Court Opinion

ID: 1079078
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:29:39.462337+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:01.607874
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present:   Judges Baker, Elder and Fitzpatrick

GIANT FOOD, INC.
AND
LUMBERMENS MUTUAL CASUALTY COMPANY

v.   Record No. 2189-94-4                        MEMORANDUM OPINION *
                                                     PER CURIAM
MARTIN R. ROOF                                       MAY 9, 1995

                                     FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS'
COMPENSATION COMMISSION
            (Deborah A. Farson; Jordan, Coyne & Savits, on
            briefs), for appellants.

            (Charles W. O'Donnell, on brief), for appellee.

     Giant Food, Inc. and its insurer (hereinafter collectively

referred to as "employer") contend that the Workers' Compensation

Commission erred in finding that (1) Martin R. Roof proved a

causal connection between his compensable July 31, 1991 injury by

accident and his October 1993 back surgery and resulting

disability; and (2) Roof's claim, filed on September 27, 1993,

was timely because employer did not file the First Report of

Accident until September 22, 1993, after the two-year statute of

limitations had run.   Upon reviewing the record and the briefs of

the parties, we conclude that this appeal is without merit.

Accordingly, we summarily affirm the commission's decision.       Rule

5A:27.

     *
      Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not
designated for publication.
                                  I.

     On appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable

to the party prevailing below.     R.G. Moore Bldg. Corp. v.

Mullins, 10 Va. App. 211, 212, 390 S.E.2d 788, 788 (1990).     "The

actual determination of causation is a factual finding that will

not be disturbed on appeal if there is credible evidence to

support the finding."     Ingersoll-Rand Co. v. Musick, 7 Va. App.
684, 688, 376 S.E.2d 814, 817 (1989).    "The existence of contrary

evidence in the record is of no consequence if there is credible

evidence to support the commission's finding."     Wagner Enters.,

Inc. v. Brooks, 12 Va. App. 890, 894, 407 S.E.2d 32, 35 (1991).

"A question raised by conflicting medical opinion is a question

of fact."   Commonwealth v. Powell, 2 Va. App. 712, 714, 347
S.E.2d 532, 533 (1986).

     The medical records and reports of Dr. Robert F. Lehman, the

treating physician, provide credible evidence to support the

commission's finding that the July 31, 1991 injury by accident

aggravated Roof's pre-existing disc condition, and that the

October 1993 surgery and resulting disability were caused by this

aggravation.   Specifically, Dr. Lehman's August 8, 1991 notes

substantiate Roof's testimony that, prior to July 31, 1991, his

back pain was minor and intermittent, and that, on that date, his

back and leg pain significantly increased.    In his September 30,

1993 report, Dr. Lehman stated that the compensable accident

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caused an aggravation of Roof's pre-existing facet abnormality.

In its role as fact finder, the commission was entitled to weigh

Dr. Lehman's records, and to accept his conclusion that the work-

related accident aggravated Roof's pre-existing back condition

and led to his surgery and resulting disability.   The commission

was also entitled to discount the opinion of Dr. Edward G.

Alexander, an orthopedic surgeon who examined Roof at employer's

request.
     When an injury sustained in an industrial accident

accelerates or aggravates a pre-existing condition, disability

resulting therefrom is compensable.   Russell Loungewear v. Gray,

2 Va. App. 90, 95, 341 S.E.2d 824, 826 (1986).   Accordingly, the

commission did not err in finding that Roof proved a causal

connection between his compensable July 31, 1991 accident and his

October 1993 surgery and resulting disability.

                               II.

     The commission held that Roof's claim, filed on September

27, 1993 with respect to the July 31, 1991 accident, was timely.

 This conclusion was based upon the commission's finding that the

employer did not file the First Report of Accident until after
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the two-year limitations period for filing a claim had expired.
     In order to toll the limitations period pursuant to Code

§ 65.2-602, Roof was required to prove that (1) the employer had

     1
      The full commission did not find that estoppel applied in
this case to toll the limitations period.

                                3
notice of the July 31, 1991 accident; (2) the employer failed to

file the First Report of Accident as required by Code § 65.2-900;

and (3) such conduct prejudiced Roof's rights with respect to

filing a claim with the commission prior to the expiration of the

two-year limitations period.

     It was undisputed that employer had notice of the accident,

and that employer did not file the First Report of Accident until

after the two-year limitations period had expired.   With respect

to the issue of prejudice, there was no evidence that Roof ever

received the Workers' Compensation Guide or other notice of his

need to file a claim.   If employer had filed the First Report of

Accident, Roof would have received the proper notice, and he

would have had the opportunity to file a timely claim.   Roof and

his wife testified that if they had known they were required to

file a claim with the commission they would have done so in a

timely manner.   Based upon this record, the commission did not

err in finding that the two-year limitations period was tolled

until September 22, 1993.
     For the reasons stated, we affirm the commission's decision.

                                         Affirmed.

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