Opinion ID: 1059753
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: BASS v. CITY OF RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT

Text: In October 1994, Claude A. Bass, Jr., suffered a temporary loss of vision in his left eye and was diagnosed with atherosclerotic blockages of his left carotid and right iliac arteries. He underwent surgery to correct these conditions and was unable to work for about one month after the operation. At the time, Bass was a police captain in the City of Richmond Police Department (the employer), where he had worked since 1964. He had been diagnosed with hypertension in the early 1970's and had taken medication for that condition since the mid-1980's. In April 1996, Bass filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits under Code § 65.2-402(B), seeking temporary total disability benefits for his hypertension and vascular disease. At a hearing before a deputy commissioner, Bass presented evidence from Dr. Nicolas P. Tulou, his treating physician, who first stated that Bass' employment in large measure contributed to his hypertension and vascular disease, but later testified that job stress was only a plausible factor in the development of his condition. Dr. Tulou also stated that several non-work-related risk factors were present in Bass' case, including a family history of heart disease, a lengthy history of cigarette smoking, high blood cholesterol levels, and excess weight. Dr. Ronald K. Davis, a vascular surgeon who treated Bass, stated that the probable causes of Bass' condition were genetic and environmental, but that he could not rule out occupational stress as a contributing factor. Dr. Michael L. Hess, a cardiologist who reviewed Bass' medical records at the request of the employer, stated that it was extremely difficult to incriminate job stress as the cause of Bass' condition. The deputy commissioner awarded Bass compensation benefits, and the Commission affirmed the award, noting that Bass presented medical evidence that occupational stress played some part in the development of his condition, and that there was no medical evidence to the contrary. The Commission agreed with the deputy commissioner's conclusion that, on a somewhat conflicting record, the claimant's evidence was sufficient to bring him within the purview of the presumption. In a published opinion, the Court of Appeals reversed the Commission's award of benefits and dismissed Bass' claim. City of Richmond Police Dept. v. Bass, 26 Va.App. 121, 493 S.E.2d 661 (1997). The Court noted that two physicians attributed Bass' condition to a genetic cause. Id. at 134, 493 S.E.2d at 667. The Court stated that, [u]nder the standard set forth in [ Augusta County Sheriff's Dept. v. Overbey, 254 Va. 522, 492 S.E.2d 631 (1997)], this evidence of a genetic cause sufficiently rebutted the statutory presumption that claimant's heart disease is work-related. Bass, 26 Va.App. at 134, 493 S.E.2d at 667. The Court held that Bass failed to prove by clear and convincing evidence, under Code § 65.2-401, that his disease arose out of and in the course of his employment. Id. at 135, 493 S.E.2d at 667.