Court Opinion

ID: 2772791
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-23 20:02:51.137008+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:09:34.210383
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                                                                                    FILED
                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS                              January 23, 2015
                                                                             RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
SUSAN L. DELP,                                                                 OF WEST VIRGINIA

Claimant Below, Petitioner

vs.)   No. 14-0186 (BOR Appeal No. 2048642)
                   (Claim No. 2006060683)

PUBLIC DEFENDER CORPORATION,
Employer Below, Respondent

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Susan L. Delp, by Reginald D. Henry, her attorney, appeals the decision of the
West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. Public Defender Corporation, by
Jillian L. Moore, its attorney, filed a timely response.

        This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated January 27, 2014, in
which the Board affirmed an August 2, 2013, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of
Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s March 2, 2011,
decision which granted Ms. Delp a 2% permanent partial disability award. 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.

       Ms. Delp, an office manager and paralegal, developed bilateral ulnar nerve entrapment in
the course of her employment. The conditions were held compensable, and she was treated by
Jaiyoung Ryu, M.D. Dr. Ryu indicated in a December 22, 2009, treatment note that Ms. Delp
underwent cubital tunnel release and anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve on the right side. 1

1
 The Court takes notice that ulnar nerve entrapment and cubital tunnel syndrome are the same
condition.
                                                1
She reported to him that her symptoms had ceased since the surgery. She had full range of
motion in the elbow, wrist, and fingers at the time of his evaluation and was released to return to
full-duty. Ms. Delp was treated by Claire Beimesch, M.D., approximately one year later. Dr.
Beimesch noted that Ms. Delp underwent carpal tunnel release surgery, guyon’s canal release,
and ulnar nerve transposition five months prior on the left upper extremity. Ms. Delp was doing
well and her numbness and tingling had resolved. She still lacked five to ten degrees of
extension, but it was noted that the measurement was symmetric to the right side.

        Ms. Delp underwent three independent medical evaluations in order to determine the
amount of permanent impairment she sustained as a result of her compensable conditions. The
first evaluation was performed on February 14, 2011, by A. E. Landis, M.D. Dr. Landis noted
that Ms. Delp had pre-existing, non-compensable carpal tunnel syndrome. She reported that
surgery on her bilateral ulnar nerves helped her symptoms considerably. She stated that she had
full range of motion with no stiffness. She had some tenderness in the left elbow surgical site.
Her grip strength was normal, and Dr. Landis found no neurovascular or sensory changes. Using
the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (4th ed.
1993) he found no impairment for range of motion and 1% impairment for each surgical incision
for a total of 2% whole person impairment.

        A second independent medical evaluation was conducted by Bruce Guberman, M.D., on
October 12, 2011. Dr. Guberman stated that, at the time of the evaluation, Ms. Delp reported
burning, tingling, and weakness in her right arm and hand. She also reported intermittent pain,
numbness, and tingling in the left arm and hand. She stated that she drops things with both
hands, but was working full-time at the time of the exam. Dr. Guberman noted scars on both
elbows that were slightly tender and numb. He diagnosed bilateral cubital tunnel syndrome and
left carpal tunnel syndrome. He assessed 7% impairment for right cubital tunnel syndrome and
9% for left cubital tunnel syndrome for a combined total of 15% impairment. He also
recommended 6% impairment for left carpal tunnel syndrome, a non-compensable condition.

        A third independent medical evaluation was conducted by Prasadarao Mukkamala, M.D.,
on March 13, 2013. At that time, Ms. Delp stated that she had no symptoms at all in the left arm.
In the right arm, she had no symptoms at the elbow but had numbness in the hand and wrist. Dr.
Mukkamala found normal range of motion in both arms. He found she had reached maximum
medical improvement and assessed 1% whole person impairment for sensory loss in the right
arm. He noted that he disagreed with Dr. Guberman’s impairment rating because Dr. Guberman
found motor weakness. Dr. Mukkamala found no motor weakness. He also noted that Dr.
Guberman’s assessment was not consistent with the treating physician’s findings.

        The claims administrator granted Ms. Delp a 2% permanent partial disability award on
March 2, 2011. The Office of Judges affirmed the decision on August 2, 2013. It found that Dr.
Landis found 2% impairment for surgical scars, and Dr. Mukkamala found 1% impairment for
sensory deficits in the right upper extremity. Dr. Guberman was the only physician of record to
find motor deficits in Ms. Delp’s upper extremities. Additionally, he was the only evaluator of
record to find sensory deficits in the left upper extremity. The Office of Judges determined that
Drs. Ryu and Beimesch’s treatment notes did not document any evidence of upper extremity
                                                2
motor or sensory deficits. Therefore, the Office of Judges found that the weight of the evidence
does not support Dr. Guberman’s finding of 15% whole person impairment. It held that Ms. Delp
failed to show by a preponderance of the evidence that she was entitled to more than a 2%
permanent partial disability award. The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact and
conclusions of law of the Office of Judges and affirmed its Order on January 27, 2014.

        On appeal, Ms. Delp argues, per Dr. Guberman’s report, that she is entitled to a 15%
permanent partial disability award. Public Defender Corporation asserts that Dr. Guberman’s
report is unreliable and contrary to the preponderance of the evidence. After review, we agree
with the findings of the Office of Judges and the conclusions of the Board of Review. Dr.
Guberman’s assessment of 15% whole person impairment is well outside of the other
recommendations of record, and his recommendation is not supported by the evidentiary record.
The evidentiary record indicates that Ms. Delp is entitled to a 2% permanent partial disability
award.

        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.

ISSUED: January 23, 2015

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

                                                3