Opinion
December 24, 1980
Appeal from a decision of the Workers' Compensation Board, filed September 21, 1979. After receipt of conflicting expert medical testimony as to the degree of disability attributable either to claimant's fall from a ladder or to a pre-existing condition of thrombophlebitis, the board referred the matter to an impartial orthopedist for his opinion. Upon receipt of the impartial expert's report, the board decided that claimant had a moderate permanent partial disability and affirmed the referee's award of compensation at the maximum rate thereof. On this appeal, the employer and its carrier do not challenge the rate of compensation fixed by the board but contend that the board should have apportioned liability between claimant's pre-existing thrombophlebitic condition and his accidental injury. The board was free to choose between conflicting medical opinions, each based on the same facts, and was free to resolve the conflicting medical views by crediting some and rejecting others (Matter of Rodriguez v. Atlantic Gummed Paper Corp., 61 A.D.2d 873). Having done that and concluded that the industrial accident aggravated a pre-existing physical condition, the board was empowered to find that the employer is liable for the full consequences without apportionment. We have previously held that where an industrial accident aggravates an underlying condition, the employer is liable for the full award (Matter of Putnam v. Harrison Radiator Div., Gen. Motors Corp., 12 A.D.2d 543; see Matter of Engle v Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 6 N.Y.2d 449; Matter of Devine v Wilcox Supermarket, 28 A.D.2d 573). Accordingly, we conclude that the board's decision is supported by substantial evidence. Decision affirmed, with costs to the Workers' Compensation Board. Mahoney, P.J., Greenblott, Main, Mikoll and Casey, JJ., concur.