Gonzales V. Lovington Public Schools

Worker appeals the part of the compensation order of the Workers' Compensation Division that reduces his benefits from temporary total disability to 10% permanent partial disability after December 20, 1989. Worker's sole contention on appeal is that the hearing officer did not have authority to determine partial disability before worker completed vocational rehabilitation, even though worker had failed to make a reasonable effort to rehabilitate himself. In resolving the issue, we examine the transient provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, NMSA 1978, §§ 52-1-1 through -69 (Orig. Pamp. & Cum. Supp. 1986) (Interim Act), effective from May 21, 1986 through June 19, 1987. We affirm.