Court Opinion

ID: 1040729
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-09-13 17:12:31.499685+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:41.792537
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                   FILED
PHYLLIS STAMPER, WIDOW OF                                                     September 12, 2013
                                                                            RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
ARTHUR STAMPER,                                                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Claimant Below, Petitioner                                                    OF WEST VIRGINIA

vs.)   No. 11-1733 (BOR Appeal No. 2046000)
                   (Claim No. 840034774)

WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Commissioner Below, Respondent

and

APOGEE COAL COMPANY,
Employer Below, Respondent

                             MEMORANDUM DECISION
       Petitioner Phyllis Stamper, by William Gallagher, her attorney, appeals the decision of
the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. The West Virginia Office of
Insurance Commissioner, by Anna Faulkner, its attorney, filed a timely response.

        This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated November 22, 2011, in
which the Board affirmed a May 4, 2011, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of Judges.
In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s February 4, 2009, decision
denying Ms. Stamper’s request for dependent’s benefits. 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.

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       Mr. Stamper worked as an electrician for Apogee Coal Company. He sustained a
compensable injury to his lower back on January 24, 1984. Mr. Stamper passed away on March
30, 2007. The death certificate listed the cause of death as lung cancer, with underlying causes of
Agent Orange exposure and tobacco abuse. The death certificate also listed COPD, hypertension,
and GERD as significant conditions. On February 4, 2009, the claims administrator denied Ms.
Stamper’s request for dependent’s benefits.

        In its Order affirming the claims administrator’s decision, the Office of Judges held that
Mr. Stamper’s death was not precipitated or hastened by an occupational injury, and that his
occupational injuries did not interfere with life extending treatment. On appeal, Ms. Stamper
argues that as a result of the compensable back injury, Mr. Stamper suffered a debilitating and
worsening back ailment which prohibited him from receiving life-prolonging surgery to remove
lung cancer. The West Virginia Office of Insurance Commissioner maintains that the
preponderance of the evidence does not establish a causal connection between Mr. Stamper’s
death from lung cancer and the compensable back injury. On July 15, 2010, Dr. Stollings opined
that Mr. Stamper’s chronic back pain as well as other factors certainly limited the treatment
modalities available in his battle with lung cancer. On January 17, 2011, Dr. Martin performed a
record review and concluded that chronic back pain did not limit Mr. Stamper’s treatment of
lung cancer. Dr. Martin noted that the greatest functional limitation was Mr. Stamper’s
respiratory system, not his back, and that Mr. Stamper continued his substantial smoking habit
after the diagnosis of lung cancer.

        The Office of Judges concluded that Mr. Stamper died as a result of lung cancer and
COPD. It noted that Mr. Stamper had a very substantial smoking history. The Office of Judges
found that Dr. Martin’s report was better supported by the medical evidence of record, and noted
that the true limiting factor in Mr. Stamper’s condition and treatment was COPD and anemia, not
the 1984 back injury. It further noted that Mr. Stamper’s breathing problems have not been
attributable to occupational exposure to dust. The Office of Judges held that Ms. Stamper was
not entitled to dependent’s benefits as a result of the death of her husband. The Board of Review
reached the same reasoned conclusions in its November 22, 2011, Order. We agree with the
reasoning and conclusions of the Board of Review.

        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 12, 2013

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

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