Employee testified that he is 56 years of age and that he graduated from the 8th grade and dropped out of school in the 9th grade. He testified that he repeated kindergarten or the 1st grade. He testified that school was difficult and he often made C's, Ds and F's.
His first job, after dropping out of school, was at a gas station. His duties included pumping gas as well as changing oil and tires. Thereafter, he obtained his GED and went into the Army. He reports that he served in the Armed Forces between 1971 and 1973. He testified that, during this time, he was trained to string telephone poles but was used as a courier and driver. He also testified that during this time, he used crystal meth, marijuana and LSD. He reports, however, that he ceased his drug use in the 1970s and has now not used illegal drugs in more than 30 years.
Following his honorable discharge from the military, Employee obtained jobs at several feed stores and a bottling plant. He also obtained a job for a time as an assistant manager in a service station and convenience store. He testified that this was in the mid-70s and, at that time, they did not use any computers or cash registers. He testified that he would pump gas, stock shelves and use a calculator.
After that job, he obtained work at Christy Minerals in 1977. He started there as a bagger/operator. This required him to lift large bags, weighing 50 pounds to 100 pounds. These bags contained material that was used in the making of cement. He described this work as heavy and repetitious, requiring a great deal of bending, stooping and lifting.
In 1979, he became a maintenance man and an electrician's assistant. This job required him to run conduit, pull wire, install equipment, repair old equipment and trouble shoot electrical problems. He performed this job between 1979 and 2002. He described this as heavy work, requiring him to bend, stoop, walk, climb and get into awkward positions as well as to frequently lift heavy objects and tools.
During that time, the employer sent the Employee to the Mexico Vocational Technical School where he attended classes on Electricity I and II and also reading blueprints and schematics.
In addition, Employee also trained as a police officer. He reported that he took approximately 120 hours of training at the St. Charles Police Academy in or around 1992 or 1993. Thereafter, in addition to his job at Christy Minerals, he became a reserve deputy at the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department from approximately 1993 to 2002. He testified that, in that capacity, he worked county fairs and performed road patrols. He believes that he worked about 16 hours a month in that capacity.
From 1995 through 2001 he also served as the Chief of Police in High Hill, Missouri. He believes that he worked an average of 30 to 40 hours a month. This required him to patrol, hand out speeding tickets and work various traffic accidents or crime scenes. He gave up his police work in 2002 after his last back injury.
He testified that he has never really worked in an office and has no computer or typing skills but acknowledged that he will send e-mails to his daughter.
Employee sustained his first work-related accident at Christy Minerals on or about August 8, 2001. At that time, he injured his right shoulder while pulling on a commercial wrench as he attempted to tighten a bolt. He reported that he felt something pop in his right shoulder and neck. The employer sent him to Dr. Michael Nogalski and, ultimately, to Dr. Ronald Carter.
Dr. Nogalski described this as a right shoulder rotator cuff strain. Employee was treated conservatively with physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and, for a time, light duty work.
Although Dr. Nogalski released him on September 10, 2001, with a resolved right shoulder strain, he complained of continuing burning, pinching and a sharp sticking feeling in his right shoulder and neck. Therefore, he went to Dr. Ronald Carter on March 13, 2002. Dr. Carter also noted complaints of neck pain and a history of intermittent pain and numbness in Employee's right hand, post the shoulder injury. Dr. Carter diagnosed a possible rotator cuff tear and glenoid labrum tear. Subsequent to that, on March 15, 2002, an MRI ordered by Dr. Carter revealed an inflammatory degenerative process of the acromioclavicular joint with edema and joint fluid as well as subdeltoid bursal inflammation. There was also impingement of the rotator cuff.
On March 18, 2002 Employee suffered an injury to his low back while at work. At that time, he and a coworker were lifting a motor when he felt what he described as a snap in low back. He experienced low back pain as well as pain radiating down his right leg. He denied any prior back or shoulder injuries prior to the ones just described.
Employee received treatment for the back injury and was ultimately seen by Dr. Dennis Abernathie. On April 9, 2002 the doctor recommended an MRI and discussed the possibility of epidural steroid injections. During this time, Employee was released to work light duty with restrictions of no bending, stooping or lifting over 25 pounds.
On April 12, 2002 Employee suffered another low back injury as he was walking backwards while carrying a large steel trough, weighing approximately 250 pounds and tripped over a board. He felt severe pain in his low back, hip and right leg. Employee testified that this accident severely increased his low back pain and right leg radiculopathy.
Employee then returned to Dr. Abernathie who noted a large disk fragment at L