Title: UPTAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY v. McClain
Citation: 526 S.W.2d 458
Docket Number: N/A
State: Tennessee
Issuer: Tennessee Supreme Court
Date: August 18, 1975

526 S.W.2d 458 (1975) UPTAIN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Appellant, v. Oscar McCLAIN, Jr., Appellee. Supreme Court of Tennessee. August 18, 1975. William B. Cain, Cain &amp; Moore, Columbia, for appellant. Jim T. Hamilton, Mt. Pleasant, for appellee. COOPER, Justice. This is an appeal by an employer from an adverse decree entered by the Chancery Court of Maury County in a workmen's compensation action. The record shows the appellee, Oscar McClain, Jr., was employed by appellant, Uptain Construction Company, as a sand blaster helper. On March 1, 1973, Mr. McClain was called upon to lift a sandblasting machine and to set it upright and, in doing so, injured his back. On trial of the case on May 28, 1974, the chancellor found that as the result of the *459 on-the-job injury, the appellee was entitled to recover temporary total disability benefits from the date of injury to April 23, 1973, and "permanent partial disability benefits at the rate of 15% to the body as a whole." The appellant insists there is no evidence in the record to support the chancellor's award of permanent partial disability benefits. Appellant makes no issue of the award of temporary total disability benefits. Only two witnesses testified in this case, the appellee and his doctor, Dr. Tom K. Young. The substance of the appellee's testimony is that he has been completely free of pain since injuring his back and that he cannot perform labor without pain. Appellant further testified he has worked with reasonable consistency, though always with pain, since November, 1973, as a tile setter for Bolton Tile Company. Appellee's assessment of his physical condition is competent testimony and may not be disregarded. However, while his testimony is of probative value in establishing simple matters, such as existence of pain, its location, his ability to work, it will not support a finding of permanent disability. Washington County Board of Education et al. v. Hartley, 517 S.W.2d 749 (Tenn. 1974); Tom Still Transfer Company v. Way, 482 S.W.2d 775 (1972). In all but the most obvious cases, such as the loss of a limb or of an eye, the permanency of an injury must be established by expert medical testimony. Washington County Board of Education et al. v. Hartley, supra; Floyd v. Tennessee Dickel Company, 225 Tenn. 65, 463 S.W.2d 684 (1971). As heretofore noted the only witness other than appellee was Dr. Tom K. Young. According to Dr. Young, he treated Mr. McClain during the period of April 2, 1973, through April 30, 1973. Dr. Young also examined Mr. McClain on March 18, 1974, preparatory to testifying in this case. Dr. Young testified that on the initial examination of appellee on April 2, 1973, he concluded that appellee was suffering from "an acute lumbo-sacral strain," with some left sciatic radiation through the posterior part of the thigh. There was no demonstrable nerve damage. Dr. Young testified that he then prescribed a muscle relaxing drug and also medicine for pain; that he next saw appellee on April 23, 1973, and released appellee to return to work; that on April 30, 1973, appellee returned for further treatment, still complaining of low lumbar pain with left sciatica. A muscle relaxant was prescribed at that time. Dr. Young stated that he did not examine or treat Mr. McClain further until March 18, 1974. In connection with this last examination, Dr. Young testified as follows: For some reason not evident in the record, counsel for neither party asked Dr. Young if Mr. McClain had sustained any permanent disability as the result of the on-the-job injury of March 1, 1973. Absent the answer to this question, the award of permanent partial disability benefits cannot be sustained. Floyd v. Tennessee Dickel Distilling Company, 225 Tenn. 65, 463 S.W.2d 684 (1971); Moyers v. Oman Construction Company, 223 Tenn. 449, 446 S.W.2d 684 (1969). In like cases, in the interest of doing complete justice to the parties, this court has remanded the case for the taking of proof on the issue of permanency of disability and its companion issue, the extent of the permanent disability if any is found to exist. Floyd v. Tennessee Dickel Distilling Company, supra; Minton v. Leonard, 219 Tenn. 642, 412 S.W.2d 886 (1966). Accordingly, the decree of the chancellor awarding appellee a recovery of temporary total disability benefits is affirmed. The award of benefits for permanent partial disability is reversed and the cause is remanded for a trial upon the issues of permanence and extent of the disability, if any, of Oscar McClain, Jr., as the result of his on-the-job injury of March 1, 1973. All costs to date are adjudged against the appellee, Oscar McClain, Jr. FONES, C.J., and BROCK and HARBISON, JJ., concur. HENRY, J., not participating.