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on him at work. The wound became infected, requiring hospitalization and a period of
missed work, but it eventually healed.
At the hearing on his appeal, the appellant testified almost exclusively regarding the
problems he suffers as a result of his heart condition and his hepatitis C.
On or about February 16, 2007, the Department issued its final administrative
decision, which adopted the findings of fact of the hearing officer and affirmed the
Department's denial of benefits to the appellant. The hearing officer's "findings of fact"
consist exclusively of photocopies of medical evaluation decisions completed by the client
assessment unit. The first decision, completed on or about March 6, 2006, indicates that the
appellant's primary diagnosis was a hematoma wound to the left leg and that his secondary
diagnosis was arthritis in the knee and hepatitis. The decision briefly noted the appellant's
history of heart disease, as well as other medical history, and concluded that the appellant
had not demonstrated that he had a condition that precluded his past activities and that he
was therefore not disabled.
After the submission of additional medical evidence by the appellant, the client
assessment unit issued a second decision, in which it found that the appellant's primary
diagnosis was an infected hematoma wound of the left leg, minimal-to-moderate
osteoarthritis of the left knee, and back pain and that his secondary diagnosis was aortic
valve replacement and pacemaker placement, hematoma, and hepatitis C. This determination
seemed to focus on the injury to the appellant's left leg and concluded that, although his
condition had caused some restrictions in his ability to function, he had the ability to return
to past relevant activities and was therefore not disabled.
The third and final client assessment unit determination, issued November 21, 2006,
found the appellant's primary diagnosis to be valvular heart disease and a secondary
diagnosis to be minimal-to-moderate arthritis in the left knee, back pain, aortic valve
