Pennington

Petitioner was a Deputy Sheriff of Los Angeles County when he injured his back in the course of his duties on January 18, 1968, and became totally disabled. He was placed on leave of absence without loss of salary until January 12, 1969, when he retired under the service-connected disability provisions of the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Gov. Code, § 31450 et seq.).

He filed a claim for workmen’s compensation and was paid temporary disability payments from January 19, 1969, through February 1, 1970. On March 25, 1970, the referee found that the injuries had become permanent and stationary on January 12, 1970, determined that petitioner’s disability was 64 percent, and awarded permanent disability compensation in the amount of $13,440 payable at the rate of $52.50 per week beginning February 20, 1970. The referee further decided that petitioner had not been entitled to receive any temporary disability payments, and ordered that the compensation carrier (State Compensation Insurance Fund) was entitled to credit for money paid as temporary disability indemnity.

Petitioner asked reconsideration of the latter ruling by the appeals board, which granted…