Opinion
42523.
SUBMITTED JANUARY 10, 1967.
DECIDED FEBRUARY 17, 1967.
Workmen's compensation. Fulton Superior Court. Before Judge Moore.
Swift, Currie, McGhee Hiers, James B. Hiers, Jr., for appellants.
George George, William V. George, for appellee.
When a claimant is disabled as the result of an accident which arose out of and in the course of his employment, the fact that he also has some disability resulting from a subsequent noncompensable accident will not deprive him of compensation benefits.
SUBMITTED JANUARY 10, 1967 — DECIDED FEBRUARY 17, 1967.
The claimant had an accident which arose out of and in the course of his employment on May 29, 1964, and as a result thereof sustained a back injury. A standard form for agreement as to compensation was filed with and approved by the State Board of Workmen's Compensation. On November 2, 1964, during the time the claimant was receiving compensation payments for total disability, he suffered additional injuries as the result of an automobile collision. On February 22, 1965, the employer requested a hearing to determine whether claimant's condition had changed. The State Board of Workmen's Compensation entered an award stating that the claimant had not undergone a change in condition. The award was affirmed by the superior court and the case is here for review.
1. When a claimant is disabled as the result of an accident which arose out of and in the course of his employment, the fact that he also has some disability resulting from a subsequent noncompensable accident will not deprive him of compensation benefits. Employers Mut. c. Ins. Co. v. Dyer, 108 Ga. App. 623 ( 134 S.E.2d 49). However, under these circumstances, for the claimant to be entitled to total disability benefits, that portion of his disability resulting from the compensable injury must be sufficient to prevent him from engaging in any gainful employment.
In the case sub judice, the evidence was in conflict as to the claimant's condition and whether his disability was the result of the compensable or the noncompensable accident.
Two findings of fact in the award state: "(1) I find further that claimant's present disability is not due totally to the May 29, 1964, accident and injury, but is due in part to the injury received in November of 1964, which was not attributable to his employment. . . (2) The full board finds as a matter of fact that the claimant has not undergone a change in condition."
While these two quoted findings of fact seem inconsistent, "legal precision and nicety are not to be insisted upon in the findings of fact of the Board of Workmen's Compensation, and, after the award, that construction of the findings which would render the judgment valid should be adopted in preference to a construction which would render such judgment invalid, where such construction is reasonable and can fairly be applied." Maryland Cas. Corp. v. Mitchell, 83 Ga. App. 99 (3) ( 62 S.E.2d 415). The burden of proof was on the employer. The finding of fact stating that there had been no change in condition was tantamount to a determination that the portion of the claimant's disability which resulted from the compensable injury was sufficient to prevent his return to gainful employment.
There being some evidence to support the award of the State Board of Workmen's Compensation, the ruling of the superior court was not error.
Judgment affirmed. Frankum, P. J., and Deen, J., concur.