Court Opinion

ID: 4565541
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-15 15:43:33.484572+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:09.690836
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

BRIAN A. COLLINS,
                                                                                          FILED
Claimant Below, Petitioner                                                           September 15, 2020
                                                                                   EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
                                                                                   SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
vs.)   No. 19-0425 (BOR Appeal No. 2053721)                                            OF WEST VIRGINIA
                   (Claim No. 20160054411)

ALPHA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.,
Employer Below, Respondent

                               MEMORANDUM DECISION
      Petitioner Brian A. Collins, by Counsel Reginald D. Henry, appeals the decision of the
West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review (“Board of Review”). Alpha Natural
Resources, Inc., by Counsel H. Toney Stroud, filed a timely response.

        The issue on appeal is entitlement to temporary total disability benefits. On February 28,
2018, the claims administrator issued an Order closing the claim for temporary total disability
benefits. On April 14, 2018, the claims administrator issued another Order closing the claim for
temporary total disability benefits. The Workers’ Compensation Office of Judges (“Office of
Judges”) affirmed both Orders on December 7, 2018. This appeal arises from the Board of
Review’s Order dated April 3, 2019, in which the Board of Review affirmed the December 7,
2018, Order of the Office of Judges.

       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.

        Mr. Collins filed an application for benefits on August 21, 2015, after sustaining a foot
injury while working as a mine foreman for Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. He sought treatment at
MedExpress Urgent Care. An examination by Tommy Holbrook, D.O., showed abnormal range
of motion during flexion, extension, inversion and eversion of the ankle as well as swelling of the
ankle. The left lateral malleolus was tender to palpation. The assessment was sprain of an
unspecified ligament of the left ankle. Mr. Collins was unable to work, and the anticipated return
to work was established as August 25, 2015. He returned to Dr. Holbrook on August 29, 2015,
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for a follow-up examination. Mr. Collins complained of constant pain and reported that he could
not bend the last three toes on his left foot. On September 1, 2015, the claims administrator entered
an Order rejecting the claim. Mr. Collins protested the claims administrator’s decision to reject his
claim. In a Decision dated November 1, 2015, the Office of Judges reversed the September 1,
2015, claims administrator Order rejecting the claim. The Office of Judges ordered that the claim
be held compensable for the condition of a sprain of unspecified ligament of the left ankle.

         Mr. Collins underwent a left ankle MRI on September 3, 2015. The MRI revealed the
following: “1. Tendinopathy of the peroneus longus. Early split tear in the inframalleolar portion;
2. Tendinopathy of the peroneus brevis; 3. Sinus tarsus ligaments are well seen; 4. Contusion of
the medial malleolus, medial aspect of the talus, medial aspect of the navicular, and the
sustentaculum talus; 5. Chronic fibrosis of the Achilles.” A second MRI performed on May 1,
2017, revealed marked improvement in appearance of the anterior talofibular ligament and the
calcaneofibular ligament. The partial thickness tear of the peroneus longus was stable in location
and size compared to the prior study. Mr. Collins was eventually diagnosed with a partial thickness
tear of the peroneus longus and surgery was performed by Dr. Gosselink to repair the tear on July
21, 2017. The preoperative and postoperative diagnoses were peroneus longus tendon tear of the
left ankle and left lateral ankle instability.

       By letter dated February 8, 2017, Mr. Collins requested temporary total disability benefits
from August 21, 2015, through October 18, 2015. The claims administrator denied the request for
temporary total disability benefits on April 26, 2017. Mr. Collins protested the decision which
denied his request for temporary total disability benefits from August 21, 2015, through October
18, 2015. However, he was subsequently granted temporary total disability benefits from January
4, 2018, through March 6, 2018.

        Mr. Collins was treated by Dr. Gosselink on January 23, 2018, for a follow-up examination
for his ankle. Dr. Gosselink reported that his condition had improved. However, Dr. Gosselink
noted that Mr. Collins had an incident in physical therapy where he felt a pop on the lateral aspect
of the ankle and had three to four days of increased pain and swelling. The impression was left
ankle sprain and disorder of left ankle ligaments. Mr. Collins was to continue with physical therapy
for an additional six weeks. Dr. Gosselink believed that he was still unable to perform full duty
work, and he was referred to a work hardening program. Dr. Gosselink stated that he could return
to work and progress to full duty as tolerated.

        By Decision of the Office of Judges dated February 8, 2018, the claims administrator’s
May 3, 2017, Order denying the request for temporary total disability benefits for the period of
August 21, 2015, through October 18, 2015, was affirmed. The Office of Judges based its decision
upon the preponderance of the evidence showing that Mr. Collins was not working due to
voluntarily leaving his employment with Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., and not because of the
injury he sustained on August 21, 2015.

       The claims administrator, in a letter dated February 8, 2018, notified Mr. Collins that his
temporary total disability benefits would be suspended if he did not provide the required
information to demonstrate his continued eligibility for temporary total disability benefits. On
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February 28, 2018, the claims administrator entered an Order closing the claim for temporary total
disability benefits on the basis that Mr. Collins did not submit the required information and due to
the decision by the Office of Judges dated February 8, 2018, affirming the denial of temporary
total disability benefits. Mr. Collins protested the claims administrator’s Order.

        Mr. Collins had a follow-up with Dr. Gosselink on March 6, 2018. Although he had a small
setback in therapy where he had an episode of his ankle popping and swelling, Mr. Collins reported
that he was doing a lot better. Dr. Gosselink referred him to two additional weeks of physical
therapy and a functional capacity evaluation was recommended. If his condition did not improve,
he would be referred to a work hardening program. Dr. Gosselink found that Mr. Collins could
return to work as tolerated.

        Mr. Collins underwent a functional capacity evaluation on March 13, 2018. He
demonstrated the ability to perform 74.9% of the physical demands of his job as a foreman. The
report stated that Mr. Collins put forth full effort during the evaluation. He demonstrated the ability
to perform within the medium physical demand category, which matches his job’s demand
category as a foreman. On that same date, Mr. Collins was treated by Dr. Gosselink for a follow-
up examination for his foot and ankle. Dr. Gosselink reported that Mr. Collins is doing better but
continues to have some pain with certain movements, particularly when going up on his toes or
squatting. Dr. Gosselink recommended a work hardening program, and a work note was created
stating that he should not twist/bend or squat/kneel.

         On March 27, 2018, Mr. Collins was examined for an independent medical evaluation by
Joseph Grady II, M.D., who assessed Mr. Collins with status post repair of peroneus longus tendon
tear and anchoring of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments. Dr. Grady stated that
he had reached maximum medical improvement. It was noted that Mr. Collins was not receiving
any maintenance care at the time. Dr. Grady further noted that Mr. Collins was self-employed and
was continuing to work throughout that time period since he never returned to his previous job as
an underground coal miner. Dr. Grady reported that Mr. Collins was working without any reported
restrictions. Referencing the American Medical Association’s, Guides to the Evaluation of
Permanent Impairment (4th ed. 1993), Dr. Grady found 4% whole person impairment.

       On April 10, 2018, Mr. Collins returned to Dr. Gosselink for a follow-up examination. Dr.
Gosselink noted that he had been approved for work hardening. Mr. Collins stated that he was
ready to go back to full duty work and not participate in the work hardening program. Dr.
Gosselink reported that Mr. Collins would return to work with no restrictions and will be seen on
an as needed basis. On April 14, 2018, the claims administrator issued another Order closing the
claim for temporary total disability benefits. Mr. Collins protested the claims administrator’s
decision.

        Mr. Collins was deposed on May 22, 2018. He testified that he started his own timber
business in October 2015, and he performed very little manual labor himself. He stated that he
hired other people to operate the equipment for him after he started the company. Mr. Collins
further testified that he eventually returned to operating equipment himself, but for the period of
July 2017 to April 2018, he did not perform physical work. Instead, he handled paperwork and
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administrative duties. Mr. Collins testified that he continues to have troubles with his foot, and he
has problems balancing himself with his left foot. He testified that his temporary total disability
benefits were intermittent from the time of his surgery until February 2018. His company did not
pay him any wages during that period of time. He also stated that he did not receive any wages or
salary from his company while he was receiving temporary total disability benefits.

        The issue was then submitted to the Office of Judges and by decision dated December 7,
2018, the claims administrator’s Orders dated February 28, 2018, and April 14, 2018, were
affirmed. The Office of Judges found that Mr. Collins did not submit sufficient evidence to show
that he was entitled to temporary total disability benefits. It was noted that on March 6, 2018, Dr.
Gosselink stated that Mr. Collins could return to work as tolerated and the functional capacity
evaluation on March 13, 2018, demonstrated that he was able to perform within the medium
physical demand category which matched his job demand category. Further, the Office of Judges
found that Dr. Grady determined that Mr. Collins had reached his maximum degree of medical
improvement for his compensable injury. The Office of Judges also referenced a prior ruling of
the Office of Judges dated February 8, 2018, which denied temporary total disability benefits. The
Office of Judges concluded that the medical evidence is insufficient to find that Mr. Collins is
entitled to temporary total disability benefits. The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact
and conclusions of law of the Office of Judges and affirmed the decision in an Order dated April
3, 2019.

        After review, we agree with the decision of the Office of Judges, as affirmed by the Board
of Review. There is no evidence to entitle Mr. Collins to additional temporary total disability
benefits in the claim. The medical evidence shows that he was released to return to work by Dr.
Gosselink on March 6, 2017, and he was found to have reached his maximum medical
improvement by Dr. Grady on March 27, 2018. The record also establishes that Mr. Collins did
not return to work as an underground coal miner. Instead, he founded his own independent business
which he has operated continuously since October 2015. Although he testified that he did not take
a salary during this time period, he did work in a management capacity and performed management
duties. The fact that he chose not to draw a salary from his company for a period does not negate
the fact that he did return to work and would therefore not be entitled to additional temporary total
disability benefits under West Virginia Code § 23-4-7(a)(e)(4).

        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: September 15, 2020

CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Tim Armstead
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Evan H. Jenkins
Justice John A. Hutchison

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