Court Opinion

ID: 4559286
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 21:00:14.839829+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:09:39.458964
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS
                              AT KINGSPORT

Archie Housewright                                     )    Docket No.: 2015-02-0129
             Employee,                                 )
v.                                                     )    State File Number: 52109/2014
City of Kingsport                                      )
             Employer.                                 )   Judge Brian K. Addington
                                                       )
                                                       )

             EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS

       This cause came before the undersigned on December 8, 2015, for an Expedited
Hearing. The present focus of this case concerns Mr. Housewright's right to medical
treatment after a work injury that resulted in an aggravation of his pre-existing, but
dormant, low back condition. The central legal issue is whether the employee sustained a
compensable aggravation of his pre-existing low back condition, thereby entitling him to
authorized medical treatment recommended by his treating physician, including surgery. 1
For the reasons set forth below, the Court grants the requested relief at this time.

                                            History of Claim

        Employee, Archie Housewright, is a sixty-year-old resident of Sullivan County,
Tennessee. (T.R. I at 1.) He testified that he has worked for the City of Kingsport for
fifteen years, primarily as an operator of an automated garbage truck. (T.R. 4 at 1.)

        On Friday, July 4, 2014, a large trash container fell out of the dumping mechanism
and became lodged in the truck's hopper. !d. Mr. Housewright climbed the ladder affixed
to the truck, lifted the thirty-three-pound trash container, and tossed the container over
the left side of the truck. !d. When he tossed the container, he felt a pop in his lower back,
resulting in immediate pain. !d. Mr. Housewright finished his shift and went home,
thinking his discomfort would improve over the weekend. Jd. He testified at the hearing,
and in his affidavit, that had no pain in his lower back before the work accident. !d.

1
 Additional information regarding the certified issues, technical record and exhibits admitted at the Expedited
Hearing is attached to this Order as an Appendix.
        By the following Monday, Mr. Housewright's low back pain worsened. Id. He
contacted his supervisors, Chris Bentley and Rodney Deel, who advised that he should
consult Katrina Hanog in Kingsport's Risk Management Department. Id. Mr.
Housewright selected MedWorks from the physician panel Ms. Hanog provided. (Ex. 1 at
14.)

        Mr. Housewright received conservative treatment at MedWorks for a lumbar
strain. (Ex. 2 at 16.) The treating nurse practitioner, Thomas Young, prescribed
medications, physical therapy, and placed him on work restrictions. (Ex. 2 at 21.) On
August 15,2014, Mr. Young ordered a lumbar MRI, in light of Mr. Housewright's lack
of improvement and reported radicular symptoms. (Ex. 2 at 34.) The MRI revealed disc
bulges at L4-L5 and L5-S1, and Mr. Young referred him to a "neurospine" specialist.
(Ex. 2 at 36.)

        Kingsport presented a panel of spine specialists to Mr. Housewright on September
5, 2014, from which he chose Dr. Galen Smith. (Ex. 2 at 6.) Dr. Smith was unavailable to
offer treatment, so Mr. Housewright selected Dr. Glenn Trent as his authorized specialist.
!d.

        Dr. Trent first examined Mr. Housewright on September 15, 2014. (Ex. 2 at 42.)
He also examined the MRI results, which he read as showing "spinal stenosis and
spondylolisthesis at L4-5 level(s) on both sides with a moderate degree of nerve
compression of the S1 nerve." Id. Dr. Trent opined that Mr. Housewright's stenosis at
L4-L5 was "aggravated by injury on job" and recommended epidural steroid injections
(ESis). (Ex. 2 at 44.) He restricted Mr. Housewright to sedentary work with a ten-pound
lifting restriction. (Ex. 2 at 45.)

        On October 1, 2014, Mr. Housewright came under the care of Dr. William Platt,
upon referral of Dr. Trent for evaluation and the provision ofESis. (Ex. 2 at 47.) Dr. Platt
agreed to provide the ESis after having an opportunity to independently examine the MRI
results. (Ex. 2 at 49.)

      Dr. Trent examined Mr. Housewright on October 2, 2014. (Ex. 2 at 51.) He noted
that Mr. Housewright had attempted to work by driving a truck, but the movement
aggravated his pain. I d. Dr. Trent took him off work. Id.

        After the ESis, Mr. Housewright returned to Dr. Platt on October 24, 2014. (Ex. 2
at 53.) Dr. Platt noted that the ESis improved Mr. Housewright's pain for two weeks, but
that "this past Friday, he chopped some tree roots and Saturday, he had re-exacerbation of
his pain." Id. Dr. Platt recommended repeat ESis at L5-Sl. (Ex. 2 at 54.)

       On November 21, 2014, Dr. Platt noted that Mr. Housewright experienced a
longer period of relief after the second ESI. (Exhibit 2 at 57.) He added that a third

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injection was advisable, "given that we are making some progress and the alternative is
major surgery." (Ex. 2 at 59.) However, by his return visit with Dr. Platt on December 17,
2014, Mr. Housewright's pain had increased, leading Dr. Platt to conclude, "I can't really
justify offering him a third epidural at this point. He has failed naproxen as well. I think it
is probably reasonable to go ahead and talk with Dr. Trent about what may have to be a
surgical remediation." (Ex. 2 at 61.)

       On January 7, 2015, Dr. Trent recommended an "L5-S1 fusion for spondylytic
defect on left pars and decompression at L4-L5 bilateral for the stenosis." (Ex. 2 at 64.)
Mr. Housewright was to consider the surgical option. He returned to Dr. Trent on April 6,
2015, and after discussing the details of the surgery, Mr. Housewright elected to proceed.
(Ex. 2 at 67.) Dr. Trent added, "We will get clearance from work comp, medical
clearance, and then proceed with surgery at that time ... " !d. He took Mr. Housewright
off work and noted on the Physician's Determination of Work Status Form that the
condition was "Work Related." (Ex. 2 at 68.)

       Kingsport became concerned about Dr. Platt's reference to Mr. Housewright "re-
exacerbating" his back pain after chopping tree roots. On April 7, 2015, Ms. Hanog
emailed Dr. Trent's office to advise of the statutory definition of an aggravation of a pre-
existing condition and inquiring as to what Dr. Trent meant when he stated that the work
accident "aggravated" Mr. Housewright's condition. (Ex. 1 at 60.)

       Dr. Trent corresponded with Kingsport on April 9, 2015, to clarify his opinion.
(Ex. 1 at 64.) He advised that he had no history of Mr. Housewright cutting trees, but was
only aware of the "fall (sic) on the job" from July 4, 2014. !d. He noted that Mr.
Housewright's condition "is more a functional decrease and a pain problem than a change
in any physical or mechanical situation in his back." !d. Dr. Trent added the following
opm10n:

       The only thing I can comment is that his activity level has been reduced and
       his pain pattern has gone up and the patient relates this to the time of his
       fall (sic) on the job. I do not have to show a percentage that it is 50% work
       related. The patient states that his pain pattern is more than that. He was
       quite able to do his job without a lot of discomfort or problem prior to the
       fall (sic).

       It is still my opinion that this fall [sic] aggravation by the patient's history
       has certainly led to the surgery. I do think it is the spondylolisthesis and the
       stenosis at this level that has been aggravated by the injury and it is based
       on the patient's history, and I have no reason to doubt that.

       Via correspondence dated June 10, 2015 , Dr. Trent corrected his erroneous
references to a "fall" being the mechanism of Mr. Housewright's injury. (Ex. 1 at 65.) He

                                               3
then described the work injury as the garbage container incident of July 4, 2014. ld. Dr.
Trent concluded as follows:

       I dictated a letter in April 20 15 basically stating that I felt like the on the
       job injury aggravated the spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, which were
       pre-existing situations, but that this patient was able to do his job without
       pain prior to this injury on the job; that it was my opinion that this
       aggravation has led to the treatment that he has obtained, and that has now
       become a surgical recommendation on our part for Mr. Housewright. I do
       think the spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis pre-existed the injury. I do
       think the injury as he has described it is certainly consistent with
       reproducing these symptoms, and I do think it has aggravated his back and
       produced his pain. I do think it is this on the job injury is [sic] directly
       related to his pain pattern at present.

I d.

      Mr. Housewright's attorney corresponded with Dr. Trent on October 14, 2015, and
asked for his opinion "regarding the predominate cause of Mr. Housewright's current
back condition." (Ex. 3 at 3.) Dr. Trent responded the next day as follows:

       [I]t is still my opinion that [Mr. Housewright's] on the job injury on the
       dump truck is an aggravation of a pre-existing situation . . . I think the
       spondylolisthesis and the stenosis pre-existed the injury. Most likely, by the
       patient's history, this was aggravated by his on the job injury. It has
       markedly reduced his activity down to light duty. I do not think that the tree
       root incident really amounts to anything. It is still my opinion that the on
       the job injury has aggravated this pre-existing cause.

(Ex. 3 at 1.)

        At the hearing, Mr. Housewright explained the tree root-chopping event. He
testified that he told his son and grandson how to chop the root. He only used an axe with
one hand to chop off small roots, "about as big around as your finger." His son and
grandson did the work, while he sat and watched them on the porch.

       Mr. Housewright returned to work with Kingsport and is not requesting temporary
disability benefits. He testified that he has earned his regular paycheck since the injury
and has used FMLA and sick leave for any time needed off work. He advised that he
hunts deer from a blind on the ground, but has only hunted nine times this year. He has
not taken his usual three-week hunting vacation. Mr. Housewright also testified that, per
his understanding, once he has surgery, he will be out of work six to eight months.

                                              4
       Kingsport filed a Petition for Benefit Determination on April 30, 2015, citing the
issue of whether Mr. Housewright sustained a compensable aggravation of his pre-
existing condition, given the available medical evidence. (T.R. 1 at 1.) The parties did
not resolve the disputed issues through mediation, and the Mediating Specialist filed a
Dispute Certification Notice on July 9, 2015 (T.R. 2.) Kingsport filed a Request for
Expedited Hearing pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239 (20 14).
(T.R. 3.)

        At the Expedited Hearing, Kingsport argued it appropriately put Dr. Trent's
request for surgery on hold in light of what Kingsport views as Dr. Trent's ambiguous
statements on causation. Kingsport also argued that Mr. Housewright has failed to carry
his statutory burden to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that his employment
contributed more than fifty percent in causing the need for medical treatment, considering
all causes. Kingsport asserted that Dr. Trent's statements to date are insufficient to carry
that burden.

       Mr. Housewright contended that the medical and factual proof shows that his pre-
existing condition was asymptomatic before the work accident, and became symptomatic
and disabling thereafter. He argued that the post-injury pain he experienced constitutes a
compensable aggravation of his pre-existing condition, especially in light of the fact that
he was able to work his normal job before the incident, but had to work limited duty
thereafter. Mr. Housewright requested an Order compelling Kingsport to provide the
surgery and other medical treatment recommended by his authorized provider, Dr. Trent.

                        Finding of Fact and Conclusions of Law

        The Workers' Compensation Law shall not be remedially or liberally construed in
favor of either party, but shall be construed fairly, impartially, and in accordance with
basic principles of statutory construction favoring neither the employee nor employer.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-116 (2014). The employee in a workers' compensation claim
has the burden of proof on all essential elements of a claim. Tindall v. Waring Park
Ass 'n, 725 S.W.2d 935, 937 (Tenn. 1987); Scott v. Integrity Staffing Solutions, No. 2015-
01-0055, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 24, at *6 (Tenn. Workers' Comp. App.
Bd. Aug. 18, 20 15).

       An employee need not prove every element of his or her claim by a preponderance
of the evidence in order to obtain relief at an expedited hearing. McCord v. Advantage
Human Resourcing, No. 2014-06-0063, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-
8, 9 (Tenn. Workers' Comp. App. Bd. Mar. 27, 2015). At an expedited hearing, an
employee has the burden to come forward with sufficient evidence from which the trial
court can determine that the employee is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits. Id.
This lesser evidentiary standard "does not relieve an employee of the burden of
producing evidence of an injury by accident that arose primarily out of and in the course

                                             5
and scope of employment at an expedited hearing, but allows some relief to be granted if
that evidence does not rise to the level or a 'preponderance of the evidence."' Buchanan
v. Car/ex Glass Co., No. 2015-01-0012, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. Lexis 39, at *6
(Tenn. Workers' Comp. App. Bd. Sept. 29, 2015).

       Tennessee Code Annotated sections 50-6-102(13)(A) and (B) (2015) state that an
injury by accident "shall not include the aggravation of a preexisting disease, condition,
or ailment unless it can be shown to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the
aggravation arose primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment," which
can be accomplished, "only if it has been shown by a preponderance of the evidence that
the employment contributed more than fifty percent (50%) in causing the death,
disablement or need for medical treatment, considering all causes."

       Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-102(13)(E) states that "The opinion of the
treating physician, selected by the employee from the employer's designated panel of
physicians ... shall be presumed correct on the issue of causation, but this presumption
shall be rebuttable by a preponderance of the evidence."

       The parties acknowledge that Dr. Trent is Mr. Housewright's authorized treating
physician. Thus, his opinion on the issue of causation is presumed correct. Kingsport
asked Dr. Trent whether, in his opinion, the July 4, 2014 work accident contributed more
than fifty percent to Mr. Housewright's need for treatment. On April 9, 2014, Dr. Trent
responded:

      I do not have to show a percentage that it is 50% work related. The patient
      states that his pain pattern is more than that. He was quite able to do his
      job without a lot of discomfort or problem prior to the fall (sic). It is still
      my opinion that this fall [sic] aggravation by the patient's history has
      certainly led to the surgery. I do think it is the spondylolisthesis and the
      stenosis at this level that has been aggravated by the injury and it is based
      on the patient's history, and I have no reason to doubt that.

(Emphasis added.)

        Kingsport interprets Dr. Trent's statement as a refusal to say whether the work
injury contributed more than fifty percent in causing the need for treatment. The Court
rejects that interpretation and reads the above as Dr. Trent's affirmation that the work
accident contributed more than fifty percent in causing Mr. Housewright's need for
treatment. He opined that the work accident "has certainly led to the surgery," per Mr.
Housewright's history, which he accepted completely.

      On June 10, 2015, Dr. Trent confirmed that "this patient was able to do his job
without pain prior to this injury on the job," and that "this aggravation has led to the

                                             6
treatment that he has obtained, and that has now become a surgical recommendation." In
response to Mr. Housewright's attorney, Dr. Trent stated, 4