Opinion ID: 1864782
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Dr. Warren Opheim, M.D.

Text: Dr. Opheim's opinions are presented via affidavit attached to medical reports on Foltz. Dr. Opheim practices with Neurology Associates, P.C., in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As stated earlier, physicians in the Phoenix emergency room recommended that Foltz see a neurologist. Foltz was referred to Dr. Opheim by Cigna, Warner's insurance carrier. Dr. Opheim saw Foltz on at least ten occasions from March 1990 through February 1991. Initially, the reports show that Foltz reported symptoms including headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, and blurred vision. Dr. Opheim diagnosed post traumatic syndrome secondary to the head injury, with headache, disequalibrium [sic] and irritability and visual blurring, and ordered various diagnostic tests including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the neck. As time went on, the symptoms improved, and on 5/4/90, Dr. Opheim released Foltz to work to try short hauling at first. Apparently, Warner would not allow Foltz back to work until he gets a totally clean bill of health as indicated in Dr. Opheim's notes of 6/7/90. Dr. Opheim did not feel he could give Foltz a total release. During that time, Dr. Opheim referred Foltz to an ophthalmologist, Dr. Michael Pekas, M.D.; additional referrals were to Dr. Bill Arbes, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist; and Dr. Jonathan Wirtschafter, M.D., a neuro-ophthalmologist. See subsequent sections. In his clinical notes of 2/1/91 (from what appears to be the last appointment Foltz had with Dr. Opheim) the doctor states: The patient continues with his difficulty with his vision. This is unchanged, and again, I feel that his present difficulties, even though they cannot be explained by ophthalmology without any evidence of psychiatric or psychological problems, I think we have to assume that they are secondary to the head injury and are not going to change. This [does], I think, eliminate having him from the employment as a truck driver, and I do not think, from what I can see, that this is going to change. (Emphasis added). Thus, Dr. Opheim never expressed an opinion that Foltz did not suffer a loss of peripheral vision; rather, his notes indicate that Foltz has a vision problem, and that the doctor could not explain the loss.