Opinion
March 25, 1974.
Workmen's compensation — Scope of appellate review — Error of law — Findings of fact — Substantial evidence — Necessity for findings — Remand — Additional evidence — Referee.
1. In a workmen's compensation case where the party with the burden of proof prevailed below, review by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is to determine whether an error of law was committed and whether substantial evidence supports the findings of fact, and the failure of the workmen's compensation authorities to provide the reviewing court with the required findings and conclusions to review necessitates that the case be remanded. [487-8]
2. The Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board may make its own findings only when it takes additional evidence. It cannot make its own findings where the only evidence taken was taken by a referee. [488]
Submitted on briefs, December 6, 1973, to Judges CRUMLISH, JR., KRAMER and BLATT, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 605 C. D. 1973, from the Order of the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board in case of Tillie DePaul v. Weller Electric Corporation, No. A-60682.
Petition with Workmen's Compensation (Appeal) Board for further medical services. Petition referred to referee for taking of testimony. Evidence taken. Transcript certified to Board. Petition granted. Employer and insurance carrier appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Remanded.
A. Albert Gross, with him Gross, Herster Newton, for appellants.
Robert A. Freedberg, for appellees.
This is an appeal by Weller Electric Corporation (Weller) and its insurance carrier from an order of the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Board) granting Tillie DePaul's (DePaul) Petition for Further Medical Services under the Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act (Act), Act of June 2, 1915, P. L. 736, as amended, 77 P. S. § 1 et seq.
The general question presented is whether Weller is liable for DePaul's medical expenses for the period from January 2, 1970 through February 6, 1970. DePaul was hospitalized on January 2, 1970, and underwent surgery on January 26, 1970. She filed her Petition for Further Medical Services on January 28, 1970. On June 6, 1972, the Board referred the matter to a referee for the taking of testimony and ordered that a "transcript of said testimony to be certified back to the Workmen's Compensation Board, together with the record for its determination of the further medical petition." A hearing was held, and the record was returned to the Board. The Board issued an order dated March 30, 1973, granting DePaul's petition.
Weller argues three issues on appeal: (1) that there is no evidence in the record to support the proposition that the services requested would restore DePaul's earning power to a substantial degree; (2) that under Section 306(f) of the Act ( 77 P. S. § 531) as it existed in 1970, it was error for the Board to grant an award for services rendered prior to DePaul's petition; and (3) that the Board erred when it failed to specify the maximum period of treatment allowed under the award. DePaul counters that the record supports the award and with respect to Weller's second issue, urges that we apply Section 306(f), as amended in 1972. DePaul urges that the 1972 amendment to Section 306(f) eliminates the requirement that a petition for further medical services be filed prior to the rendering of such services because the amendment eliminates the time limitation on the employer's obligation to provide reasonable medical and surgical services. With respect to Weller's third point, DePaul argues that the time limitation of the Board's order was obvious and that any further statement in the Board's order with respect to the maximum period of time would have been superfluous.
Act of March 29, 1972, P. L. ___, No. 61, § 12.
In workmen's compensation cases where the party bearing the burden of proof has prevailed below, our scope of review is limited to determining whether there are errors of law, and whether there is substantial evidence to support the findings of fact presented. See United States Steel Corporation v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, 10 Pa. Commw. 67, 308 A.2d 200 (1973).
Our careful review of the record leads us to believe that it would have been possible to affirm the Board's order if appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law had been made. Unfortunately, the Board's adjudication consists solely of an order, and contains no discussion, findings of fact, or conclusions of law other than the ultimate award. The Board's failure to make the required findings and conclusions makes it impossible for us to perform our appellate function and necessitates that we remand the matter to the Board. See Sherred v. Pittsburgh, 7 Pa. Commw. 401, 299 A.2d 381 (1973). See also Section 427 of the Act, 77 P. S. § 877.
It is also necessary for us to address the procedure utilized by the Board in reaching its order. Initially, the Board ordered that testimony be taken before a referee, and that the transcript be certified to the Board in order that the Board might make its decision. In Universal Cyclops Steel Corporation v. Krawczynski, 9 Pa. Commw. 176, 305 A.2d 757 (1973), we held that the 1972 amendments to the Act only allow the Board to make its own findings when it takes additional evidence. See Section 423 of the Act, 77 P. S. § 854. Under the posture of the case before us, the referee should have made the initial determination of facts concerning DePaul's petition. We therefore
ORDER
AND NOW, this 25th day of March, 1974, it, is ordered that the record in this case is hereby remanded to the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board with direction that a proper adjudication containing findings of fact and conclusions of law be filed herein; the Board may either hear additional evidence or remand to the referee who heard the case for the making of findings of fact.