Court Opinion

ID: 4148189
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-24 15:16:09.189688+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:20.098494
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    FILED
PAULA LARKINS,                                                                   February 24, 2017
                                                                              RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
Claimant Below, Petitioner                                                  SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                OF WEST VIRGINIA

vs.)   No. 16-0021 (BOR Appeal No. 2050725)
                    (Claim No. 2014036870)

WEIRTON MEDICAL CENTER, INC.,
Employer Below, Respondent

                             MEMORANDUM DECISION
       Petitioner Paula Larkins by Raymond A. Hinerman, her attorney, appeals the decision of
the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. Weirton Medical Center, Inc.,
by Peter R. Rich, its attorney, filed a timely response.

        This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated December 21, 2015,
in which the Board affirmed the July 24, 2015, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of
Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges reversed the claims administrator’s July 1, 2014,
rejection of the claim and held the claim compensable for a lumbar strain. The Office of Judges
held that the lumbar disc herniation was pre-existing and not compensable. The Court has
carefully reviewed the records, written arguments, and appendices contained in the briefs, and
the case is mature for consideration.

       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.

       This appeal is from a June 15, 2014, date of injury. Ms. Larkins, a licensed practical
nurse, was injured on June 15, 2014, while she was helping a patient move from a sitting to a
standing position. The claims administrator denied the claim on July 1, 2014, due to the
unavailability of the medical records of James Graneto, D.C. The claims administrator advised
Ms. Larkins that the decision could be reviewed once the medical records of Dr. Graneto were
received. This protest followed.

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         In its July 24, 2015, Order, the Office of Judges reversed the claims administrator’s
denial of compensability and determined that Ms. Larkins had a compensable diagnosis of
lumbar strain for the June 15, 2014, injury. The Office of Judges found Ms. Larkins had a long
history of treatment for her lumbar spine, including having been diagnosed with an L5-S1 disc
bulge and aggravation of pre-existing L5-S1 degenerative disc disease. She also had been
awarded 9% permanent partial disability by the Industrial Commission of Ohio. The Office of
Judges determined that Ms. Larkins had a pre-existing history of numbness and tingling in her
feet. It determined that Ms. Larkins’s history of her symptoms following the June 15, 2014,
injury did not match the medical records. Therefore, the Office of Judges found the diagnosis of
lumbar disc herniation to be pre-existing and not compensable.

       Ms. Larkins had a history of lumbar spine problems dating back to at least August of
2006, when Dr. Graneto started treating her following a work injury. Ms. Larkins injured her
back at work for the second time on October 6, 2006. That same day, Dr. Graneto diagnosed her
with a bulging disc at L5-S1 and a substantial aggravation of pre-existing L5-S1 disc
degeneration. Ms. Larkins had a third work injury on March 24, 2008. On October 29, 2008,
Sheldon Kaffen, M.D., performed an independent medical evaluation. He noted Ms. Larkins said
she experienced constant low back pain radiating to her left lower extremity. On December 11,
2008, Dr. Graneto noted Ms. Larkins had burning, aching, and stabbing pain in the low back
with pins and needles, as well as stabbing, and aching sensation in her left leg. Ms. Larkins was
awarded 9% permanent partial disability by the Ohio Industrial Commission on December 24,
2008, due to her October 6, 2006, injury. Shawn Donatelli, D.O., performed a series of lumbar
epidural injections in 2009. Dr. Graneto continued to treat her in 2010.

       The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the Office of
Judges and affirmed its Order on December 21, 2015. After review, we agree with the reasoning
and conclusions of the Office of Judges as affirmed by the Board of Review. Ms. Larkins failed
to submit the medical evidence necessary to prove the disc herniation is a compensable diagnosis
for the June 15, 2014, injury. She had a longstanding pre-existing history of lumbar spine
problems with numbness and tingling in both lower extremities. There is no medical evidence
connecting the symptoms on June 15, 2014, to the herniated disc. Additionally, there is no
evidence connecting the herniated disc to the June 15, 2014, injury.

        For the foregoing reasons, we find that the decision of the Board of Review is not in clear
violation of any constitutional or statutory provision, nor is it clearly the result of erroneous
conclusions of law, nor is it based upon a material misstatement or mischaracterization of the
evidentiary record. Therefore, the decision of the Board of Review is affirmed.

                                                                                        Affirmed.

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ISSUED: February 24, 2017

CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Robin J. Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

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