Court Upholds Denial of PTD to Worker with Drug Problem

An injured Iowa worker with a history of drug abuse who was arrested for impersonating a physician to obtain painkillers did not prove he was permanently and totally disabled by his industrial accident or that his depression was causally related to it, the state Court of Appeals ruled.Substantial evidence supported a 60% permanent partial disability rating for Larry Gallo's back injury, and other sources of stress in his life – including his conviction, his ailing wife and daughter and his job loss – explained his depressive behavior, the court said. The case was Gallo v. ...