(a)

(1) This subsection (a) shall apply to injuries that occur on or after July 1, 2014.

(2) For injuries that occur during the time period set out in subdivision (a)(1), in extraordinary cases where the employee is eligible for increased benefits under § 50-6-207(3)(B), the employee may receive disability benefits of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the employee's pre-injury average weekly wage or salary for a period not to exceed the two hundred seventy-five (275) weeks inclusive of the benefits provided to the employee under § 50-6-207(3)(A). Benefits may be awarded pursuant to this subsection (a), in lieu of the increased benefits for which the employee is eligible under § 50-6-207(3)(B), if the presiding workers' compensation judge first determines based on clear and convincing evidence that limiting the employee's recovery to the benefits provided by § 50-6-207(3)(B) would be inequitable in light of the totality of the circumstances and the presiding workers' compensation judge makes specific, documented findings that as of the date of the award or settlement the three (3) following facts concerning the employee are true:

(A) The employee has been assigned an impairment rating of at least ten percent (10%) to the body as whole, that has been determined according to the AMA guides as defined by § 50-6-102, by the authorized treating physician;

(B) The authorized treating physician has certified on a form provided by the bureau that due to the permanent restrictions on activity the employee has suffered as a result of the injury the employee no longer has the ability to perform the employee's pre-injury occupation. The authorized treating physician's certification pursuant to this subdivision (a)(2)(B) shall have a presumption of correctness that may be overcome by the presentation of contrary clear and convincing evidence; and

(C) The employee is not earning an average weekly wage or salary that is greater than or equal to seventy percent (70%) of the employee's pre-injury average weekly wage or salary.

(b) For those injuries that occur on or after July 1, 2004 but prior to July 1, 2014, and notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary and in appropriate cases where the employee is eligible to receive the maximum permanent partial disability award under § 50-6-241(d)(1)(B) or (d)(2), the employee may receive disability benefits not to exceed the appropriate maximum number of weeks as set forth in § 50-6-207 for the type of injury sustained by the employee. In those cases, the court or workers' compensation specialist shall make specific documented findings, supported by clear and convincing evidence, that as of the date of the award or settlement, at least three (3) of the following facts concerning the employee are true:

(1) The employee lacks a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma or the employee cannot read or write on a grade eight (8) level;

(2) The employee is fifty-five (55) years of age or older;

(3) The employee has no reasonably transferable job skills from prior vocational background and training; and

(4) The employee has no reasonable employment opportunities available locally considering the employee's permanent medical condition.

(c) Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to injuries sustained on or after July 1, 2009, by an employee who is not eligible or authorized to work in the United States under federal immigration laws.