In the Matter of the Claim of Mark Mogilevsky
Claimant Mark Mogilevsky, a former train car inspector, sought workers' compensation benefits for occupational binaural hearing loss. A Workers' Compensation Law Judge established the claim and found a 3.3% schedule loss of use, which the Workers' Compensation Board affirmed. Mogilevsky appealed, challenging the Board's decision to reject the medical opinion of his otolaryngologist, Dr. Michael Alleva, who assessed a 45.3% hearing loss. The Board had dismissed Alleva's findings, stating he failed to explain how Mogilevsky could work with nearly 50% hearing loss without deficits. The Appellate Division found no evidence in the record to support the Board's rationale for rejecting Dr. Alleva's opinion. Consequently, the court concluded that the Board's decision lacked substantial evidence and reversed the decision, remitting the matter for further proceedings.