A. If an injured employee refuses employment procured for him suitable to his capacity, he shall only be entitled to the benefits provided for in §§ 65.2-503 and 65.2-603, excluding vocational rehabilitation services provided for in subdivision A 3 of § 65.2-603, during the continuance of such refusal, unless in the opinion of the Commission such refusal was justified.
B. If an injured employee cures his unjustified refusal by accepting employment suitable to his capacity at a wage less than that originally offered, the employer shall pay or cause to be paid to the injured employee during his partial incapacity pursuant to § 65.2-502, a weekly compensation equal to 66 2/3 percent of the difference between his average weekly wages before his injury and the average weekly wage the employee would have earned by accepting the original proffered light duty employment.
C. A cure of unjustified refusal pursuant to subsection A may not be established if the unjustified refusal lasts more than six months from the last day for which compensation was paid before suspension pursuant to this section; however, the six-month period may be extended by the number of days a claimant is totally disabled if the disability commenced during such six-month period. When an injured employee is precluded from accepting employment as a result of pregnancy, the six-month period for curing the refusal may be tolled during such period as a physician certifies medical disability.
Code 1950, § 65-60; 1968, c. 660, § 65.1-63; 1991, c. 355; 1995, c. 319; 1996, c. 252.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 65.2 - Workers' Compensation
Chapter 5 - Compensation and Payment Thereof
§ 65.2-501. Incapacity after permanent loss
§ 65.2-506. Compensation after second injury in same employment
§ 65.2-507. Same employment; when both injuries permanent
§ 65.2-509. Commencement of compensation
§ 65.2-510. Refusal of employment; compensation for partial incapacity
§ 65.2-510.1. Employee imprisonment; suspension of benefits
§ 65.2-511. Compensation to employee's distributees upon his death from any other cause
§ 65.2-512. Compensation to dependents of an employee killed; burial expenses
§ 65.2-514. Special provisions for coal worker's pneumoconiosis claims for total disability or death
§ 65.2-515. Persons conclusively presumed to be wholly dependent
§ 65.2-516. Other cases of dependency
§ 65.2-517. Termination of dependency
§ 65.2-518. Limitation upon total compensation
§ 65.2-519. When limitations inapplicable to injuries arising out of pneumoconiosis
§ 65.2-520. Voluntary payment by employer
§ 65.2-522. Lump sum payments, generally
§ 65.2-523. Lump sum payments to trustees
§ 65.2-524. Failure to pay compensation within two weeks after it becomes due
§ 65.2-525. Who may receive payment and receipt therefor
§ 65.2-526. Payment to junior dependents in good faith
§ 65.2-527. When employee's rights exercised by guardian or trustee
§ 65.2-528. Time limitations on persons under disability
§ 65.2-530. Preferences and priorities
§ 65.2-531. Assignments of compensation; exemption from creditors' claims