Declining to award workers’ compensation benefits, the Appellate Division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation “State Board” found that Perry W. Connell did not suffer a compensable right knee injury following an accident on his four-wheeler during a time when he was not performing work duties. The superior court affirmed in part and reversed in part the State Board’s decision, and the parties filed cross-applications for discretionary appeal from the superior court’s order, which we granted. Because there was some evidence to support the State Board’s decision, we reverse the superior court to the extent that it held that Connell was entitled to workers’ compensation benefits but affirm in all other respects. Significantly, when reviewing a workers’ compensation award, we construe the evidence in the light most favorable to the party prevailing before the State Board and must determine whether any competent evidence supports its decision. See Ray Bell Constr. Co. v. King , 281 Ga. 853, 854 642 SE2d 841 2007; KeyStone Automotive v. Hall , 292 Ga. App. 645, 647 1 665 SE2d 392 2008. As a factfinder, the State Board is authorized to assess witness credibility, weigh conflicting evidence, and draw different factual conclusions from those reached by the administrative law judge “ALJ” in the Trial Division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation who initially heard the dispute. See Bankhead Enterprises v. Beavers , 267 Ga. 506, 507 480 SE2d 840 1997; Medders v. Smith , 245 Ga. App. 323, 325-326 1 537 SE2d 153 2000. So long as there is some evidence to support the State Board’s decision, “findings of fact by the State Board are conclusive and binding on reviewing courts, and judges lack authority to set aside an award based on disagreement with the Board’s conclusions.” DeKalb County Bd. of Ed. v. Singleton , 294 Ga. App. 96 668 SE2d 767 2008. See Ray Bell Constr. Co. , 281 Ga. at 854.
Viewed in this manner, the record reflects that Connell is an investigator with the Special Operations Division of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. His job duties are physically demanding, requiring him, among other things, to run, climb, and apprehend suspects while executing high risk warrants in narcotics cases. Connell trains with his division every other week, completing “about an hour of physical training in full gear,” as well as other exercises. Additionally, he must pass a physical standards tests approximately every three months, performing tasks such as running one mile in full gear in under thirteen minutes, sprinting fifty yards with a sixty-pound door ram, low crawling in full gear for fifty yards in less than one minute, and dragging a man for fifty yards.
