Court Opinion

ID: 1077151
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:21:52.795988+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:44:28.279871
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Baker, Bray and Overton
Argued at Norfolk, Virginia

GWALTNEY OF SMITHFIELD, LTD. AND
 LUMBERMENS MUTUAL CASUALTY COMPANY
                                         MEMORANDUM OPINION * BY
v.          Record No. 1632-96-1          JUDGE RICHARD S. BRAY
                                            FEBRUARY 11, 1997
ANDREA THOMASINA TYNES

         FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION
           Timothy P. Murphy (William W. Nexsen; William
           W. Tunner; Stackhouse, Smith & Nexsen, on
           brief), for appellants.

           Alan P. Owens for appellee.

     Andrea Thomasina Tynes (claimant) received an award of

benefits for a neck injury suffered on January 6, 1993.    Gwaltney

of Smithfield, Ltd. and Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company

(collectively, "employer") appeal, contending that the Virginia

Workers' Compensation Commission (commission) erroneously

concluded that the disputed injury was properly reported within

the limitations period prescribed by Code § 65.2-601.     We concur

with the commission that the injury was a part of the original

claim and compensable under the attendant award.

     The parties are fully conversant with the record, and this

memorandum opinion recites only those facts necessary to a

disposition of the appeal.   Under familiar principles, we

construe the evidence in the light most favorable to the party
     *
      Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not
designated for publication.
prevailing below, claimant in this instance.     See Crisp v.

Brown's Tysons Corner Dodge, Inc., 1 Va. App. 503, 504, 339
S.E.2d 916, 916 (1986).   If supported by credible evidence, the

commission's findings of fact are binding and conclusive on

appeal.   See James v. Capitol Steel Constr. Co., 8 Va. App. 512,

515, 382 S.E.2d 487, 488 (1989); see Code § 65.2-706.

     Code § 65.2-601 provides that "[t]he right to compensation

under this title shall be forever barred, unless a claim be filed

with the Commission within two years after the accident."       The

original claim in this instance described an injury to claimant's

right shoulder which occurred on January 6, 1993, without

reference to complaints of the neck or cervical spine.    The

instant application for benefits related to claimant's neck was

first filed with the commission on June 5, 1995.    Employer,

therefore, contends that Code § 65.2-601 and the related holding

in Shawley v. Shea-Ball Construction Co., 216 Va. 442, 219 S.E.2d
849 (1975), preclude an award for this injury.

     In Shawley, the Court applied Code § 65.1-87 (now Code
§ 65.2-601) to conclude that a failure to specify all injuries in

a claim or claims filed within the statutory period is

jurisdictional, preventing the commission from entertaining a

later claim.   See 216 Va. at 445-46, 219 S.E.2d at 852-53.      The

Court noted that
          notwithstanding myriad examinations by
          numerous doctors and surgeons, and
          innumerable medical reports, neither the
          employer nor the carrier had any knowledge
          therefrom for over [the statutory period]

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           that Shawley's back or right ankle was
           involved, or that any claim for such injuries
           would ever be made against them. Had such
           injuries been caused by the [same accident
           which caused the right hip and left ankle
           injuries], and had claim been made therefor,
           [the employer and carrier] could have made
           proper investigation of the claim to
           determine its validity and the treatment
           necessary to effect a cure of the claimant
           and to minimize the employer's liability.

Id. at 446-47, 219 S.E.2d at 853 (emphasis added).

     Here, claimant reported neck pain to Dr. Persons, his

treating physician, on June 21, 1993, and Persons notified

employer accordingly in correspondence dated August 12, 1993,

received by employer on August 16, 1993, and filed with the

commission on December 7, 1993, all within the statutory period.

Claimant's physician opined that claimant's continuing pain was

caused, in part, by a cervical disc injury which coincided with

the initially reported shoulder injury.   Dr. Magness recommended

corrective cervical surgery "in hopes of improving his shoulder
pain."   The commission, therefore, concluded the claimant was

simply "seeking treatment for the exact same injury which [was]

the subject of his compensable claim," a factual finding clearly

supported by credible evidence.   The rationale of Shawley is
inapplicable in such circumstances.

     Thus, finding no error in the award, we affirm the

commission.

                                          Affirmed.

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