of a plating system, and placement of a halo-fixation device. Another fusion was performed on May 8, 2001. Thereafter, Lohman participated in physical therapy and, in September 2001, he was released by Dr. Johnson with a permanent-physical-impairment rating of fifteen percent.
After being released from Dr. Johnson's care, Lohman continued to experience significant pain and discomfort. In June of 2002, Lohman was seen by Dr. Bradley Short who began prescribing narcotic medication. Lohman reported increased functioning and lessening of his pain with the medication and requested additional medication, which Dr. Short prescribed. Dr. Short's reports and Lohman's testimony confirmed that Lohman was having difficulty controlling his use of the medication. Lohman presented to the emergency room in May 2003, with opiate withdrawal as a result of misuse of painmedication. At that time, Dr. Short discontinued his treatment of Lohman.
In June 2003, Lohman came under the treatment of Dr. George Howell, who also prescribed narcotic pain medication for Lohman and, once again, Lohman became addicted to the medication. While being treated by Dr. Howell, Lohman was also being treated by Dr. Brackman who reported that Lohman suffered from depression and anxiety and that these conditions were not being treated. As such, he prescribed *807 medication for Lohman's depression.
At SSI's request, Lohman was seen by Dr. Reza Shahim. Dr. Shahim confirmed that Lohman was entitled to an impairment rating of fifteen percent and that he could return to work with a lifting restriction of forty pounds. Lohman was also seen by Dr. Patricia Walz for a psychological evaluation