Title: 

APD 200234

Significant Decision

Date: 

March 12, 2020

Issues: 

Extent of Injury

Table of Contents

APD 200234

This appeal arises pursuant to the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, TEX. LAB. CODE ANN. § 401.001 et seq. (1989 Act). A contested case hearing (CCH) was held on January 14, 2020, in (city), Texas, with (administrative law judge) presiding as the administrative law judge (ALJ). The ALJ resolved the disputed issue by deciding that the compensable injury of (date of injury), does not extend to cervical radiculopathy, neuroforaminal stenosis at C3-4, C4-5, C5-6, C6-7, or complex regional pain syndrome of the right upper extremity. The appellant (claimant) appealed, disputing the ALJ’s determination of extent of injury. The respondent (carrier) responded, urging affirmance of the disputed extent-of-injury conditions.

DECISION

Reversed and remanded for reconstruction of the record.

Section 410.203(a)(1) requires the Appeals Panel to consider the record developed at the CCH. No audio recording of the CCH is available for review. The file does not contain a transcript or an audio recording of the proceeding. Consequently, we reverse and remand this case to the ALJ who presided over the January 14, 2020, CCH, if possible, for reconstruction of the CCH record. See Appeals Panel Decision (APD) 190446, decided May 1, 2019.

Pending resolution of the remand, a final decision has not been made in this case. However, since reversal and remand necessitate the issuance of a new decision and order by the ALJ, a party who wishes to appeal from such new decision must file a request for review not later than 15 days after the date on which such new decision is received from the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, pursuant to Section 410.202 which was amended June 17, 2001, to exclude Saturdays and Sundays and holidays listed in Section 662.003 of the Texas Government Code in the computation of the 15-day appeal and response periods. See APD 060721, decided June 12, 2006.

The true corporate name of the insurance carrier is PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY OF HARTFORD and the name and address of its registered agent for service of process is

CT CORPORATION SYSTEM

1999 BRYAN STREET, SUITE 900

DALLAS, TEXAS 75201-3136.

Margaret L. Turner – Appeals Judge

CONCUR:

Cristina Beceiro – Appeals Judge

Carisa Space-Beam – Appeals Judge