MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Appeal from a decision of the Workers Compensation Board, filed July 24, 2019, which, among other things, disallowed claimants claim for workers compensation benefits.
Claimant, a laborer, filed a claim for workers compensation benefits, alleging that, on August 11, 2017, he had fallen while performing demolition work for the employer and sustained injuries to his left hand, left wrist and left leg. The Workers Compensation Law Judge (hereafter WCLJ) found claimants testimony that he sustained injuries while working for the employer to be incredible, as it directly contradicted initial emergency room records, and disallowed the claim. Upon administrative appeal, claimant requested that the Workers Compensation Board consider additional evidence not presented to the WCLJ. Specifically, claimant sought to introduce a notarized sworn statement of an alleged coworker attesting to the work-related accident. The Board denied claimants request and affirmed the WCLJs decision. Claimant appeals.
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We affirm. Initially, we find no abuse of discretion in the Boards refusal to consider a sworn statement – submitted on administrative appeal but which was not presented before the WCLJ – of an individual who purportedly was with claimant at the time of the alleged work-related accident. The Board found that the reasons proffered for claimants failure to present such evidence prior to the WCLJs decision were not credible. As the Board noted, claimant and his counsel were aware – having been told by the WCLJ on multiple occasions – that the accident history in the initial emergency room records conflicted with claimants subsequent version of the accident as to whether the injuries were work related. Claimant, despite being informed of the inconsistencies, offered no evidence to clarify the discrepancy until after the WCLJ issued a decision. Under the circumstances, we find no reason to disturb the discretionary decision of the Board (see 12 NYCRR 300.13[b][1][iii]; Matter of Hernandez v. KNS Bldg. Restoration, Inc., 180 A.D.3d 1129, 1132, 118 N.Y.S.3d 308 [2020]).
Turning to the merits, “it is well settled that, in order for an injury to be compensable, it must arise out of and in the course of employment” (Matter of Ciullo v. Gordon L. Seaman Inc., 144 A.D.3d 1377, 1377, 41 N.Y.S.3d 607 [2016]; see Workers Compensation Law § 10[1]). “Whether an injury has arisen out of and in the course of employment is a factual issue for the Board to resolve and its decision will not be disturbed when supported by substantial evidence” (Matter of Siliverdis v. Sea Breeze Services Corp., 82 A.D.3d 1459, 1460, 919 N.Y.S.2d 231 [2011] [citations omitted]).
The medical notes of claimants initial visit to the emergency room on August 13, 2017 indicate that claimant presented with complaints of pain in his left hand and left wrist as a result of falling on uneven pavement in the street just prior to his arrival at the hospital. Noting that the initial emergency room records indicate that claimant was the source of the history information provided, we are unpersuaded by claimants contention that the information in these records, which were never objected to by claimant, were improperly relied upon by the Board. The WCLJ repeatedly noted the inconsistencies in the initial emergency room records and subsequent medical records regarding the nature of the accident causing the injuries and even suggested that claimant produce corrected records. However, claimant made no attempt to clarify or correct any discrepancies in the evidence.
Under the circumstances, “it is clear that resolution of the issue at hand turns upon a credibility determination made by the Board, to which we accord considerable deference” (Matter of Ciullo v. Gordon L. Seaman Inc., 144 A.D.3d at 1378, 41 N.Y.S.3d 607; see Matter of Elias–Gomez v. Balsam View Dairy Farm, 162 A.D.3d 1356, 1358, 78 N.Y.S.3d 515 [2018]). As we find no basis to disturb the Boards credibility determination, substantial evidence supports the Boards decision to disallow the claim. As such, the Boards decision will not be disturbed. To the extent not specifically addressed, claimants remaining contentions are without merit.
ORDERED that the decision is affirmed, without costs.
FOOTNOTES
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. We note that claimants notice of appeal refers to an incorrect date of filing of the Boards decision. As there has been no claim of prejudice, we will disregard the error and address the merits of claimants appeal (see CPLR 5520[c]).
Garry, P.J.
Egan Jr., Pritzker, Reynolds Fitzgerald and Colangelo, JJ., concur.