In this workers' compensation case, the employer-petitioner appeals a Decision and Order of the Compensation Review Board ("CRB") granting benefits for total temporary disability to an employee injured on the job. The case concerns an employee on "light duty" work restrictions who unsuccessfully claimed compensation after his employer went out of business, but who was awarded compensation-the issue on appeal here-after being fired by his next employer. For the reasons set forth below we affirm.
I. Factual Summary
This case concerns a 2015 injury suffered by the employee-intervenor, Michael Green, while he was working as a sprinkler fitter for the petitioner, Metropolitan Fire Protection Services ("Metro Fire").1 Before Green's employment at Metro Fire, *4he had suffered a workplace injury in Maryland on December 7, 2005, when he fell off a roof. After the 2005 injury, Green underwent three neck surgeries and was found to be capable of working only at a "medium physical demand level." Green's claimed compensation for this injury was resolved by the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission on December 12, 2013, after shepherding a $100,000 settlement.
Over a year later, on March 6, 2015, more than nine years after his 2005 injury, Green was working for Metro Fire with light duty restrictions when he slipped and fell, injuring his back, neck, and elbow. After receiving treatment, Green was cleared for return to his "usual duties" at Metro Fire, which continued to accommodate his light duty restrictions. When Metro Fire closed upon the owner's retirement in early April 2015, Green began collecting unemployment benefits. After leaving Metro Fire he was still able to work with light restrictions, but he remained unemployed while searching for another union job. On May 18, 2015, Green began working for SS & C,2 again "within his work restrictions." On June 27, 2015, SS & C terminated Green's employment.3 He was out of work until October 19, 2015, when he was employed by National Fire Protection.
On March 4, 2015, two days before his injury at Metro Fire, Green had seen Dr. Carey-Walter Closson, a pain management specialist at Concentra Medical Center, who had addressed Green's chronic back pain following the 2005 Maryland accident. Dr. Closson diagnosed Green's low back condition4 and prescribed physical therapy and a surgical consult, among other medical options. After his March 6 injury, Green continued to work with light duty restrictions under the care of Concentra until August 6, 2015, when Dr. Benjamin Stein, an orthopedist with Concentra, recommended a Functional Capacity Evaluation, as well as an evaluation by either a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic specialist, because Green was experiencing "persistent left sided radiculopathy." Dr. Stein also prescribed light duty restrictions, precluding Green from "lifting over 20 pounds, pushing or pulling objects more than 30 pounds, [or] standing for more than one hour at a time."
On October 2, 2015, Green began seeing Dr. Joel Fechter, an orthopedic surgeon, complaining of pain in his neck, left arm, back, and legs. Dr. Fechter reviewed Concentra's records, noting Green's 2005 injury and his three subsequent surgeries. He also noted that Green's "residual complaints" from his 2005 accident "had worsened since his March 6, 2015 accident." Dr. Fechter then diagnosed Green as having "cervical and lumbosacral spine strain injuries secondary to his fall at work on March 6, 2015." Dr. Fechter "gave [Green] a light duty work release with no lifting over 10 pounds." He also recommended a neurosurgical consultation with a Dr. Ammerman.
*5Four days later on October 6, 2015, at Metro Fire's request for an independent medical evaluation (IME), Green was examined by an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Stuart Gordon, who examined Green and his "extensive medical records." In substantial disagreement with Dr. Fechter, Dr. Gordon concluded that Green had "suffered cervical and lumbar strains on March 6, 2015; [Green's] present complaints and medical treatment were unrelated to his work accident; and, [Green] could resume working within his pre-existing restrictions of bending, kneeling and a 30 pound lifting restriction." Dr. Gordon further opined that Green did not need "any further medical treatment related to his [Metro Fire] work injury and that any further treatment would be related to [Green's] pre-existing trauma and degenerative disease" dating back, apparently, to the 2005 injury.
Thereafter, in a letter of February 18, 2016, to Green's counsel, Dr. Fechter confirmed his diagnosis that Green suffered from "cervical and lumbosacral spine strain injuries." Although Dr. Fechter acknowledged that Green's cervical spine symptoms had "essentially resolved," he opined that Green's March 6, 2015, accident at Metro Fire had "caused the injuries and aggravated the pre-existing degenerative changes [from 2005] as well as the pre-existent condition in the neck." He continued Green on "light duty status with a ten pound lifting restriction."
II. Administrative Proceedings
In an application for formal hearing filed on December 30, 2015, Green claimed workers' compensation attributable to his March 6, 2015, injury. During the proceeding before the ALJ, Green claimed temporary total disability from April 10, 2015, to May 18, 2015 (the end of his employment by Metro Fire to the date of employment by SS & C), and from June 27, 2015, to October 19, 2015 (the end of Green's employment by SS & C to the date he began working for his next employer.5 Green also claimed compensation for out-of-pocket expenses, interest on accrued benefits, and authorization for a neurosurgical consultation with Dr. Ammerman.
After a formal hearing, the ALJ issued its Compensation Order on August 26, 2016, concluding that: (1) Green had met his burden to show that his disability was "medically causally related to [the] March 6, 2015 work accident"; (2) Green had failed to prove that "he was temporarily and totally disabled from April 10, 2015, through May 17, 2015," as he had been laid off upon Metro Fire's closing; thus, the period of unemployment was "economic in nature," not a result of his disability; (3) Green had proved that "he was temporarily and totally disabled from June 27, 2015 through October 19, 2015 as a result of his March 6, 2016 accident," and thus was entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits for that period; (4) Green was entitled to a neurological consultation with Dr. Ammerman, as recommended by Dr. Fechter; (5) he was further entitled to mileage reimbursement for related doctor and physical therapy appointments; and (6) Metro Fire was entitled to a "credit for unemployment benefits received by [Green] from June 27, 2015 through October 19, 2015."
Green did not cross-appeal from the denial of benefits for the period from April 10, 2015, through May 17, 2015. In a Decision and Order of December 27, 2016, the CRB affirmed the ALJ's Compensation Order.
*6III. Issues on Appeal
Metro Fire argues that the CRB erred in affirming:
1. The ALJ's exclusion of evidence regarding Green's December 2005 injury that resulted in a "documented permanent partial impairment" and subsequent "lump sum" settlement with the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission;
2. The ALJ's finding that Green's low back "condition [was] medically causally related to the subject accident" (his work-related incident of March 6, 2015) while working for Metro Fire;
3. The ALJ's authorization of medical treatment requiring Metro Fire and its insurer to "present a Utilization Review to challenge the reasonableness and necessity" of the recommended neurological examination; and
4. The ALJ's award of temporary total disability benefits to Green "for the period of June 27, 2015 through October 19, 2015," when Green should have been found out of work "because of economic factors" rather than disability.
IV. Standard of Review
This court's review is limited to the "decision of the CRB, not that of the ALJ."6 Although we review questions of law de novo , this court will overturn a CRB's final order only if it is found to be "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law."7 "We will not disturb the agency's decision if it flows rationally from the facts which are supported by substantial evidence in the record."8
V. Analysis
A. Maryland Workers' Compensation Claim Evidence
Metro Fire challenges the ALJ's decision to exclude from the record several exhibits its counsel proffered showing Green's compensation for his 2005 workplace injury: a settlement for $100,000 before the Maryland Compensation Commission in 2013. Counsel stresses the importance of determining whether Green's "current condition is related to the work accident in this case" or instead "to his prior injuries and prior conditions." Thus, counsel sought admission of Green's Maryland claim documents, two physicians' reports (without objection), the hearing transcript, the "functional capacity evaluation" showing the "prior restrictions" on Green's work activity, and the settlement (including disability findings).
Green's counsel objected that the exhibits would be "prejudicial and not relevant," stressing that Maryland's functional capacity evaluation showed that the work restrictions imposed for the 2005 injury were "less restrictive"-merely a "medium physical demand level"-compared with the period "he's currently claiming disability for." In reply, counsel for Metro Fire observed that Green's counsel appeared to acknowledge that the Maryland evidence actually supported Green's position that since 2005 his "condition ha[d] worsened."
*7Counsel for Metro Fire then emphasized the importance of having "all the evidence to consider what his prior condition was," especially because the Maryland evidence "establish[ed] a permanent disability that Mr. Green had even prior to this accident."
After this colloquy, the ALJ sustained Green's objections to admission of some, but not all, of the exhibits pertaining to the Maryland claim. In ruling for Green, the ALJ excluded the Maryland settlement documents (including disability findings) as either "prejudicial" or not "particularly relevant." On the other hand, ruling for Metro Fire, the ALJ allowed in evidence the notice of Green's Maryland claim, the entire transcript of the Maryland hearing (found relevant for Green's testimony "concerning his complaints" at the time), and the proffered functional capacity evaluation of the 2005 injury.
The CRB perceived no basis for "disturb[ing] the ALJ's exclusion of the evidence pertaining to ... the settlement of [Green's] prior claim" in Maryland, mindful of the ALJ's obligation (as the CRB put it) not to exercise its "broad discretion" in an "arbitrary or capricious fashion."9 This court has observed that the administrative factfinder has discretion to exclude evidence, among other reasons, if it is "irrelevant" or its "probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice"10 -reasons expressed by the ALJ, and confirmed by the CRB, as to the discretion exercised over admission of Metro Fire's proffered Maryland exhibits.
We find no basis for upsetting the CRB's affirmance of the agency's discretionary call here. Metro Fire achieved not only admission of the Maryland claim and the entire hearing testimony from that proceeding, but also admission of the functional capacity evaluation. All that Metro Fire was precluded from introducing, it would appear, was: (1) medical analysis of the 2005 injury, much of which was reflected in the records reviewed by the doctors whose evidence was taken in this case; and (2) the financial aspects of the Maryland settlement, not obviously relevant here. In sum, we perceive no abuse of discretion in the CRB's affirmance of the ALJ's judgment that partial, not total, admissibility of the Maryland evidence was appropriate for this proceeding.
B. Causation Finding
Metro Fire next argues that the CRB erred in affirming the ALJ's finding that Green's condition was "medically causally related" to his accident on March 6, 2015. There is a statutory presumption that a workers' compensation claim "comes within the provisions of [the Workers' Compensation Act]."11 In order to benefit from this presumption, however, the complainant must show: (1) "a death or disability"; and (2) "a work-related event, activity, or requirement which has the potential of resulting in or contributing to the death or disability."12 Once the complainant has produced "some evidence of a disability *8and work-related event,"13 the employer must provide, to the contrary, "substantial evidence that the disability did not arise out of and in the course of the employment."14 When the employer has produced substantial evidence, "the statutory presumption drops out of the case entirely and the burden reverts to the injured worker" to show the required causal connection "by a preponderance of the evidence."15
Here, the ALJ found that Green had met his burden to show the required causal connection. In doing so the ALJ first found that Green had successfully invoked the statutory presumption by presenting "some evidence" of the required work-related event and potential contribution to the claimed disability.16 In fact, the ALJ noted that Metro Fire itself "conceded" that Green had "invoked the presumption," meaning Metro Fire conceded that Green had "produced sufficient evidence" to satisfy "the presumption of compensability with regard to his accident."17
The burden then shifted to Metro Fire, which rebutted Green's showing by referencing the IME physician, Dr. Gordon, who opined in his written report that Green was capable of performing his "pre-injury work with a 30 pound lifting restriction," not the "10-pound lifting restriction" imposed by Dr. Fechter. "Based on the unambiguous opinion of Dr. Gordon," the ALJ found that Metro Fire had "rebutted the statutory presumption" of compensability.18
The ALJ then weighed the evidence "without benefit of the presumption," leaving the burden on Green to show "by a preponderance of the evidence[ ] that his current low back condition [was] causally related to his March 6, 2015 work accident." In evaluating the parties' respective showings, the ALJ gave "more weight to the well documented and well substantiated records of Green's treating physician, Dr. Fechter," who had provided Green with continuing care, compared with the single examination and records review by Dr. Gordon. Quoting case law, the ALJ observed that "attending physicians are ordinarily preferred as witnesses rather than those doctors who have been retained to examine injured workers solely for purposes *9of litigation."19 In sum, the ALJ premised its ultimate finding of medical causality on the overall quality and weight of the evidence submitted by each party.
Citing our Lincoln Hockey decision,20 however, Metro Fire stresses that "opinions of the treating physician are not absolute," noting that the employer must have the opportunity to present evidence to suggest, among other things, that the treating physician "is unaware of the employee's medical history" or otherwise lacks "the factual basis" for its opinion."21 While that is true, we also said in Lincoln Hockey that a "hearing examiner may not reject the testimony of a treating physician without explicitly addressing that testimony and explaining why it is being rejected."22
In any event, Metro Fire had a full opportunity to argue the merits of Dr. Gordon's opinion over that of Dr. Fechter. In the ALJ's discretionary judgment, however, Metro Fire's presentation did not undermine the primacy of Dr. Fechter's opinion that Green "was not capable of returning to his pre-injury, albeit, light duty, job after his accident of March 6, 2015, during the periods for which benefits are claimed." The ALJ found more credible than Dr. Gordon's opinion (1) Green's own testimony that he had not been "experiencing constant pain" before the 2015 accident, coupled with (2) Dr. Fechter's opinion that Green's 2015 injury had worsened his preexisting condition-an opinion informed by Dr. Closson's report of March 4, 2015 (two days before the accident at issue here) and by Green's own candor in "honestly" telling Dr. Fechter about his chronic back pain before the March 6 accident. Altogether the ALJ emphasized Dr. Fechter's consistent opinion that Green "had a 10 pound lifting restriction"; the doctor's acknowledgment of Green's earlier 2005 accident "and three previous neck surgeries"; and his persuasive opinion that Green's "March 6, 2015 accident resulted in a worsening of [Green's] low back condition." We do not gainsay the ALJ's deference to Dr. Fechter. The "proper judge of credibility is the hearing examiner[,] and an appellate court cannot substitute its judgment as to credibility for that of the hearing examiner."23
In sum, the ALJ made the following clear finding, confirmed by the CRB, on this contested material issue of fact:24 Based on "substantial evidence" of record, Green satisfied "his burden of producing by a preponderance of the evidence that his current low back problems [were] causally related to the March 6, 2015 work injury." After reviewing the testimonies of both Dr. Gordon and Dr. Fechter, we perceive no basis for overturning the CRB's ruling.25
*10C. Utilization Review
In connection with its finding that Green's disability was "medically causally related to the March 6, 2015 work injury," the ALJ found that Green was entitled to a "neurological consultation with Dr. Ammerman, as recommended by his treating physician, Dr. Fechter." Metro Fire appears to believe that, in evaluating medical causation, the ALJ faulted the employer for failing to proffer a "utilization review"26 that would have helped determine the relevance of a neurological consultation and thus, ultimately, causation. Metro Fire, however, did not present that argument to the CRB, and "[i]n the absence of exceptional circumstances, we will not entertain a claim that was not raised before the agency."27 No exceptional circumstance exists here.
Utilization reviews are commonly conducted when "there is a dispute about the necessity of proposed medical treatment."28 In this case, however, no medical professional disputed the necessity of a neurosurgical consultation; all three physicians-Drs. Stein, Fechter, and Gordon-agreed that a neurological consultation was "recommended" (or in Dr. Gordon's case, "reasonable"). Thus, it appears that a utilization review to evaluate the need for such consultation would likely have been superfluous.
In any event, Metro Fire is wrong when arguing in its brief that the ALJ required the "Employer and Insurer ... to present a Utilization Review to contest the medical causal relationship of the neurosurgical consultation." The ALJ's comment that Metro Fire had not proffered a utilization review meant only that the employer had elected not to exercise that option, not that the employer had an obligation to do so to contest causation.29 And given the testimony of the IME physician, Dr. Gordon, as well as the treating physicians, Drs. Stein and Fechter, it appears that Metro Fire's failure to order a utilization review may have been a judicious decision not to incur the expense.
*11D. Award of Temporary Total Disability Benefits
When, as in this case, a complainant establishes a causal connection between a workplace accident and the complainant's injury, the complainant next must establish the nature and extent of the disability.30 According to our Logan decision, in order to prove temporary total disability, the claimant must show (1) "an inability to return to his [or her] usual employment."31 Once the claimant has done so, (2) "the burden shifts to the employer to establish suitable alternate employment opportunities available to claimant considering his age, education and work experience"32 -meaning "available in the community."33 Finally, (3) "[i]f the employer meets that evidentiary burden, the claimant may refute the employer's presentation ... either by challenging the legitimacy of the employer's evidence of available employment or by demonstrating diligence, but a lack of success, in obtaining other employment."34
The CRB concluded that Green had not satisfied Logan's first step, and thus he was not entitled to workers' compensation for the period between April 10, 2015 (when Metro Fire closed down), and May 17, 2015 (when SS & C hired Green). More specifically, said the CRB, Green had "not established entitlement" to temporary total disability benefits because Metro Fire, until it closed, had "continued to accommodate all of his restrictions," enabling him, after his injury, "to perform his usual duties" (in Logan's words, "his usual employment").35 Green's loss of employment, therefore, was strictly "economic in nature,"36 not at all due to his medical condition. Green does not contest this ruling.
This CRB denial of benefits after Green left, Metro Fire serves as background for its award of benefits for the period from his termination of employment by SS & C to the time he found work at National Fire (June 27 to October 19, *122015). Metro Fire contests Green's eligibility during this period because the record, it says, conclusively demonstrates (as the CRB found for the earlier period) that Green was let go not for disability but for "economic reasons,"37 this time for taking an unauthorized vacation.
The ALJ concluded, to the contrary-by selecting from ostensibly conflicting testimony-that Green had been unable "to return to his usual employment"38 because of his claimed disability. Green had testified at the hearing before the ALJ that his employment ended "because of [his] having to do the physical therapy and the doctor's appointment[;] they felt I was missing too much time on the job, and they needed me there." Almost immediately thereafter, however, when asked when he "got released" by SS & C, Green replied that "it was the 27th[;] ... he came to me, because I was getting ready to go on my vacation, and said, 'Well, you know, if you have to take this week off, I might have to let you go.' " The ALJ premised his finding of disability on Green's first reason, equating his medical appointments with sufficient evidence of continuing temporary total disability "related to the March 6, 2015 accident." The CRB deferred to that finding,39 albeit dubitante , stating that "one or more of this panel's [three] member[s] may have found otherwise" (presumably based on the second, "vacation" reason Green offered for losing his job).
In any event, we have a CRB-confirmed finding of the ALJ that Green lost his job at SS & C because of this "disability," and we can see no basis for setting that finding aside.40 Moreover, given a sustainable finding that Green satisfied Logan's first step, we note that neither the ALJ nor the CRB made a finding as to whether Metro Fire had addressed Logan step two, namely whether Metro Fire had satisfied the employer's burden to show that there were "suitable alternate employment opportunities available to [Green]" when he left SS & C that would have vitiated the compensation claim.41
*13The CRB simply affirmed the ALJ's decision that Green's "wage loss," in contrast with the first claim period, "was due to Claimant's disability" without reaching Logan's burden-shifting opportunity ignored by Metro Fire.
The agency's failure to address the possibility of alternate employment, however, must be assigned to the employer, for in opposing benefits for the second claim period, Metro Fire limited its contention before the CRB to insisting-contrary to the ALJ's finding-that SS & C had terminated Green's employment for economic reasons, not disability. At the hearing, Metro Fire did not proffer the existence of alternate employment opportunities to rebut Green's claim in the event that the ALJ would interpret Green's testimony, as it did, to reflect termination based on disability.
Logan's shifting burdens were evident to the parties and both tribunals from Green's cross-appeal to the CRB (not renewed on appeal to this court). The ALJ commented, as to the first claim period, that Metro Fire "did not present any evidence under Logan ... establishing the availability of other jobs which Mr. Green could perform." Nor did Metro Fire present such evidence with respect to the second claim period. We are, therefore, left with the finding that SS & C terminated Green's employment because of his disability, not economic reasons. As a result, we are not in a position to overrule the CRB's compensation award for June 27, 2015, through October 19, 2015.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the CRB's Decision and Order.
So ordered.