Wegener

On October 2, 1942 appellee Wegener sustained an injury (a low back strain) while in the course of his employment as a longshoreman resulting in his total disability until December 31, 1942. During an ensuing period he did some light work until April 9, 1943 — this at the suggestion of an attending physician. On April 14, 1943 he suffered a thrombosis of one of the main arteries of his left leg which required an amputation of this leg on April 21, 1943. The employer (appellant) resumed payment of compensation for total disability at the time Wegener stopped work on April 9, 1943, and continued these compensation payments until July, 1943, at which time the employer requested a hearing to determine whether Wegener’s then existing disability was causally related to the original back injury.

A hearing was held before Deputy Commissioner Marshall, predecessor to Deputy Commissioner Whipple (appellee herein) and after hearing the evidence, medical and otherwise, a compensation order (not here involved) was entered in which the Deputy Commissioner found that the condition of the left leg and its subsequent amputation were unrelated causally to the injury, but that Wegener continued to…