Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District / Jul 20, 2021
Jimmy Fields, Appellant, vs. Treasurer of Missouri as Custodian of the Second Injury Fund, Respondent.
Claimant Jimmy Fields appealed the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission's denial of workers' compensation benefits from the Second Injury Fund for permanent total disability (PTD) due to hearing loss and permanent partial disability (PPD) for several back injuries. The appellate court affirmed the Commission's denial of PPD benefits for the back injuries and the alternative PTD claim for the last back injury, finding them supported by sufficient evidence. However, the court reversed the Commission's denial of PTD benefits for hearing loss, concluding it was not supported by sufficient competent evidence, and remanded the case for an award of PTD consistent with the opinion.