Owcp

BACKGROUND

I. CASTRO’S EMPLOYMENT, INJURY, AND

REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Claimant Robert Castro worked as a carpenter and pile driver from 1973 until he was disabled due to his injury in 1998. He began work as a pile driver for General Construc- tion in 1998. On November 20, 1998, Castro slipped and fell on a crane step, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. After three surgeries, Castro was released to return to light duty work in August 2000. Castro attempted to return to work at General Construction, but the job he took, cutting metal plates with a torch while seated, was too strenuous, and his physician, Dr. Mandt, determined that it was beyond Cas- tro’s ability. No other light duty work being available at Gen- eral Construction, Mandt recommended vocational retraining.

General Construction conducted labor market studies, which identified jobs the counselors believed Castro could perform, such as courier, cashier, and security officer. The starting wages for these jobs ranged between $8.00 and $10.00 per hour, or between $16,640 and $20,800 per year, but with experience, some could pay up to $25,000 per year. Castro testified that he investigated at…