Opinion ID: 6342625
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: We divide the background section into three parts. First, we recount Spratt’s back injury and his initial medical treatment. We then set forth the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court’s proceedings leading to the original award of medical rehabilitation services for his lumbar back. Finally, we turn to the crux of the instant appeal—Spratt’s request that the compensation court modify the original award to treat his thoracic back. 1. Injury and Initial Treatment In November 2016, Spratt injured his back while working as a commercial truckdriver for Crete Carrier Corporation (Crete). Spratt reported severe pain and muscle spasms in his thoracic and lumbar back. Spratt was initially diagnosed with a thoracic strain, prescribed medication, and referred to physical therapy. Spratt could not continue to work as a commercial truckdriver, because he could not drive for an extended period of time. - 265 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 311 Nebraska Reports SPRATT v. CRETE CARRIER CORP. Cite as 311 Neb. 262 Spratt’s back pain and spasms persisted for months after the injury, so he sought treatment from Dr. Michael Gilmore in May 2017. Gilmore diagnosed Spratt with spondylosis without myelopathy or radiculopathy of the lumbosacral region and pain in the thoracic spine. Gilmore later modified Spratt’s diagnosis to be lumbar facet capsulitis. Crete requested that Spratt receive a second opinion by Dr. D. Kevin Donahoe. Upon examination, Donahoe diagnosed Spratt with a thoracic and lumbar strain, which “should be [sic] resolved since date of injury.” 2. Original Award Spratt filed a petition in April 2018 with the compensation court, seeking treatment for his injuries. The compensation court held a trial on Spratt’s petition in May 2019. At the trial, Spratt testified and the parties offered Spratt’s medical records into evidence. Spratt detailed his medical treatment regarding his injury. Spratt explained that he was still suffering from back pain and spasms—years after his injury. Finally, Spratt confirmed that his symptoms still prevented him from being able to work. From Spratt’s medical records, the parties offered medical reports drafted by Gilmore and Donahoe. Both doctors diagnosed Spratt with a thoracic strain that had since resolved without any evidence of permanency. Donahoe offered no further discussion regarding Spratt’s ongoing pain. However, Gilmore opined that Spratt’s pain continued because of lumbar facet capsulitis. In June 2019, the compensation court awarded temporary benefits to Spratt in order for him to reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). Adopting portions of Gilmore’s and Donahoe’s reports, the compensation court found that Spratt suffered a temporary thoracic strain and that he exacerbated his preexisting lumbar facets. However, the compensation court concluded that Spratt’s thoracic strain had resolved and that therefore, the only medical rehabilitation services that Spratt - 266 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 311 Nebraska Reports SPRATT v. CRETE CARRIER CORP. Cite as 311 Neb. 262 needed to reach MMI would be for treatment of his lumbar back injury. Spratt did not appeal from the original award. 3. Request for Modification In accordance with the original award, Gilmore treated Spratt’s lumbar back. But 6 weeks after the issuance of the original award, Gilmore sought permission to treat Spratt’s thoracic back pain and herniated thoracic disk. Crete refused to pay for the treatment, because it was not pursuant to the original award. In November 2020, Gilmore concluded that Spratt had reached MMI for his lumbar back injury, but noted that Spratt still suffered from back pain. Gilmore opined that Spratt suffered a thoracic back injury during the original accident and that Spratt’s lumbar back pain was being “generat[ed]” from his thoracic back. Citing Gilmore’s conclusion that Spratt had reached MMI, Crete moved for modification to close the open award for temporary benefits and ongoing medical benefits. Spratt responded by requesting the compensation court modify the original award so that he may receive thoracic back treatment. Although Spratt “admit[ted]” at oral arguments that he did not bring a workers’ compensation statute authorizing his request for modification to the compensation court’s attention, he argued that he did not do so, because he did not anticipate that the court would believe it lacked authority. On appeal, Crete does not dispute that § 48-162.01(7), as a source of statutory authority, is properly before us. In pertinent part, that statute states: The compensation court or judge thereof may also modify a previous finding, order, award, or judgment relating to physical, medical, or vocational rehabilitation services as necessary in order to accomplish the goal of restoring the injured employee to gainful and suitable employment, or as otherwise required in the interest of justice. 1 1 § 48-162.01(7). - 267 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 311 Nebraska Reports SPRATT v. CRETE CARRIER CORP. Cite as 311 Neb. 262 At the modification hearing below, the parties first stipulated that Spratt had reached MMI in his lumbar back. Spratt then asserted that Gilmore made a mistake in the lumbar back diagnosis that he provided the compensation court. Spratt presented a letter from Gilmore dated February 2021 opining that Spratt suffered a thoracic back injury and needed corresponding treatment. Spratt also testified that he was still suffering from back pain and could not work. The compensation court declined Spratt’s request for modification and found that he had reached MMI “for his low [sic] back injury with no resulting permanent disability nor need for further medical treatment.” However, the court did not reach the merits of Spratt’s request for modification. Citing Dougherty v. Swift-Eckrich, 2 the compensation court concluded that § 48-162.01(7) did not provide it with the “power to modify, amend[,] or reopen” the original award. The court further determined that even if a statutory basis existed, Spratt was “foreclosed from re-litigating the issue concerning the nature and extent of his thoracic injury.” Spratt filed a timely appeal and petitioned this court to bypass the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Of the grounds for bypass specified by statute, 3 Spratt’s petition asserted only the existence of a “novel legal question.” 4 Crete’s response disputed that the appeal presented a novel legal question, but did not complain that § 48-162.01(7) was not raised below. On that basis, we granted bypass.