Court Opinion

ID: 4559568
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 21:00:45.655054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:39.127356
License: Public Domain

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
             IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
                            AT MURFREESBORO

TIM VENABLE                                             )    Docket No.: 2015-05-00582
         Employee,                                      )
v.                                                      )    State File No.: 78398-2014
                                                        )
SUPERIOR ESSEX, INC.                                    )
         Employer,                                      )
And                                                     )    Judge Dale Tipps
                                                        )
SENTRY CASUALTY CO.                                     )
         Insurance Carrier.                             )

                                EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER
                               GRANTING MEDICAL BENEFITS
                                   (REVIEW OF THE FILE)

       This matter came before the undersigned workers’ compensation judge on the
Request for Expedited Hearing filed by the employee, Tim Venable, pursuant to
Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239 (2015). The present focus of this case is
whether Mr. Venable is entitled to the knee replacement surgery recommended by Dr.
Scott McCall. The central legal issue is whether the evidence is sufficient for the Court
to determine that Mr. Venable is likely to establish at a hearing on the merits that the
recommended surgery is medically reasonable and necessary. For the reasons set forth
below, the Court holds Mr. Venable is entitled to the requested medical benefits at this
time.1

      This Court finds it needs no additional information to determine whether Mr.
Venable is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits of the claim. Accordingly, pursuant
to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(d)(2) (2015), Tennessee Compilation
Rules and Regulations 0800-02-21-.14(1)(c) (2015), and Rule 7.02 of the Practices and
Procedures of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims (2015), the Court decides this
1
  A complete listing of the technical record and exhibits considered by the Court is attached to this Order as an
appendix.

                                                       1
matter upon a review of the written materials.

                                            History of Claim

       A review of the file established the following facts.2 Mr. Venable suffered a
previous injury to his left knee in 2005, which Dr. Randall Davidson diagnosed as
“chondromalacia patella and medial femoral condyle.” Dr. Davidson performed a
surgical debridement of the knee on October 17, 2005. (Ex. 7.)

       Mr. Venable sustained a compensable injury to the same knee on September 18,
2014, while in the course and scope of his work with the employer, Superior Essex, Inc.
Beginning on October 29, 2014, Superior provided treatment with Dr. Davidson, who
assessed a medial meniscus tear and patellofemoral arthritis of the left knee. (Ex. 4.) Dr.
Davidson performed an arthroscopic meniscal repair and debridement of chondromalacia
of the patella and medial femoral condyle on December 4, 2014. (Ex. 5.)

        Mr. Venable continued to see Dr. Davidson with complaints of pain in his knee.
After several months, Dr. Davidson suspected Mr. Venable’s pain was “related to the
arthritic changes noted at the time of his surgery.” He ordered an MRI and referred Mr.
Venable to another physician in his practice, Dr. Scott McCall, for evaluation of a knee
replacement. (Ex. 13.)

        Dr. McCall saw Mr. Venable on May 14, 2015. After examining Mr. Venable and
reviewing his medical records and imaging reports, Dr. McCall diagnosed osteoarthritis
of the left knee. He also stated:

        I think the current issue and need for partial knee replacement versus total
        knee are related to his original work comp injury. He has had significant
        progression of arthritic change in his medial compartment since the injury
        and menisectomy. We will only do a total knee if a uni is not the best
        option for him once we actually open the knee up during surgery.

(Ex. 15.)

        Superior sent Dr. McCall’s surgical recommendation for Utilization Review (UR)
by Dr. Glenn Smith. He reviewed Mr. Venable’s medical file and recommended non-
certification on June 24, 2015. Referring to the Eleventh Edition of the Official
Disability Guidelines (ODG), Dr. Smith noted that a unicompartmental or partial
replacement was not supported because Mr. Venable had mild cartilage changes in two
compartments. He also recited the ODG requirement for total knee replacement as
2
 With the exception of Dr. McCall’s deposition transcript, all the documents submitted for consideration by the
Court were included as exhibits attachments to Superior’s Brief in Opposition to Employee’s Request for Medical
Treatment. For ease of reference, the Court will utilize the same exhibit numbers as those used in the Brief.

                                                      2
“significant loss of chondral clear space in at least one of three compartments with varus
or valgus deformity and indication with additional strength.” Because Mr. Venable only
had grade 1 cartilage thinning, Dr. Smith felt he did not meet this requirement of
“significant osteoarthritis” and was not a proper candidate for total knee replacement.
Restating the ODG indications for surgery included objective findings of over fifty years
of age and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than forty, Dr. Smith also noted Mr.
Venable was forty-six years of age with a BMI of 42.72. (Ex. 16.)

       Mr. Venable returned to Dr. McCall following the UR denial. Dr. McCall’s note
of June 29, 2015, states:

       The information in the denial letter is incorrect. Mr. Venable had an acute
       injury resulting in complete menisectomy on 9/18/2014. He is now 9
       months out from that injury and has progressed to bone on bone deformity
       in the knee. There is clear progression in his radiographic findings
       comparing today’s x-ray with the original x-rays from 9/18/2014. The
       9/28/2014 [sic] x-ray showed very minimal degenerative change.
       6/29/2015 x-ray shows bone on bone deformity in his medial compartment
       with joint subluxation. His hip to ankle alignment shows a 8-10 deg varus
       deformity. . . . There is no intervention short of a knee replacement based
       on his clinical condition and radiographic findings that will allow him to
       return to regular duty. Due to his radiographic findings I recommend total
       knee arthroplasty.

(Ex. 17.)

       After Superior received Dr. McCall’s explanation and his renewed surgical
recommendation, it submitted it to UR a second time. Dr. Bart Goldman reviewed the
file and issued a report on July 16, 2015. Dr. Goldman stated:

       Assuming that the most recent x-rays have been appropriately interpreted
       then total knee replacement is indeed reasonable. However I disagree with
       the treating orthopedist’s opinion that the progression of this gentleman’s
       disease is from his partial medial meniscectomy. It is much more within a
       reasonable degree of medical probability that the rapid increase in this
       gentleman’s degenerative change in the medial compartment of his knee is
       related to the chondroplasty or actual removal of cartilage performed for his
       pre-existing chondromalacia than as a result of his partial medial
       meniscectomy. Therefore, this gentleman’s need for his total knee
       replacement is related to his obesity, his pre-existing degenerative joint
       disease and the surgery performed for the pre-existing degenerative joint
       disease i.e. the chondroplasty. It is, therefore, recommended that a total
       knee replacement, while likely reasonable, be considered unrelated to the

                                            3
       injury in question.

(Ex. 18.)

        Dr. McCall testified in his deposition that Dr. Goldman’s denial was appealed to
the Bureau’s Medical Director, Dr. Robert Snyder, although the record does not specify
whether Dr. McCall or Mr. Venable filed the appeal. The Medical Director issued a letter
dated September 1, 2015, stating, “The physician is in agreement with the denial by
utilization review completed by Eckman/Freeman on 7/26/2015 regarding the
unicompartmental left knee replacement.” The letter continued, “This determination
relates only to medical necessity. Please note that this decision shall not be used to
determine causation and/or compensability per the provisions of T.C.A. § 50-6-102(19).”
(Ex. 19.)

       Following the UR denial, Dr. McCall continued to treat Mr. Venable with
cortisone injections. He reiterated his opinion that Mr. Venable needs a total knee
replacement to correct his post-traumatic osteoarthritis. (Ex. 20.)

       The parties deposed Dr. McCall on March 16, 2016. He testified that Mr.
Venable’s work injury resulted in a 100-percent tear of his meniscus. While the
December 4, 2014 arthroscopic surgery “cleaned up” the torn edges, it did not make the
meniscus functional. This loss of joint space and the resulting bone-on-bone condition
caused a progression of his arthritis. Dr. McCall felt the only realistic option was knee
replacement. (McCall Dep. at 8, 10, 14.)

        Following Superior’s denial of the recommended medical treatment, Mr. Venable
filed a Petition for Benefit Determination seeking an order requiring Superior to authorize
the knee replacement surgery. The parties did not resolve the disputed issues through
mediation, and the Mediating Specialist filed a Dispute Certification Notice. Mr.
Venable filed a Request for Expedited Hearing and asked the Court to issue a ruling
based on a review of the file without an evidentiary hearing. Upon determining no
additional information was needed to determine whether Mr. Venable was likely to
prevail at a hearing on the merits of the claim, the Court issued a Docketing Notice on
July 26, 2016, identifying the documents it received for review and advising the parties
that they had until August 4, 2016, to file any objections to the admissibility of any of
those documents.        The parties filed no objections, but because the Workers’
Compensation Appeals Board was considering a case potentially involving similar UR
issues, agreed that the Court should delay its order in this matter until the Board issued its
opinion.

      Following the Board’s opinion in the case of Morgan v. Macy’s, No. 2016-08-
0270, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 39 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. Aug.
31, 2016), the Court advised the parties they had until September 8, 2016, to file any

                                              4
additional arguments. The parties filed nothing further.

       In his Brief, Mr. Venable argued that the Workers’ Compensation Statute grants
the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims jurisdiction over the issue of reasonableness
and necessity of medical treatment, including cases in which the Medical Director has
issued an opinion. He did not make any arguments addressing the medical proof in this
case.

       Superior argued in its Response that the Medical Director’s decision should be
deemed final and should not be subject to review by the Court. Alternatively, it notes
two independent UR doctors and the Medical Director denied the knee replacement
surgery. Superior argues these objective evaluations of Dr. McCall’s recommendation
constitute a preponderance of the evidence proving the knee replacement is not medically
necessary.

                       Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

        The following legal principles govern this case. Because this case is in a posture
of an Expedited Hearing, Mr. Venable need not prove every element of his claim by a
preponderance of the evidence in order to obtain relief. McCord v. Advantage Human
Resourcing, No. 2014-06-0063, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9
(Tenn. Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. Mar. 27, 2015). Instead, he must come forward with
sufficient evidence from which this court might determine he is likely to prevail at a
hearing on the merits. Id.; Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1)(2015). In analyzing
whether he has met his burden, the Court will not remedially or liberally construe the law
in his favor, but instead shall construe the law fairly, impartially, and in accordance with
basic principles of statutory construction favoring neither Mr. Venable nor Superior. See
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-116 (2015).

                                    Utilization Review

       The Court must first address Superior’s argument that it lacks authority to consider
issues of medical necessity after a UR denial. The Court notes it has “original and
exclusive jurisdiction over all contested claims for workers’ compensation benefits when
the date of the alleged injury is on or after July 1, 2014.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-
237(2015). Further, the Court recognizes its statutory authority under Tennessee Code
Annotated section 50-6-238(a)(3) (2015), “to hear and determine claims for
compensation, to approve settlements of claims for compensation, to conduct hearings,
and to make orders, decisions, and determinations.” (Emphasis added.) Accordingly, the
Court finds it has statutory authority to review the medical evidence in this case. To hold
otherwise would deprive Mr. Venable, or any party, of a hearing to determine issues
regarding medical necessity.

                                             5
       Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204(A)(3)(H) (2015) provides a treating
physician’s opinion regarding medical necessity shall be presumed to be medically
necessary. If this Court had no authority to hear issues of medical necessity, then a party
would have no venue to argue whether that presumption had been rebutted. This would
render section 50-6-204(A)(3)(I) meaningless. The Court has a duty to construe a statute
so that no part will be rendered inoperative, superfluous, void, or insignificant. McGee v.
Best, 106 S.W.3d 48, 64 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002).

      Further, the Court finds the common law to be instructive. In Kilgore v. NHC
Healthcare, 134 S.W.3d 153 (Tenn. 2004), our Supreme Court addressed an employer’s
argument that an appeal to the Medical Director was the exclusive remedy to overturn a
UR denial. The Court noted such argument was “not supported by the plain and ordinary
meaning of section 50-6-124(d),” which reads, then and now, as follows:

        Nothing in this section shall prevent an employer from electing to provide
        utilization review; however, if the employee, provider or any other party
        not contractually bound to the employer’s utilization review program
        disagrees with that employer’s utilization review, then that employee,
        provider or other party shall have recourse to the commissioner’s
        utilization review program, as provided for in this section.
Id. at 158. (Emphasis added.)

       The Court found the term “shall have recourse” means a party can seek
administrative review but, seeking administrative review “does not replace or limit
judicial review.” Id. The statute, by its plain meaning, did not provide that
administrative appeal was the “sole or exclusive means of appealing an employer’s [UR]
decision, nor [did] the statute state that seeking recourse [within the UR system] is a
condition to appealing to the court that had jurisdiction” of the case. Id.

        Nothing in the current statute limits Kilgore’s applicability. To the contrary, the
Court notes the current version of Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-124(d) (2015)
is identical to the version in effect when the Supreme Court decided that case.

       Finally, as noted above, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board recently
addressed UR issues in Morgan v. Macy’s. The employee in Morgan filed a PBD
challenging a UR denial of a surgical recommendation made by her authorized treating
physician (ATP). The Board addressed the application of the “clear and convincing”
standard in overcoming the presumption of medical necessity.3 Although it did not
directly consider the issue, the Board’s analysis suggests an implicit recognition of the

3
  This heightened evidentiary standard, created by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-124(h) (2015), only
applies to treatment recommendations made subsequent to the Bureau’s adoption of treatment guidelines.

                                                     6
trial court’s authority to consider issues of medical necessity in cases of UR denial.

       Based on the foregoing, the Court concludes that the Medical Director’s upholding
of Superior’s UR denial does not preclude Mr. Venable’s seeking judicial review in this
Court. The Court holds it has authority to review the medical evidence in this case and
determine whether it supports a finding that Mr. Venable is entitled to the recommended
surgery.

                                            Medical Necessity

        As noted above, Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204(a)(3)(H) (2015)
provides: “Any treatment recommended by a physician or chiropractor selected pursuant
to this subdivision (a)(3) or by referral, if applicable, shall be presumed to be medically
necessary for treatment of the injured employee.” Because Dr. Davidson specifically
referred Mr. Venable to Dr. McCall, the knee replacement surgery recommended by Dr.
McCall is presumed to be medically necessary. 4 Superior contends it has overcome this
presumption with the opinions of Dr. Smith, Dr. Goldman, and Dr. Snyder. The Court
disagrees.

      Dr. Smith opined in his UR report that a unicompartmental or partial replacement
was not supported because Mr. Venable had mild cartilage changes in two compartments.
He also felt Mr. Venable did not meet the requirement of “significant osteoarthritis”
necessary for total knee replacement because he only had grade 1 cartilage thinning.

       Dr. McCall responded by saying the information in Dr. Smith’s letter was
incorrect. He pointed out that Mr. Venable had more than just cartilage thinning, but had
a complete menisectomy in September 2014. Dr. McCall felt that the x-rays
demonstrated a nine-month progression from minimal degenerative change to bone-on-
bone deformity in the knee, as reflected in the June 29, 2015 x-ray, which was performed
after Dr. Smith issued his denial.

      Superior argued that Dr. McCall’s interpretation of the x-rays is flawed because
imaging studies showed “very mild and minimal changes in the arthritic condition”
between October 29, 2014, and May 5, 2015. It contended Dr. McCall’s reading of these
imaging studies directly conflicts with Dr. Davidson’s previous findings. This argument
overlooks the fact that Dr. Davidson noted that the June 29, 2015 x-ray showed “bone on
bone deformity in his medial compartment with joint subluxation.” It further ignores the
4
  The Court notes subsection (I) provides the presumption may only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence
following the adoption of treatment guidelines. As the treatment recommendation submitted to UR was made in
2015, prior to the Bureau’s adoption of treatment guidelines on March 1, 2016, the Court is applying a
preponderance of the evidence standard in this case. However, the Court also notes Dr. McCoy reiterated his
recommendations in his March 16, 2016 deposition. It is unclear whether this would bring his recommendation
under the purview of subsection (I). The Court finds it unnecessary to make this determination, as a simple
preponderance of the evidence failed to overcome the presumption.

                                                      7
fact that Dr. Davidson specifically referred Mr. Venable to Dr. McCall for an evaluation
of the need for knee replacement. As no medical evidence was submitted suggesting the
x-rays were improperly interpreted, the Court finds Dr. McCall’s explanation to be
persuasive.

       The June 29, 2015 x-rays and Dr. McCall’s recommendation for total knee
replacement triggered the second UR evaluation. Dr. Goldman conducted this
evaluation, and his UR report is somewhat peculiar. Insofar as he actually addressed
medical necessity, Dr. Goldman supported Dr. McCall’s treatment recommendations by
stating, “Assuming that the most recent x-rays have been appropriately interpreted then
total knee replacement is indeed reasonable.” However, he then opined that the surgery
should be considered unrelated to Mr. Venable’s workplace injury.

        Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-102(20) (2015) defines “Utilization
review” as “evaluation of the necessity, appropriateness, efficiency and quality of
medical care services.” Rule 0800-02-06-.04(2)(a) (2015) of the Tennessee Compilation
Rules and Regulations further states: “The utilization review agent shall only consider the
medical necessity, appropriateness, efficiency, and quality of the recommended treatment
for the employee’s condition.” Dr. Goldman’s causation opinion was therefore improper,
as it exceeded the statutory scope of Utilization Review.5

        The only document submitted regarding any appeal to the Medical Director is Dr.
Snyder’s September 1, 2015 letter stating he was “in agreement with the denial by
utilization review completed by Eckman/Freeman on 7/26/2015 regarding the
unicompartmental left knee replacement.” This letter is problematic for a number of
reasons.     First, neither of the UR denials (which were both completed by
Eckman/Freeman) was dated July 26, 2015. The letter may refer to Dr. Goldman’s July
16, 2015 report. If so, Dr. Snyder’s conclusion is unclear, as Dr. Goldman actually
agreed with the medical necessity of knee replacement surgery. If Dr. Snyder intended to
agree with Dr. Goldman, he was effectively agreeing with the determination that the
recommended surgery is necessary.6

       Because his letter refers to “unicompartmental” knee replacement, Dr. Snyder may
have intended to agree with Dr. Smith’s June 24, 2015 report, as unicompartmental knee
replacement was the recommendation addressed by Dr. Smith. Based on the evidence
submitted, the Court has insufficient information to conclude that Dr. Smith’s UR

5
  Even if the Court were to consider Dr. Goldman’s causation opinion, Superior submitted no evidence suggesting
Dr. McCall’s methodology or analysis was fundamentally unsound, or that Dr. Goldman’s was superior. Thus, Dr.
Goldman’s opinion would be insufficient to overcome the presumption of correctness afforded Dr. McCall’s opinion
by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-102(14)(E) (2015).
6
  Dr. Snyder obviously did not address Dr. Goldman’s improper causation opinion, as his letter clearly states, “This
determination relates only to medical necessity. Please note that this decision shall not be used to determine
causation and/or compensability per the provisions of T.C.A. § 50-6-102(19).”

                                                         8
decision was ever appealed.7 Thus, if Dr. Snyder intended to uphold that denial, it is not
clear he had any authority to do so.

        In any event, the most recent surgical recommendation made by the authorized
treating physician occurred after the UR denial of unicompartmental knee replacement.
This was Dr. McCall’s June 29, 2015 recommendation for total knee replacement. Dr.
Goldman did not deny this procedure as medically unnecessary and the Medical Director
did not address it. Therefore, the Court holds that Superior has failed to overcome the
statutory presumption of medical necessity by a preponderance of the evidence. Mr.
Venable thus appears likely to prove at a hearing on the merits that the recommended
total knee replacement is medically reasonable and necessary.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:

      1. Medical care for Mr. Venable’s injuries shall be paid and Superior or its workers’
         compensation carrier shall provide Mr. Venable with medical treatment for these
         injuries as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204 (2015), to
         include the total knee replacement operation recommended by Dr. McCall.
         Medical bills shall be furnished to Superior or its workers’ compensation carrier
         by Mr. Venable or the medical providers.

      2. This matter is set for an Initial (Scheduling) Hearing on November 15, 2016, at
         9:00 a.m..

      3. Unless interlocutory appeal of the Expedited Hearing Order is filed,
         compliance with this Order must occur no later than seven business days
         from the date of entry of this Order as required by Tennessee Code
         Annotated section 50-6-239(d)(3) (2015). The Insurer or Self-Insured
         Employer must submit confirmation of compliance with this Order to the
         Bureau by email to WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov no later than the
         seventh business day after entry of this Order. Failure to submit the
         necessary confirmation within the period of compliance may result in a
         penalty assessment for non-compliance.

      4. For questions regarding compliance, please contact the Workers’ Compensation
         Compliance Unit via email WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov or by calling (615)
         253-1471 or (615) 532-1309.

           ENTERED this the 15th day of September, 2016.

7
    Dr. McCall testified it was Dr. Goldman’s UR denial that was appealed.

                                                          9
                                  _____________________________________
                                  Judge Dale Tipps
                                  Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

Initial (Scheduling) Hearing:

      An Initial (Scheduling) Hearing has been set with Judge Dale Tipps, Court of
Workers’ Compensation Claims. You must call 615-741-2112 or toll free at 855-
874-0473 to participate.

       Please Note: You must call in on the scheduled date/time to
participate. Failure to call in may result in a determination of the issues without
your further participation. All conferences are set using Central Time (CT).

Right to Appeal:

       Tennessee Law allows any party who disagrees with this Expedited Hearing Order
to appeal the decision to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. To file a Notice of
Appeal, you must:

   1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: “Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal.”

   2. File the completed form with the Court Clerk within seven business days of the
      date the Workers’ Compensation Judge entered the Expedited Hearing Order.

   3. Serve a copy of the Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal upon the opposing party.

   4. The appealing party is responsible for payment of a filing fee in the amount of
      $75.00. Within ten calendar days after the filing of a notice of appeal, payment
      must be received by check, money order, or credit card payment. Payments can be
      made in person at any Bureau office or by United States mail, hand-delivery, or
      other delivery service. In the alternative, the appealing party may file an Affidavit
      of Indigency, on a form prescribed by the Bureau, seeking a waiver of the filing
      fee. The Affidavit of Indigency may be filed contemporaneously with the Notice
      of Appeal or must be filed within ten calendar days thereafter. The Appeals Board
      will consider the Affidavit of Indigency and issue an Order granting or denying
      the request for a waiver of the filing fee as soon thereafter as is
      practicable. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of
      Indigency in accordance with this section shall result in dismissal of the
      appeal.

                                            10
5. The parties, having the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal,
   may request, from the Court Clerk, the audio recording of the hearing for the
   purpose of having a transcript prepared by a licensed court reporter and filing it
   with the Court Clerk within ten calendar days of the filing of the Expedited
   Hearing Notice of Appeal. Alternatively, the parties may file a joint statement of
   the evidence within ten calendar days of the filing of the Expedited Hearing
   Notice of Appeal. The statement of the evidence must convey a complete and
   accurate account of what transpired in the Court of Workers’ Compensation
   Claims and must be approved by the workers’ compensation judge before the
   record is submitted to the Clerk of the Appeals Board.

6. If the appellant elects to file a position statement in support of the interlocutory
   appeal, the appellant shall file such position statement with the Court Clerk within
   five business days of the expiration of the time to file a transcript or statement of
   the evidence, specifying the issues presented for review and including any
   argument in support thereof. A party opposing the appeal shall file a response, if
   any, with the Court Clerk within five business days of the filing of the appellant’s
   position statement. All position statements pertaining to an appeal of an
   interlocutory order should include: (1) a statement summarizing the facts of the
   case from the evidence admitted during the expedited hearing; (2) a statement
   summarizing the disposition of the case as a result of the expedited hearing; (3) a
   statement of the issue(s) presented for review; and (4) an argument, citing
   appropriate statutes, case law, or other authority.

                                         11
                                    APPENDIX

Exhibits:
   1. Index and exhibits attached to Superior’s Brief in Opposition to Employee’s
      Request for Medical Treatment
   2. Deposition of Dr. Scott McCall

Technical Record:
   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice
   3. Request for Expedited Hearing
   4. Stipulations filed April 21, 2016
   5. Notice of Factual Correction on DCN filed February 19, 2016
   6. Parties’ Briefs

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                           CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

       I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Expedited Hearing Order
Granting Medical Benefits was sent to the following recipients by the following methods
of service on this the 15th day of September, 2016.

 Name                     Certified   Via         Via Service sent to:
                           Mail       Fax        Email
 Mark Lambert                                     X    mlambert@forthepeople.com
 Lee Anne Murray                                  X    leeamurrary@feeneymurray.com

                                        _____________________________________
                                        Penny Shrum, Clerk of Court
                                        Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
                                        WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov

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