Court Opinion

ID: 9583330
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:37:40.653934+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:57.188228
License: Public Domain

Felton, Chief Judge, Townsend and Bell, Judges,
dissenting. The findings of the deputy director disclose that an agreement was entered into between the parties and approved by the board on August 27, 1957, which provided for compensation on the basis of total disability arising out of and in the course of employment. Such an approved agreement is conclusive both as to the compensability of the injury and the extent of disability of the employee as of the date of such award. Travelers Ins. Co. v. Hammond, 90 Ga. App. 595(2) (83 S. E. 2d 576) and cit; Hartford Accident &c. Co. v. Camp, 69 Ga. App. 758 (26 S. E. 2d 679); Home Accident Ins. Co. v. McNair, 173 Ga. 566 (1b) (161 S. E. 131); Manus v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 100 Ga. App. 289 (1) (111 S. E. 2d 103). Accordingly, in our opinion, the testimony of Dr. Roy H. Ledbetter, Jr., as to the claimant’s condition on August 5, 1957, and prior thereto and his further opinion that the assumed clinical picture of December 17, 1957, could not be present as a result of claimant’s injury is totally irrelevant and should not be considered.
*253However, it further appears that Dr. F. James Funk, Jr., examined the claimant on March 7, 1958. In his opinion the claimant was a husky 16-year-old who was well muscled and appeared to be somewhat athletic. The claimant limited his motion of neck and back in all degrees but when his attention was distracted his movements appeared to be roughly normal and were more readily made. His upper extremities were examined in detail. No atrophy was found and there was a normal range of motion in elbows, hands and wrists. His spine was found to be entirely normal and the length and circumference of his legs were equal. There was no evidence of sensory disturbances or of abnormal alignment, arthritis or injury to the neck or spine. His joints were normal. After giving a detailed account of his examination and findings, Dr. Funk testified: “Q. Doctor, did you find any disability in this young man as of the date of your examination? A. I could find no objective evidence of any disability, or let me say, I could find no evidence of any dis-function.” In view of this testimony, we do not agree with the majority opinion that a finding of total incapacity was demanded by the evidence, nor do we believe that Dr. Funk qualified his opinion in this regard. On cross-examination he testified as follows: “Q. Isn’t it true that you could not come to a conclusive opinion that would satisfy you as a doctor that this boy was not suffering any' pain, when you examined him at that particular time, and you could not conclusively say that he was not suffering from any injury, on the basis of just one examination, and not having seen him or examined him before this occasion and not having seen or examined him following that occasion? A. I don’t believe I could come to a completely adequate opinion that he was suffering no pain. I believe I came to a fairly adequate opinion that the complaints that he had were exaggerated, on the basis of my examination. I believe they were exaggerated at the time I saw him. . . Q. Isn’t it rather difficult for a doctor to arrive at a definite conclusive opinion from just one examination which you made many months after the injury and not having seen him when he was hurt or within the months following the infliction of the injuries or the sustaining of the injuries? A. The only con*254elusion I could come to is his physical condition as best I could ascertain it at the time I saw him.”
We believe that the testimony of Dr. Funk is sufficient to create an issue for determination by the board as to whether or not the claimant was totally incapacitated for work. The fact that a physician who had not seen a patient previously so that he could not give an opinion as to change in condition does not mean that he cannot testify to facts or opinions concerning the employee’s condition which would tend to or show a change in condition, or show that there had been no change in condition.