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IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

JERRY KING, 

Claimant Below, Petitioner 

vs.) No. 22-ICA-328 (JCN: 2022005091) 

GESTAMP NORTH AMERICA, INC., 

Employer Below, Respondent 

MEMORANDUM DECISION 

Petitioner Jerry King appeals the November 29, 2022, order of the Workers’ 

Compensation Board of Review (“Board”). Respondent Gestamp North America, Inc. 

(“Gestamp”) filed a timely response.1 Mr. King did not file a reply. The issue on appeal is 

whether the Board erred in affirming the claim administrator’s order denying Mr. King’s 

application to reopen the claim for temporary total disability (“TTD”) benefits beginning 

March 1, 2022. 

This Court has jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to West Virginia Code § 51-

11-4 (2022). After considering the parties’ arguments, the record on appeal, and the 

applicable law, this Court finds that there is error in the Board’s decision but no substantial 

question of law. This case satisfies the “limited circumstances” requirement of Rule 21(d) 

of the Rules of Appellate Procedure for reversal in a memorandum decision. For the 

reasons set forth below, the Board’s decision is reversed, and this case is remanded for 

further proceedings consistent with this decision. 

Mr. King suffered a compensable workplace injury on September 7, 2021, while 

employed by Gestamp. Mr. King reported that he was lifting a robotic arm with assistance 

from a coworker when he felt pain in his shoulder and realized that he could not raise his 

arm. Mr. King was seen at Thomas Memorial Hospital the day of the injury and reported 

pain in his shoulder which increased with any movement. 

On September 15, 2021, Mr. King was seen by Phillip Surface, D.O., an orthopedic 

surgeon. Dr. Surface opined that Mr. King likely suffered a right shoulder rotator cuff tear 

and ordered an MRI for further evaluation of the right shoulder. An MRI of Mr. King’s 

right shoulder was performed on October 4, 2021, and revealed a full-thickness tear of the 

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 Mr. King is represented by Thomas D. Hall, Esq. Gestamp is represented by Jeffrey 

M. Carder, Esq. 

FILED 

May 22, 2023 

EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK 

INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS 

OF WEST VIRGINIA 
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supraspinatus tendon; subdeltoid and subacromial bursal distention; advanced AC joint 

arthropathy; a full-thickness tear of the long head of the biceps tendon; and a large complex 

subcutaneous mass posterior to the shoulder. 

Mr. King returned to Dr. Surface on October 11, 2021, and was diagnosed with right 

rotator cuff tear, AC joint arthritis, primary osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, and superior 

glenoid labrum lesion of the right shoulder. Dr. Surface recommended right shoulder 

surgery pending approval from Mr. King’s cardiologist. Mr. King was released to return to 

work on modified duty while awaiting clearance for surgery from his cardiologist 

beginning November 1, 2021. 

The claim administrator issued an order closing this claim for TTD benefits on 

November 15, 2021, after Mr. King was released to return to work on modified duty. Mr. 

King protested this order. 

On February 28, 2022, Mr. King was laid off from his position at Gestamp because 

Gestamp was unable to accommodate his modified duty restrictions. Mr. King submitted 

an application to reopen his claim for TTD benefits dated March 15, 2022, noting that he 

was laid off on February 28, 2022. On March 24, 2022, Mr. King underwent surgery to 

repair his right shoulder rotator cuff tear. The claim administrator issued an order dated 

March 31, 2022, which granted Mr. King TTD benefits from March 11, 2022, through his 

next follow up appointment. 

On November 29, 2022, the Board issued an order affirming the claim 

administrator’s order denying a reopening of the claim for TTD benefits. The Board found 

that Mr. King was not entitled to TTD benefits from March 1, 2022, to March 10, 2022, 

because the surgery to treat his compensable injury was delayed due to a noncompensable 

medical condition. Mr. King now appeals the Board’s order.2

Our standard of review is set forth in West Virginia Code § 23-5-12a(b) (2022), in 

part, as follows: 

The Intermediate Court of Appeals may affirm the order or decision of the 

Workers’ Compensation Board of Review or remand the case for further 

proceedings. It shall reverse, vacate, or modify the order or decision of the 

Workers’ Compensation Board of Review, if the substantial rights of the 

petitioner or petitioners have been prejudiced because the Board of Review’s 

findings are: 

(1) In violation of statutory provisions; 

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 The Board also affirmed the claim administrator’s order dated November 15, 2021, 

that closed the claim for TTD benefits. However, Mr. King does not appeal this ruling by 

the Board. 
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(2) In excess of the statutory authority or jurisdiction of the Board of Review; 

(3) Made upon unlawful procedures; 

(4) Affected by other error of law; 

(5) Clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence 

on the whole record; or 

(6) Arbitrary or capricious or characterized by abuse of discretion or clearly 

unwarranted exercise of discretion. 

Duff v. Kanawha Cnty. Comm’n, 247 W. Va. 550, __, 882 S.E.2d 916, 921 (Ct. App. 2022). 

On appeal, Mr. King argues that his TTD benefits should have been reopened on 

March 1, 2022, after he was laid off because Gestamp could no longer accommodate his 

modified duty restrictions. Mr. King contends that not granting his TTD benefits between 

March 1, 2022, and March 10, 2022, would be contrary to the spirit of the Workers’ 

Compensation Act. We agree. 

The Board found that Mr. King failed to establish by a preponderance of evidence 

that he is entitled to TTD benefits from March 1, 2022, through March 10, 2022, because 

the medical evidence did not justify the benefits. 

After review, we conclude that the Board was clearly wrong in finding that Mr. King 

did not establish that he was entitled to TTD benefits beginning March 1, 2022. We note 

that Gestamp alleges Mr. King was granted TTD benefits from March 11, 2022, when 

Gestamp alleges that he was cleared for surgery. However, Gestamp did not provide any 

evidence proving that Mr. King was cleared for surgery on March 11, 2022. Further, 

Gestamp does not dispute that it laid-off Mr. King from work on February 28, 2022. We 

find that there is no evidence that Mr. King’s medical condition, clearance for surgery, or 

work restrictions changed between March 1, 2022, and March 11, 2022, such that he would 

have been ineligible for TTD benefits. Thus, if the claim administrator found that Mr. King 

was entitled to TTD benefits on March 11, 2022, then it follows that he is also entitled to 

benefits from March 1, 2022, through March 10, 2022. 

Accordingly, we reverse the Board’s November 29, 2022, order and remand this 

matter to the Board for the issuance of an order consistent with this Court’s decision. 

Reversed and Remanded. 

ISSUED: May 22, 2023 

CONCURRED IN BY: 

Chief Judge Daniel W. Greear 

Judge Thomas E. Scarr 
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Judge Charles O. Lorensen