Court of Appeals Affirms Award of 45 Weeks of Permanent Partial Disability

In Lopez v. Cargill Meat Solutions, No. 16-1421 (Iowa App. July 6, 2017), the court rejected claimant's allegations that his claim should have been considered as an industrial disability and affirmed the functional award of 45 weeks of benefits.  Claimant argued that his experts presented substantial, credible evidence of industrial disability and it was unfair, irrational and illogical to reject those opinions. The court concluded that the agency had given greater weight to certain expert opinions over others and thoroughly explained the reasons for doing so.  Because those findings were supported by substantial evidence and were not irrational, illogical or wholly unjustifiable, the decision of the agency stood.

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