n t h a t a t i m e . H e a l s o h a s b a c k p a i n a n d o s t e o a r t h r i t i s m a k e s i t d i ff i c u l t f o r h i m a n d s c i a t i c a . p o r a r y r e l i e f a n d c a u s e s c o n s t a n t f a t i g u e . h e n e e d s t o r e s t w h e n w a l k i n g . e d i a t e f e e l s p a i n i n t h e l o w e r b a c k w h e n h e d o e s s o . s t a n d i n g a n d g e t t i n g d r e s s e d . a p p e l l a n t : e a n d e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n . i n g . a p p e l l a n t : a r a n d w r i t e ) i s g o o d . d a r e a s u n d e r 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 i n g . a u s i n g h i m a l o t o f s t r e s s a s i t i s d i ff i c u l t t o l i v e a a p p e l l a n t : b i l i t y t o p e rf o r m h i s D LA . e l f c a r e " , ' b a s i c h o u s e w o r k ' , ' d a i l y s h o p p i n g ' , i d e t h e h o m e ' . n ' , ' m a n a g e m e n t o f m e d i c a t i o n s ' , ' u s e o f s ' . t i n c u r a b l e d i s e a s e " a n d " p a t i e n t i s o n p e r m a n e n t a p p e l l a n t : n d e r ' p e r s o n a l c a r e ' , ' m e a l s ' , ' p a y r e n t / b i l l s ' , o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g a n d h a s g o o d f u n c t i o n i n g w i t h d a s p e c t s o f ' b a s i c h o u s e k e e p i n g ' ( l a u n d r y a n d b a s i c a n t i s i n d e p e n d e n t w i t h ' r e a d i n g p r i c e s a n d l a b e l s ' , p u r c h a s e s ' b u t r e q u i r e s p e r i o d i c a s s i s t a n c e w i t h i n u o u s a s s i s t a n c e w i t h ' c a r r y i n g p u r c h a s e s h o m e ' . a p p e l l a n t : f o r h i s i m p a i r m e n t . t i e n t n e e d w i t h D LA ? P l e a s e b e s p e c i f i c r e g a r d i n g t h e " , t h e G P s t a t e d " p a t i e n t i s o n p e r m a n e n t d a i l y p f r o m o t h e r s a n d u s e o f a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e s , a n d l s .
I n t h e S R , t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t m e n t i o n n e e d i n g h e o f a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l s . I n t h e R F R , t h e a p p e l l a n t s t s h o p p i n g , c o o k i n g , c l e a n i n g a n d t h e p u r c h a s i n g o f E v i d e n c e o n A p p e a l N o t i c e o f A p p e a l ( N O A ) , s i g n e d a n d d a t e d S e p t e m d e c i s i o n a p p e a r s r u s h e d a n d w i t h o u t r e c e i v i n g a l l o a p p o i n t m e n t d a t e w i t h t h e b a c k s u r g e o n a n d a ft e r w T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e N O A c o n t a i n s t h e a p p e l l a n i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e b a c k s u r g e o n h a d b e e n s u b m i l p f r o m o t h e r s , t h e u s e o f a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e s o r t h e u s e a t e d t h a t h i s b r o t h e r p r o v i d e s a s s i s t a n c e w i t h p e r s o n a l i t e m s . b e r 2 8 , 2 0 1 8 , w h i c h s t a t e d , i n p a rt , t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y ' s f 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 . H e i s w a i t i n g f o r a n h i c h h e c a n p r o v i d e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n . t ' s a r g u m e n t a n d n o t e s t h a t n o a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c e o r t t e d p r i o r t o t h e t i m e o f t h e w r i t t e n h e a r i n g .
PART F -REASONS FOR PANEL DECISION The issue on appeal is whether the ministry's decision to deny the appellant designation as a PWD was reasonably supported by the evidence or was a reasonable application of the applicable enactment in the circumstances of the appellant. In particular, was the ministry reasonable when concluding it was not satisfied that • the appellant has a severe physical and/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 those restrictions, in the opinion of a prescribed professional, the appellant requires help, as it is defined in the legislation, to perform DLA? Relevant Legislation EAPWDA 2 (1) In this section: "assistive device" means a device designed to enable a person to perform a daily living activity that, because of a severe mental or physical impairment, the person is unable to perform; "daily living activity" has the prescribed meaning; "prescribed professional" has the prescribed meaning. (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 or nurse 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. (4)The minister may rescind a designation under subsection (2). EAPWDR
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 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 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 p e r s o n a l t r a n s p o rt 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 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 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 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 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 d ( 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 p a i r m e n t , i n c l u d e s t h e fo l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : ( 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 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 w i t h o t h e r s e ff e ct i v e l y . ( 2 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e A c t , " p r e s c r i b e d p r o fe s s i o n a l " m e a n s a p e r s o n w h o i s ( a ) a u t h o r i z e d u n d e r a n e n a c t m e n t t o p r a c t i c e t h e p r o f e s s i o n o f ( i ) m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r , ( i i ) r e g i s t e r e d p s y c h o l o g i s t , ( i i i ) r e g i s t e r e d n u r s e o r r e g i s t e r e d p s y c h i a t r i c n u r s e , ( i v ) o c c u p a t i o n a l t h e r a p i s t , ( v ) p h y s i c a l t h e r a p i s t , ( v i ) s o c i a l w o r k e r , ( v i i ) c h i r o p r a c t o r , o r ( v i i i ) n u r s e p r a c t i t i o n e r , o r ( b ) a c t i n g i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e p e r s o n ' s e m p l o y m e n t a s a s c h o o l p s y c h o l o g i s t b y ( i ) a n a u t h o r i t y , a s t h a t t e r m i s d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 1 ( 1 ) o f t h e I n d e p e n d e n t S c h o o l A c t , o r ( i i ) a b o a r d o r a f r a n c o p h o n e e d u c a t i o n a u t h o r i t y , a s t h o s e t e r m s a r e d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 1 ( 1 ) o f t h e S c h o o l A c t , i f q u a l i f i c a t i o n s i n p s y c h o l o g y a r e a c o n d i t i o n o f s u c h e m p l o y m e n t . ( 3 ) T h e d e f i n i t i o n o f " p a r e n t " i n s e c t i o n 1 ( 1 ) a p p l i e s f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f " d e p e n d e n t c h i l d " i n s e c t i o n 1 ( 1 ) o f t h e A c t . P a n e l D e c i s i o n S e v e r e l m n a i r m e n t
I n t h 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 m i n i s t r y w a s n o 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 . D e t e r m i n i n g w e i g h i n g t h e e v i d e n c e p r o v i d e d a g a i n s t t h e n a t u r e l i m i t a t i o n s . A d i a g n o s i s o f a s e r i o u s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i e s t a b l i s h a s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t . A n " i m p a i r m e n t " i s p e r s o n ' s a b 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 m i n i s t r y m u s t c o n s i d e r t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i m p a i r m e n T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t e m p l o y a b i l i t y i s n o t a c o n s i d e r a 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 i n s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e 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 . 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 p o s i t i o n i s t h a t h i s D D D i s c a u s i n g T h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t h e c a n o n l y w a l k f o r 5 -1 0 a n d c a r r y t h i s w e i g h t f o r 1 0 f e e t , b e f o r e h i s b a c k p a T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t b a s e d o n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p o f 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 h a s n o t b e e n T h e m i n i s t r y n o t e d t h a t i n t h e M R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d a i d s f o r h i s i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t c a n w b e t w e e n 5 -1 5 I b s . T h e G P i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e i n a b i l i t y t o r e m a i n s e a t e d f o r l o n 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 t h a t i n t h e A R , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d w a l k i n g i n d o o r / o u t d o o r , c l i m b i n g s t a i r s ( n o m o r e t h a t h a n 1 5 I b s ) a n d c a r r y i n g / h o l d i n g ( l e s s t h a n 5 I b s ) i n d m i n i s t r y c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e l i m i t a t i o n s m e n t i o n e d b y i m p a i r m e n t . 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 c o n c l u 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 d o e s n o t s u p p o p a n e l a l s o n o t e d t h a t t h e r e i s a s t a r k d i f f e r e n c e b e t w a p p l i c a t i o n a n d t h e t e s t i m o n y o f t h e a p p e l l a n t i n t h e h i s n e w m e d i c a t i o n h a s i m p a c t e d h i s h e a r i n g a n d s P W D a p p l i c a t i o n , a n d h e s t a t e d t h a t h i s m e m o r y , b r i m p a c t e d b y h i s n e w m e d i c a t i o n , w h i c h t h e G P d i d t h a t w i t h o u t a n e x p l a n a t i o n o r s u p p o rt i n g e v i d e n c e b e p l a c e d o n 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 R F R . G i v e n t h e a s s e s s m e n t s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s f u n c t i o n a a p p l i c a t i o n a n d t h e l a c k o f a d d i t i o n a l o r s u p p o r t i n g i f i n d s t h a t 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 d e t e r m i t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t s u ff e r s f r o m a s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e E A P W D A h a v e n o t b e e n m e t . M e n t a l l m n a irm e n tt s a t i s f i e d 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 e s t a b l i s h e s a 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 r e q u i r e s o f t h e i m p a i r m e n t a n d i t s r e p o rt e d f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l o n d o e s n o t i n i t s e l f d e t e r m i n e P W D e l i g i b i l i t y o r a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t r e s u l t s i n r e s t r i c t i o n s t o a e l y . T o a s s e s s t h e s e v e r i t y o f a n i m p a i r m e n t , t h e t a n d t h e e x t e n t o f i t s i m p a c t o n d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g . t i o n f o r 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 b e c a u s e 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 d a i l y s e v e r e p a i n a n d a n i n a b i l i t y t o p h y s i c a l l y f u n c t i o n . m i n u t e s ( o r 2 5 f e e t ) , s t a n d f o r 2 0 m i n u t e s , l i ft 1 D i b s i n g e t s t o o i n t e n s e . 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 s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t e s t a b l i s h e d . t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t r e q u i r e p r o s t h e s e s o r a l k 1 -2 b l o c k s a n d c l i m b 5 + s t e p s u n a i d e d , a n d l i ft n t c a n r e m a i n s e a t e d f o r 1 h o u r . T h e m i n i s t r y g p e r i o d s d o e s n o t e s t a b l i s h a s e v e r e d e g r e e o f t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t c o m p l e t e s t h e p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n s o f n 5 ) , s t a n d i n g ( l e s s t h a n 3 0 m i n u t e s ) , l i ft i n g ( l e s s e p e n d e n t l y b u t w i t h s o m e n o t e d l i m i t a t i o n s . T h e t h e G P d o n o t s u p p o rt a s e v e r e d e g r e e o f e d 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 b y t h e G P r e g a r d i n g rt a f i n d i n g o f 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 . T h e e e n t h e a n a l y s i s p r o v i d e d b y t h e G P i n t h e P W D R F R . 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 d t h a t p e a k i n g , w h i c h t h e G P i n d i c a t e d a s ' g o o d ' i n t h e e a t h i n g , b l a d d e r a n d b o w e l m o v e m e n t s h a v e b e e n n o t a d d r e s s i n 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 f i n d s 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 , o n l y l i t t l e w e i g h t c a n l a b i l i t y , a n d 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 t h e P W D n f o r m a t i o n t h a t w a s p r o v i d e d a t a p p e a l , t h e p a n e l n a t i o n t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e d o e s n o t s u p p o r t a f i n d i n g p a i r m e n t a n d t h a t t h e l e g i s l a t i v e c r i t e r i a o u t l i n e d i n
T h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t h i s d i s a b i l i t y c a u s e s h i m w i t h s e e i n g , h e a r i n g , s p e a k i n g , m e m o r y , a n d s l e e p 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 a s e d o n t h e a s s e s s m t h e S R , a s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t o f m e n t a l f u n c t i o n i n g h c r i t e r i a h a s n o t b e e n m e t . 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 ry n o t e d t h i m p a i r m e n t , t h e G P i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e r e a r e n o s i g n f u n c t i o n i n g , a n d i n t h e A R , t h e r e w e r e o n l y m i n i m a l T h e m i n i s t r y c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e r e i s i n s u ff i c i e n t e v i d s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t o f m e n t a l f u n c t i o n i n g . 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 i n d i c a t e d t h a t s i n d e f i c i t s w i t h s e e i n g , h e a r i n g , s p e a k i n g , m e m o r y a n d s t r e s s e d d u e t o h i s 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 e v i d e n c e p r o v i d e d b y t h e G P t h a t w o u l d c o n f i r m o r t h a t t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n w a s c o m p l e t e d b y a n i n t e f r i e n d s / f a m i l y / c a r e g i v e r s . T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e w a s a n h i s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n . I f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m e n t a l c o n d a n d t h e R F R , t h e n e v i d e n c e f r o m t h e G P e x p l a i n i n g s h o u l d h a v e b e e n p r o v i d e d a t t h e t i m e o f r e c o n s i d e G i v e n t h a t t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m e n t 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 a t t h e r e i s n o d i a g n o s i a d d i t i o n a l o r s u p p o r t i v e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e G P w a w a s r e a s o n a b l e i n i t s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t t h e e v i d e n c s u ff e r s f r o m a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h e l e E A P W D A h a v e n o t b e e n m e t . R e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e a b il i t y t o p e rf o r m D L A S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( i ) o f t h e E A P W D A r e q u i r e s t h a t 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 , a s e v e r e m e n t a l o r p h y s i c a 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 e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s e v i d e n c e m a y b e c o n s i d e r e d f o r c l a r i f i c a t i o n o r s u p p i t i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e l e g i s l a t i v e c r i t e r i a a r e m e t , i s d p r o f e s s i o n a l s . T h e t e r m " d i r e c t l y " m e a n s t h a t t h e r e a n d t h e r e s t r i c t i o n . T h e d i r e c t r e s t r i c t i o n m u s t a l s o b t i m e o r d u r a t i o n t h e 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 m u s t b e f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s . A n y a n a l y s i s o f p e r i o f r e q u e n t l y t h e a c t i v i t y i s r e s t r i c t e d . A l l o t h e r t h i n g s b i s l e s s l i k e l y t o b e s i g n i f i c a n t t h a n o n e t h a t o c c u r s s w h e r e t h e e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t a r e s t r i c t i o n a r i s e r e q u i r e e v i d e n c e o f t h e d u r a t i o n a n d f r e q u e n c y o f t h l e g i s l a t i v e c r i t e r i o n i s m e t . 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 P W D a p p l i c a t i o n w i t h t h e o p p o rt u n i t y f o r t h e p r e s c r i a d d i t i o n a l n a r r a t i v e . D L A , a s d e f i n e d i n t h e l e q i s l a t i o s t r e s s a n d t h a t h i s n e w m e d i c a t i o n c a u s e s i s s u e s i n g . e n t s p r o v i d e d b y t h e G P i n t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n a n d a s n o t b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e l e g i s l a t e d a t t h e G P d i d n o t p r o v i d e a d i a g n o s i s o f a m e n t a l i f i c a n t 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 o r n o i m p a c t s t o 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 i n g . e n c e t o c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t p r e s e n t s w i t h a c e t h e u s e o f h i s n e w m e d i c a t i o n h e h a s e x p e r i e n c e d s l e e p i n g a n d t h a t i n t h e S R h e i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e i s t t h o u g h t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s c o m p e l l i n g , t h e r e i s n o s u p p o r t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s t e s t i m o n y . I t i s f u rt h e r n o t e d , r v i e w w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d h i s o p p o rt u n i t y f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t t o h a v e i n p u t r e g a r d i n g i t i o n w o r s e n e d f r o m t h e t i m e o f t h e P W D a p p l i c a t i o n t h e c h a n g e s i n t h e a p p e l l a n t' s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n r a t i o n o r a t t h e t i m e o f t h e h e a r i n g . l f u n c t i o n i n g p r o v i d e d b y t h e G P d o e s n o t i n d i c a t e a s o f a m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t , a n d t h e f a c t t h a t n o s p r o v i d e d a t a p p e a l , 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 e d o e s n o t s u p p o r t a f i n d i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t g i s l a t i v e c r i t e r i a o u t l i n e d i n S e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) o f t h e m i n i s t e r b e s a t i s f i e d t h a t i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a l i m p a i r m e n t 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 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 . W h i l e o t h e r o r t , t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n a s t o w h e t h e r o r n o t e p e n d e n t u p o n t h e e v i d e n c e f r o m p r e s c r i b e d m u s t b e a c a u s a l l i n k b e t w e e n t h e s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t e s i g n i f i c a n t . F i n a l l y , t h e r e i s a c o m p o n e n t r e l a t e d t o n m a y b e e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s o r p e r i o d i c . I f p e r i o d i c , i t d i c i t y m u s t a l s o i n c l u d e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f h o w e i n g e q u a l , a r e s t r i c t i o n t h a t o n l y a r i s e s o n c e a y e a r e v e r a l t i m e s a w e e k . A c c o r d i n g l y , i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s s p e r i o d i c a l l y , i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r t h e m i n i s t r y t o e r e s t r i c t i o n i n o r d e r t o b e " s a t i s f i e d " t h a t t h i s a r e l i s t e d i n b o t h t h e M R a n d t h e A R s e c t i o n s o f t h e b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l t o c h e c k m a r k e d b o x e s a n d p r o v i d e n , d o n o t i n c l u d e t h e a b i l i t v t o w o r k .
The appellant argued that the back pain has impacted his ability for personal care, toileting, household maintenance and sleeping. The ministry argued that it is not satisfied that the appellant has a severe impairment that, in the opinion of a prescribed professional, directly and significantly restricts his ability to perform the DLA set out in the legislation. In its reconsideration decision, the minist ry noted that in the MR, the GP indicated that the appellant has continuous restrictions in the areas of 'personal care', 'basic housework', 'daily shopping' and 'mobility inside and outside the home' but the degree of the restriction is not reported. Though daily medication is required, no assistance with DLA is reported to be required. The ministry noted that in the AR, the GP indicated that almost all listed DLA are performed independently. The GP indicated that periodic assistance is required with 'laundry', 'basic housekeeping' and 'going to/from stores'. The ministry noted that the GP did not describe the frequency, duration and nature of the assistance required. The ministry also noted that the GP indicated that continuous assistance is required with 'carrying purchases home' but no further narrative was provided to discuss the nature of the assistance required or to confirm that this assistance supports a direct and significant restriction in the ability to complete this DLA. In addition, the source of the assistance has not been identified. The panel considered the MR and AR and noted that there are unexplained discrepancies in the evidence provided by the GP. In the MR, the GP indicated that 'personal care' and mobility inside and outside the home are continuously restricted. However, in the AR, the GP indicated that 'personal care', and 'walking indoor/outdoor' are performed independently. In the MR, the GP indicated that 'housekeeping' is continuously restricted. However, in the AR, the GP indicated that all listed items under basic housekeeping (namely laundry and basic housekeeping) require periodic assistance. The panel notes that these inconsistencies were not explained by the GP or the appellant and that such conflicting information makes it difficult to make a determination. The panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined that the GP failed to provide information regarding the type, frequency and duration of the periodic assistance required and notes that the GP did not provide information explaining the causal link between the physical or mental impairment and the appellant's ability to perform DLA either continuously or periodically for extended periods. The panel considered the assessment by the GP in the PWD application of independence with almost all of the DLA, the lack of information regarding the causal link between a physical or mental impairment and a restriction to perform some DLA either continuously or periodically for extended periods, and that no additional or supporting information was provided from a prescribed professional at appeal to support the appellant's position. The panel finds that the evidence provided by the GP does not describe or indicate that a severe impairment restricts the appellant's ability to perform his DLA either continuously or periodically for extended periods. Given the evidence as a whole, the panel finds that the ministry reasonably concluded that the evidence does not establish that an impairment significantly restricts DLA continuously or periodically for extended periods, pursuant to Section 2(2)(b)(i) of the EAPWDA. Help to perform DLA Section 2(2)(b)(ii) of the EAPWDA requires that, as a result of direct and significant restrictions in the ability to perform DLA, a person requires help to perform those activities. Help is defined in subsection (3)as the requirement for an assistive device, the siQnificant help or supervision of another person, or EAAT003 (17/08/17) 10
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 i n o r d e r t o p e r T h e a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t d i r e c t l y i n d i c a t e t h a t h e r e c e i v a n i m a l i n t h e S R . I n h i s R F R , t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d c l e a n i n g a c t i v i t i e s " . T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e 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 c a n n o t b e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t h e l p i s r e q u i r e d . T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t , i n t h e M R a n d A R , t h e G P d i d a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e o r a s s i s t i v e a n i m a l w a s r e q u i r e d . G i v e n t h a t c o n f i r m a t i o n 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 h e l p c r i t e r i o n a n d b e c a u s e t h e p a n e l f o u n d t h a t t h e 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 p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o p e 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 c o n c l u d e d t h a t i t t o p e r f o r m D L A a s r e q u i r e d b y s e c t i o n 2 ( 2 ) ( b ) ( i i ) o f C o n c l u s 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 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d 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 r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e e n a c t m e n t , a n d t h e r e f o r e c o n f i r m s a p p e a l .f o r m D L A . e s h e l p f r o m o t h e r s , a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e o r a s s i s t i v e t h a t h i s " b r o t h e r s p e rf o r m t h e s h o p p i n g , c o o k i n g [ a n d ] s 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 n o t i n d i c a t e t h a t a s s i s t a n c e f r o m a n o t h e r p e r s o n , t r i c t i o n s w i t h D L A i s a p r e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e n e e d f o r 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 t h a t d i r e c t a n d 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 h e d , t h e p a n e l a l s o 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 r e q u i r e s h e l p t h e E A P W D A . 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 l l a n t w a s n o t o r t e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e a n d i s a r e a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n t h e d e c i s i o n . T h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t s u c c e s s f u l o n
I P A R T G O R D E R T H E P A N E L D E C I S I O N I S : ( C h e c k o n e ) r:gj U N A N I M O U S □ B Y M A J O R I T Y T H E P A N E L r:gj C O N F I R M S T H E M I N I S T R Y D E C I S I O N □ R E S C I N D S T H E M I N I S T R Y D E C I S I O N I f t h e m i n i s t r y d e c i s i o n i s r e s c i n d e d , i s t h e p a n e l d e c i s i o n r e f e r r e d b a c k t o t h e M i n i s t e r f o r a d e c i s i o n a s t o a m o u n t ? □ Y e s □ N o L E G I S L A T I V E A U T H O R I T Y F O R T H E D E C I S 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 A c t S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 1 ) ( a ) r:gJ o r S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 1 ) ( b ) r:gJ a n d S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 2 ) ( a ) r:gj o r S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 2 ) ( b ) D P A R T H S I G N A T U R E S P R I N T N A M E N e e n a K e r a m S I G N A T U R E O F C H A I R D A T E { Y E A R / M O N T H / D A Y ) 2 0 1 8 / 1 1 / 0 7 P R I N T N A M E T i n a A h n e r! S I G N A T U R E O F M E M B E R D A T E ( Y EA R ! M O N T H / D A Y) ; j ; , t . 2 0 1 8 / 1 1 / 0 7 -!' (_ � , _ . t; , \ , � -· -P R I N T N A M E S i m o n C l e w s S I G N A T U R E O F M E M B E R D A T E ( Y E A R / M O N T H / D A Y ) ( ' / J ' _,. 2 0 1 8 / 1 1 / 0 7 iJ ' • · -;. W 1 t. / / V E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 7 / 0 8/ 1 7 ) S i g n a t u r e P a g 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.