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 December 3, 2001. The hearing officer resolved the disputed issues by determining that the appellant (claimant) did not sustain a compensable injury while in the course and scope of his employment on __________, and that the claimant had no disability from a compensable injury. The claimant submitted the following note, quoted in its entirety, within the time allowed for filing an appeal: “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be sending but here are these forms for Appeal.” The three pages to which the handwritten note are attached consist of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (Commission) cover letter for the Decision and Order, the Commission “Notice of Appeal Filing Date,” and the last page of the Decision and Order. There is no response from the respondent (carrier) contained in our file.
DECISION
The above communication does not meet the minimum requirements of an appeal; the decision and order of the hearing officer are final.
Section 410.202(c) provides that “a request for appeal . . . must clearly and concisely rebut . . . the decision of the hearing officer on each issue on which review is sought.” The Appeals Panel in Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Appeal No. 951079, decided August 16, 1995, and Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Appeal No. 951478, decided October 17, 1995, found that appeals had not been made. Those two cases did at least indicate that the appellant sought to appeal, but the only document submitted by the claimant in this case does not indicate any disagreement with the hearing officer’s decision and order. See also Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Appeal No. 951911, decided December 19, 1995.
We have liberally interpreted Section 410.202(c) to allow a simple statement of disagreement with the hearing officer’s decision to suffice as an appeal. However, in this case, the document filed by the claimant fails to state any disagreement or dispute with the hearing officer’s decision and simply cannot be considered as a request for review under Section 410.202(c). Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Appeal No. 94973, decided September 1, 1994; Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission Appeal No. 93998, decided December 14, 1993. To the contrary, in this instance, as in Appeal No. 951079, supra, the document filed by the claimant leaves us “with little more than speculation and conjecture as to what aspects of the decision, if any, are being appealed.” That is, “[i]t neither articulates reasons for disagreement with the determinations of the hearing officer, nor does it distinguish the findings and conclusions as to which a review is sought.” Appeal No. 951911, supra; see also, Appeal No. 951478, supra. Accordingly, we find the claimant’s submission insufficient to serve as an appeal.
The jurisdiction of the Appeals Panel not having been properly invoked, the decision and order have become final under Section 410.169.
The true corporate name of the insurance carrier is COLONIAL CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY and the name and address of its registered agent for service of process is
WILLIAM HAGAN
12850 SPURLING DR., STE. 250
DALLAS, TEXAS 75203.
Michael B. McShane – Appeals Judge
CONCUR:
Judy L. S. Barnes – Appeals Judge
Edward Vilano – Appeals Judge