The claimant requested reconsideration of the Tribunal’s decision denying NEBs and holding the claimant in the MIG. Adjudicator Norris denied the reconsideration. The claimant argued the insurer gave no evidence to subject the claimant to the MIG and the insurer’s reports did not provide an opinion on the application of the MIG. The insurer submitted there was no evidence of any failure to impartially assess the evidence. Adjudicator Norris indicated there was no onus on the insurer to prove the claimant suffered a minor injury; the claimant had the burden of proving his case. Adjudicator Norris reviewed the evidence including the medical records of the claimant’s treating physicians, which he determined did not show any compelling evidence that the claimant should be removed from the MIG. In regard to the NEBs claim, the claimant argued that Adjudicator Norris had wrongly found that the claimant had failed to submit a disability certificate and there was evidence in the insurer’s materials it had been submitted. The disability certificate in question that was submitted entitled the claimant to NEBs. The claimant further argued that Adjudicator Norris had wrongfully found the insurer did not pay the benefit because it did not know when the disability certificate was submitted. The insurer argued that the NEB claim was considered and the evidence was weighed in its decision. Adjudicator Norris was unable to consider the disability certificate in the initial hearing as the claimant did not submit the disability certificate as evidence. The claimant’s reconsideration submissions confirmed that the disability certificate in question was completed by a different healthcare provider than his family physician contrary to the claimant’s claims in the initial hearing. The claimant failed to provide any information on when the second disability certificate was submitted, which would trigger the insurer’s obligations under s.36(4). In the initial hearing, Adjudicator Norris found the insurer did not have to pay NEBs immediately on receipt of the disability certificate and the insurer could request an IE. It appeared the insurer did request an IE. The claimant attended the IEs and the insurer relied upon those reports when it denied NEBs entitlement. The claimant submitted three documents to support his position that his injuries were outside of the MIG. Adjudicator Norris indicated none of those documents provided any compelling evidence that his injuries were minor. The claimant’s self-reported statements were discounted due to inconsistencies.
