Court Opinion

ID: 9891934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-19 20:15:00.367296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:01:27.472779
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                           October 19, 2023
                                                                            EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                            SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                OF WEST VIRGINIA
                            STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Steven R. Raynes
Claimant Below, Petitioner

vs.)   No. 22-0073     (BOR Appeal No. 2057420)
                       (JCN: 2019016898)

Kingston Mining, Inc., C/O ANR,
Employer Below, Respondent

                             MEMORANDUM DECISION

        Petitioner Steven R. Raynes appeals the decision of the West Virginia Workers’
Compensation Board of Review (“Board of Review”). Kingston Mining, Inc., C/O ANR, filed a
timely response. 1 The issue on appeal is permanent partial disability. The claims administrator
granted no permanent partial disability award for occupational pneumoconiosis on September 18,
2019. The Workers’ Compensation Office of Judges (“Office of Judges”) affirmed the decision in
its September 27, 2021, Order. The Order was affirmed by the Board of Review on January 6,
2022. Upon our review, we determine that oral argument is unnecessary and that a memorandum
decision affirming the Board of Review’s decision is appropriate. See W. Va. R. App. P. 21.

        Mr. Raynes, a coal miner, was seen by Amy Dowdy, D.O., on August 5, 2011, for a follow-
up appointment. It was noted that Mr. Raynes had smoked a pack and a half of cigarettes a day
since 1989 and was also exposed to second-hand smoke. Dr. Dowdy found no rales or wheezing
on examination, and Mr. Raynes denied dyspnea. Mr. Raynes completed an employees’ report of
occupational injury on November 14, 2018, alleging that he was exposed to the hazards of
occupational pneumoconiosis from May of 2001 through June of 2002 and from June of 2005 to
the present.

       A November 15, 2018, spirometry report from New River Health showed an acceptable
and reproducible study with mild obstructions pre-bronchodilator and normal spirometry post-
bronchodilator. It was noted that Mr. Raynes was a non-smoker. 2 A chest x-ray taken that day was
negative for pneumoconiosis. A chest radiograph classification was performed on December 4,
2018, and showed no parenchymal or pleural abnormalities.
       1
       Petitioner, Steven R. Raynes, is represented by Reginald D. Henry, and respondent,
Kingston Mining, Inc., C/O ANR, is represented by Sean Harter.
       2
       Though this treatment note indicates Mr. Raynes was a non-smoker, the remainder of the
evidence of record indicates he smoked cigarettes from 1989 until at least 2020.
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       On January 23, 2019, Richard Meadows, D.O., evaluated Mr. Raynes and diagnosed
chronic obstructive lung disease. He noted that Mr. Raynes smoked a pack of cigarettes a day.
Physical examination showed normal breathing sounds, and Mr. Raynes denied cough or dyspnea.
The physician’s report of occupational pneumoconiosis was completed on January 24, 2019, by
A. Mirza, M.D., who diagnosed dyspnea. Dr. Mirza opined that it was probable that Mr. Raynes
had contracted occupational pneumoconiosis, but it was unknown if his capacity for work was
impaired. On April 3, 2019, the claim was held compensable for occupational pneumoconiosis.

        The Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board (“OP Board”) reviewed Mr. Raynes’s records,
and on August 1, 2019, it determined that a diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis could not
be made. It found that Mr. Raynes was exposed to hazardous dust for eighteen-and-one-half years.
Mr. Raynes reported shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing for ten years. It was noted that
Mr. Raynes was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2013. On examination,
Mr. Raynes had harsh breath sounds bilaterally but no rales or wheezing. X-rays showed no
evidence of occupational pneumoconiosis. The claims administrator granted no permanent partial
disability award on September 18, 2019. It stated that the OP Board did not make a diagnosis of
occupational pneumoconiosis.

        On December 3, 2019, Mr. Raynes underwent a pulmonary function study at the
Occupational Lung Center. It was noted that Mr. Raynes had smoked one half of a pack of
cigarettes each day for twenty-six years. Pre-bronchodilator studies showed an FVC of 112% of
predicted, FEV1 of 98% of predicted, and FEV1/FVC of 69%. Post-bronchodilator studies showed
an FVC of 112% of predicted, an FEV1 of 107% of predicted, and an FEV1/FVC of 76%.
Carboxyhemoglobin was 4.4. Mr. Raynes had a spirometry/single breath diffusion study on May
18, 2020, at Pulmonary Associates. It was noted that he had smoked one-and-one-half packs of
cigarettes each day for thirty-years. Pre-bronchodilator studies showed an FVC of 100% of
predicted, FEV1 of 87% of predicted, and FEV1/FVC of 86%. Post-bronchodilator studies showed
an FVC of 102% of predicted, an FEV1 of 96% of predicted, and an FEV1/FVC of 93%.

        Mr. Raynes had a chest CT scan on August 26, 2020, which showed noncalcified, bilateral
pulmonary nodules. Tamejiro Takubo, D.O., treated Mr. Raynes that same day for shortness of
breath, a productive cough, and wheezing. It was noted that Mr. Raynes had smoked a pack of
cigarettes a day for twenty-seven years. Dr. Takubo diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, multiple lung nodules, obesity, shortness of breath, and abnormal PFT.

         In an initial hearing on November 18, 2020, members of the Occupational Pneumoconiosis
Board (“OP Board”) testified. John Willis, M.D., stated that Mr. Raynes’s chest x-ray was of a
good quality and showed no evidence of occupational pneumoconiosis. Jack Kinder, M.D.,
testified that the best pulmonary function studies of record were those performed on November
15, 2018, at New River Health, which showed 10% impairment. However, Dr. Kinder opined that
there was no evidence that the impairment was the result of occupational pneumoconiosis. He
stated that Mr. Raynes’s report of wheezing for ten years and diagnosis of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease in 2013 were consistent with a diagnosis of bronchospastic disease, which
would be unrelated to dust exposure. Dr. Kinder opined that the overwhelming weight of the
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evidence supports the conclusion that Mr. Raynes’s impairment was likely the result of a
bronchospastic disease related to his history of cigarette smoking. Bradley Henry, M.D., also of
the OP Board, concurred with the testimony of Drs. Willis and Kinder.

        In a final hearing, Dr. Willis testified on behalf of the OP Board that he had reviewed the
August 26, 2020, CT scan and found no evidence of occupational pneumoconiosis. He reiterated
that there was also no evidence of occupational pneumoconiosis on x-rays. Dr. Kinder testified
that he reviewed the May 18, 2020, diffusion study performed and opined that the results were
within normal limits. He stated that it was still his opinion that Mr. Raynes had no pulmonary
impairment attributable to occupational pneumoconiosis.

        In its September 27, 2021, order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s
decision granting no permanent partial disability award for occupational pneumoconiosis. It found
that the imaging studies and medical records support the OP Board’s finding of no impairment
related to occupational pneumoconiosis. The Office of Judges found that Mr. Raynes submitted
no reliable evidence to show that the OP Board’s findings were clearly wrong. The Board of
Review affirmed the Office of Judges’ order on January 6, 2022.

        This Court may not reweigh the evidentiary record, but must give deference to the findings,
reasoning, and conclusions of the Board of Review, and when the Board’s decision affirms prior
rulings by both the Workers’ Compensation Commission and the Office of Judges, we may reverse
or modify that decision only if it is in clear violation of constitutional or statutory provisions, is
clearly the result of erroneous conclusions of law, or is based upon a material misstatement or
mischaracterization of the evidentiary record. See W. Va. Code §§ 23-5-15(c) & (d). We apply a
de novo standard of review to questions of law. See Justice v. W. Va. Off. Ins. Comm’n, 230 W. Va.
80, 83, 736 S.E.2d 80, 83 (2012).

        After review, we agree with the reasoning and conclusions of the Office of Judges as
affirmed by the Board of Review. West Virginia Code § 23-4-6a provides that the Office of Judges
“shall affirm the decision of the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board made following [the] hearing
unless the decision is clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence on
the whole record.” The OP Board reviewed Mr. Raynes’s imaging studies and medical records and
concluded that Mr. Raynes had no impairment resulting from occupational pneumoconiosis. The
Office of Judges, and by extension the Board of Review, committed no error in finding the
Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board’s opinion to be the most persuasive of record.

                                                                                           Affirmed.
ISSUED: October 19, 2023

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CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Tim Armstead
Justice John A. Hutchison
Justice William R. Wooton
Justice C. Haley Bunn

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