Can a Statement of Worker about His or Her Own Condition be considered evidence?

Policy item #97.32 (Statement of Worker about His or Her Own Condition) provides that a worker’s statement about his or her own condition is evidence insofar as it relates to matters which are within the worker’s knowledge. It is clear a worker may speak of his own symptom experience. However, the worker’s testimony was somewhat vague and inexact, though sincere. The standard for evaluating the credibility and reliability of evidence was established in the case of Faryna v. Chorny[2]: …the real test of the truth of the story of a witness … must be its harmony with the preponderance of the probabilities which a practical and informed person would readily recognize as reasonable in that place and in those conditions. The credibility of a witness will obviously have a bearing on the weight given to that person’s testimony. Panels must consider whether a witness’ evidence is internally consistent, logical, and consistent with prior statements of that same witness.