Court Opinion

ID: 2738232
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-30 15:10:27.127095+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:21.285214
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                                                                                   FILED
                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS                            September 29, 2014
                                                                            RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
TIMOTHY COOPER,                                                               OF WEST VIRGINIA

Claimant Below, Petitioner

vs.)   No. 13-0343 (BOR Appeal No. 2047817)
                   (Claim No. 900041265)

LOWES HOME CENTERS, INC.,
Employer Below, Respondent

                             MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Timothy Cooper, pro se, appeals the decision of the West Virginia Workers’
Compensation Board of Review. Lowes Home Centers, Inc., by James Heslep, its attorney, filed
a timely response.

        This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated March 4, 2013, in
which the Board affirmed a September 21, 2012, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of
Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s February 2, 2012,
decision which denied authorization for office visits with Robert Lowe, M.D., on August 9,
2011, and December 13, 2011, as well as the medications Ultram and Motrin. 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.

        Mr. Cooper, a delivery supervisor, was injured in the course of his employment on
January 19, 1990, while unloading a truck. His claim was held compensable and he underwent
surgery in 1992 in order to treat left side radicular symptoms. Mr. Cooper began to develop pain
in his waistline and right side radiculopathy more than nine years after his compensable injury.
He requested authorization for office visits with Dr. Lowe on August 9, 2011, and December 13,

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2011, as well as the medications Ultram and Motrin. The claims administrator denied the request
on February 2, 2012.

        The Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s decision in its September 21,
2012, Order. It found that Marsha Bailey, M.D., opined in her September 13, 2010, record
review that Mr. Cooper had reached maximum medical improvement for the compensable injury
many years prior. Furthermore, at the time of the original injury, Mr. Cooper was treated for left
radicular symptoms with a lumbar laminectomy and discectomy to the left of the L5-S1 disc. His
current symptoms are originating from the waistline and radiating into the lower right leg. Dr.
Bailey opined that the symptoms are likely the result of spinal and neural stenosis which are part
of the normal aging process. She further stated that no further medical treatment, including office
visits and medication, were necessary in this case. The Office of Judges determined that Mr.
Cooper submitted no evidence to contradict Dr. Bailey’s findings and has failed to show a causal
connection between the requested treatment and the compensable 1990 injury.

        The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the Office of
Judges and affirmed its Order in its March 4, 2013, decision. We agree with the reasoning and
conclusions of the Board of Review. This Court has previously held in Cooper v. Lowes Home
Centers, Inc., No. 12-0585 (Dec. 17, 2013) (memorandum decision) that Mr. Cooper is not
entitled to the medications Motrin and Ultram. The evidentiary record in this case fails to show
that office visits with Dr. Lowe are reasonable and necessary for the treatment of his now more
than twenty-year-old 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.

ISSUED: September 29, 2014

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

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