Court Opinion

ID: 9772733
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 17:28:16.03725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:31:47.648813
License: Public Domain

JOHN B. Robbins, Judge. Appellant Harold Lee Foxx sustained a compensable back injury while working for appellee American Transportation in April 1993. American Transportation paid certain benefits, but controverted Mr. Foxx’s claim that he had suffered a 5% permanent impairment as a result of his injury. Mr. Foxx filed a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Commission, and the Commission ruled that Mr. Foxx failed to prove the alleged 5% impairment. Mr. Foxx now appeals, arguing that the Commission’s decision is not supported by substantial evidence. In addition, Mr. Foxx contends that the Commission erred as a matter of law when it relied upon wage-loss disability factors in denying his permanent anatomical impairment rating.  When reviewing decisions from the Workers’ Compensation Commission, we view the evidence and all reasonable inferences deducible therefrom in the light most favorable to the Commission’s findings and affirm if supported by substantial evidence. Welch’s Laundry & Cleaners v. Clark, 38 Ark. App. 223, 832 S.W.2d 283 (1992). Substantial evidence is that which a reasonable person might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. City of Fort Smith v. Brooks, 40 Ark. App. 120, 842 S.W.2d 463 (1992). A decision by the Workers’ Compensation Commission should not be reversed unless it is clear that fair-minded persons could not have reached the same conclusions if presented with the same facts. Silvicraft, Inc. v. Lambert, 10 Ark. App. 28, 661 S.W.2d 403 (1983). The evidence in this case shows that Mr. Foxx sustained a knee injury while working for American Transportation on March 15, 1993. Mr. Foxx returned to work and, on April 23, 1993, injured his lower back. When asked how this injury occurred, Mr. Foxx replied, “[pjossibly bending and stooping, favoring my left knee, the doctors say I pulled the muscles in the left side of my back.” He subsequently received medical treatment from Drs. Gil Johnson, Earl Peeples, and Robert McCarron. Dr. Johnson treated Mr. Foxx four days after his back injury, and indicated that straight leg tests and x-rays were negative. Dr. Johnson diagnosed a lumbar strain, and Mr. Foxx was then attended by Dr. Peeples. Dr. Peeples saw Mr. Foxx in May 1993 and found no definite abnormality. He ultimately determined that Mr. Foxx’s healing period ended on June 7, 1993, and rendered the following opinion: I do not anticipate the patient would have any permanent impairment of function related to his injury. I do not anticipate any further medical expenses related to his problem. Dr. McCarron treated Mr. Foxx next, and noted that Mr. Foxx essentially had a normal examination. However, due to urinary symptoms and scrotal pain, Dr. McCarron ordered an MRI which was performed in late June or early July 1993. The MRI revealed a herniated disc at L4-5, and on September 24, 1993, Dr. McCarron estimated a 5% impairment to his body as a whole. It is on this opinion that Mr. Foxx primarily relies. In addition to the medical evidence, the Commission considered evidence prepared by private investigator Kenneth Jones. Mr. Jones investigated Mr. Foxx from July 17, 1993, until July 30, 1993. During this time, Mr. Jones prepared a video tape and observed Mr. Foxx operating a mowing service. According to Mr. Jones, he saw Mr. Foxx lift heavy objects, bend down, and run without exhibiting any symptoms of pain or disability. Mr. Foxx was also seen moving a very heavy mower from one location to another. There was further evidence that, during this time, Mr. Foxx was operating a cleaning service which entailed cleaning offices.  In finding that Mr. Foxx failed to prove a 5% permanent anatomical or functional impairment, the Commission weighed the medical evidence along with other evidence of Mr. Foxx’s physical capabilities. Although Dr. McCarron assigned a 5% impairment rating, Dr. Johnson failed to assign a rating and Dr. Peeples opined that Mr. Foxx’s healing period had ended and that he suffered no permanent functional impairment. The resolution of conflicting medical evidence is a question of fact to be determined by the Commission. Brantley v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 48 Ark. App. 27, 888 S.W.2d 543 (1994). In addition to the conflicting medical evidence, the Commission relied on the fact that Mr. Foxx was capable of engaging in relatively heavy labor activities. However, as Mr. Foxx points out, the issue presented to the Commission was whether Mr. Foxx had suffered an anatomical impairment, not whether he had suffered a wage-loss disability. We held in Second Injury Fund v. Fraser-Owens, 17 Ark. App. 58, 702 S.W.2d 828 (1986), that “ ‘anatomical impairment’ means the anatomical loss as reflected by the common usage of medical impairment ratings.” See Second Injury Fund v. Yarbrough, 19 Ark. App. 354, 721 S.W.2d 686 (1986). The bases for these medical impairment ratings are found generally in Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (3d ed. 1988) published by the American Medical Association. In the introduction to chapter one of this publication, the following definition is found: The accurate and proper use of medical information to assess impairment depends on the recognition that, whereas impairment is a medical matter, disability arises out of the interaction between impairment and external demands, especially those of an individual’s occupation. As used in the Guides, “impairment” means an alteration of an individual’s health status that is assessed by medical means, “disability,” which is assessed by nonmedical means, is an alteration of an individual’s capacity to meet personal, social, or occupational demands or statutory or regulatory requirements. (Emphasis in original.) Clearly, the Commission considered Mr. Foxx’s capacity to perform strenuous occupational demands in deciding whether he suffered an anatomical impairment. Its opinion included the following: Despite all claimant’s continued complaints of pain and unknown to his healthcare providers, claimant was working for respondent and ran a cleaning business and lawn care business. Claimant did the cleaning and the yard work himself. He had apparendy began these operations while he was off work for the carpal tunnel syndrome. He continued to work after the knee and back difficulties. In fact, claimant’s tax return[s] indicate that his cleaning service grossed over $30,000 in 1993. The evidence shows that claimant was working on lawns with a lawn mower that weighs between 200 and 300 pounds. A videotape illustrates that claimant was quite mobile. He was able to move the lawn mower in and out of a trailer without significant difficulties. There were many other activities on the videotape which indicate that claimant was able to run, jump and actively work. The preponderance of the evidence does not establish that claimant is entitled to any benefits, even the contingent 5% disability benefits. The Administrative Law Judge apparently relied primarily upon medical reports. However, the videotape indicates that claimant was able to participate in gainful employment at 100% capacity. Claimant was able to lift mowers and perform many other activities. Therefore, claimant has failed to prove by a preponderance of the credible evidence that he has any impairment. Therefore, we find that respondent should not be Hable for a 5% disability rating. When the medical reports, specifically Dr. McCarron’s assessment, is weighed against the preponderance of the credible evidence, it is clear that claimant has not sustained a 5% disability rating. While these evidentiary findings would be highly relevant and appropriate in determining wage-loss disability, wage-loss disability was not an issue. However, the Commission held that, because Mr. Foxx “was able to participate in gainful employment at 100%,” he was not entitled to any benefits.  We agree with Mr. Foxx that the Commission has blurred the distinction between anatomical impairment and wage-loss. The landmark case of Glass v. Edens, 233 Ark. 786, 346 S.W.2d 685 (1961), involved a decision of the Commission which held that evidence other than clinical findings could not be considered to arrive at a rating for permanent partial disability. The supreme court reversed and remanded because disability in excess of anatomical impairment was sought. See also Ray v. Shelmutt Nursing Home, 246 Ark. 575, 439 S.W.2d 41 (1969). Here, disability (wage-loss) in excess of anatomical impairment has never been sought by Mr. Foxx.  While we do not hold that nonmedical proof is wholly irrelevant to the issue of anatomical impairment, the Commission may not arbitrarily disregard a physician’s opinion (Wade v. Mr. C. Cavenaugh’s, 25 Ark. App. 237, 756 S.W.2d 923 (1988)), especially when based on objective and measurable findings. Though the opinions of the medical experts conflicted, Dr. McCarron had the benefit of an item of objective medical proof that Dr. Johnson and Dr. Peeples did not. Dr. McCarron reported that an MRI was performed which revealed a herniated disc. The Commission may not have believed Dr. McCarron, or it may have believed that the herniated disc was not caused by the compensable injury, but, if so, it should have said as much. We remand this proceeding to the Commission for it to make some finding regarding Dr. McCarron’s report and the MRI which reflected a herniated disc. Reversed and remanded. Jennings, C.J., Mayfield, and Neal, JJ., agree. Pittman and Rogers, JJ., dissent.