Court Opinion

ID: 867807
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-05-14 17:59:27.243725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:18:34.589925
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS                                FILED
                                                                                 May 14, 2013

                                                                            RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK

RUBY A. DEAN,                                                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                              OF WEST VIRGINIA
Claimant Below, Petitioner

vs.)   No. 11-0928	 (BOR Appeal No. 2045152)
                   (Claim No. 2010125343)

MARSHALL UNIVERSITY,
Employer Below, Respondent

                             MEMORANDUM DECISION
      Petitioner Ruby A. Dean, by Timothy P. Rosinsky, her attorney, appeals the decision of
the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. Marshall University, by Steven K.
Wellman, its attorney, filed a timely response.

        This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated April 12, 2011, in
which the Board reversed a September 20, 2010, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of
Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges reversed the claims administrator’s March 5, 2010,
denial of Ms. Dean’s request of compensability for bilateral cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome.
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. For these reasons, a memorandum
decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        Ms. Dean has been employed as part of Marshall University’s administrative support
staff for twenty-nine years. Her duties consist primarily of computer work. On October 1, 2009,
Ms. Dean submitted a claim complaining that the ergonomically incorrect office conditions
caused her to develop bilateral cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome. On February 22, 2010, Ms.
Dean was examined by Dr. Bolano, who requested authorization for diagnostic testing to
determine if she had cubital and carpal tunnel syndrome. Her claim was summarily rejected by
the claims administrator before any additional diagnostic testing could be conducted, leading to
this appeal.
        The Office of Judges reversed the claims administrator’s decision, finding that Ms. Dean
had submitted a compensable claim. But the Office of Judges’ Order was reversed and the claims
administrator’s decision was reinstated by the Board of Review. The Board of Review
determined that, according to West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20-41.5 (2006), Ms.
Dean’s clerical duties did not place her in an occupation that had a high risk for developing
carpal tunnel syndrome and she did not present sufficient evidence to show that her condition
resulted from her employment.

       The Order of the Board of Review is clearly the result of an erroneous interpretation of
West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20-41.5. Although the regulation singles out certain
occupations which are at a high risk for carpal tunnel syndrome, it does not preclude a clerical
employee from proving her case for carpal tunnel syndrome.

        Ms. Dean was not permitted to develop her claim. The record is not sufficient to
determine whether the Ms. Dean has a compensable injury based on cubital or carpal tunnel
syndrome. Ms. Dean was not permitted to undergo an electromyography (EMG) or any other
testing recommended by Dr. Bolano, even though West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20­
41.7(d)(2) (2006), specifically recommends use of an EMG test to diagnose carpal tunnel
syndrome. West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-1-10.1 (2009) permits the claims
administrator to “require the production of additional evidence” where “a claim has not been
adequately or properly developed for consideration.” The claims administrator’s decision on
March 10, 2010, came prior to an exact diagnosis of Ms. Dean’s condition and prevented her
from properly developing the record. The Board of Review should have remanded Ms. Dean’s
claim for the production of additional evidence, including an EMG in accordance with the
diagnostic recommendations of West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20-41.7(d)(2) (2006).

        For the foregoing reasons, we find that the decision of the Board of Review is clearly the
result of erroneous conclusions of law. Therefore, the decision of the Board of Review is
reversed, and the case is remanded with instructions to require an electromyography (EMG) test
and any additional testing sufficient to make a proper consideration of Ms. Dean’s claim.

                                                                        Reversed and Remanded.

ISSUED: May 14, 2013

CONCURRED IN BY:
Justice Robin J. Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

DISSENTING:
Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Menis E. Ketchum, disqualified