This appeal arises pursuant to the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, TEX. LAB. CODE ANN. § 401.001 et seq. (1989 Act). A contested case hearing was held on July 23, 2001. She held that the claimant did not injure himself in the course and scope of his employment, and that he did not have an inability to obtain and retain employment due to the alleged injuries.
The claimant has appealed these determinations as against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence. The carrier responds that the decision should be affirmed.
DECISION
We affirm the hearing officer’s decision.
The hearing officer made no error in determining that the claimant did not injure himself at work or have resulting disability. As she noted, the claimant himself testified that he would have been able to work for most of the period after the date of his injury; he contended that his inability to work ran from October 30 through November 17, 2000. The hearing officer indicated that she simply did not believe the claimant’s account of how he was injured (by working in a twisted position). The hearing officer is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence. Section 410.165(a).
The trier of fact is not required to accept a claimant’s testimony at face value, even if not specifically contradicted by other evidence. Bullard v. Universal Underwriters Insurance Company, 609 S.W.2d 621 (Tex. Civ. App.-Amarillo 1980, no writ). There are conflicts in the record, but those were the responsibility of the hearing officer to judge, considering the demeanor of the witnesses and the record as a whole. It was for the hearing officer, as trier of fact, to resolve the inconsistencies and conflicts in the evidence. Garza v. Commercial Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, 508 S.W.2d 701, 702 (Tex. Civ. App.-Amarillo 1974, no writ). This is equally true of medical evidence. Texas Employers Insurance Association v. Campos, 666 S.W.2d 286, 290 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1984, no writ). In considering all the evidence in the record, we cannot agree that the findings of the hearing officer are so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly wrong and unjust. In re King’s Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 244 S.W.2d 660 (1951). According, we affirm the decision and order.
The true corporate name of the insurance carrier is THE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA and the name and address of its registered agent for service of process is
CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY
800 BRAZOS, SUITE 750
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701.
Susan M. Kelley – Appeals Judge
CONCUR:
Elaine M. Chaney – Appeals Judge
Robert E. Lang
Appeals Panel
Manager/Judge