Court Opinion

ID: 1063253
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:12:56.503173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:06:31.162926
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Kelsey, Petty and Senior Judge Bumgardner

AMERICAN RED CROSS
                                                                MEMORANDUM OPINION *
v.     Record No. 0804-09-4                                          PER CURIAM
                                                                  SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
KAUSHLYA VERMA

              FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION

                 (Richard M. Reed; Semmes, Bowen & Semmes, on brief), for
                 appellant.

                 (Craig A. Brown; Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP, on brief), for appellee.

       American Red Cross (employer) appeals a decision of the Workers’ Compensation

Commission finding that Kaushlya Verma (claimant) was entitled to receive ongoing temporary

total disability benefits because there was no unjustified refusal to attend an employer-scheduled

independent medical examination (IME). Upon reviewing the record and briefs of the parties,

we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we summarily affirm the

commission’s decision. Rule 5A:27.

                                           I. Background

       Claimant sustained a compensable workplace injury on June 23, 2003, and has remained

under an open award for temporary total disability benefits since that time. By letter dated

January 10, 2008, claimant was notified that she was to report for an IME on January 22, 2008.

Claimant’s counsel immediately notified employer that claimant was in India caring for her

       *
           Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
ailing father and that the examination would need to be rescheduled. Employer cancelled the

IME and did not attempt to reschedule the appointment with claimant. 1

       On March 6, 2008, employer filed an application seeking termination of claimant’s

disability benefits. The deputy commissioner rejected employer’s application for hearing,

finding employer did not meet its burden of proving claimant unjustifiably refused to attend the

January 22, 2008 IME. In a split decision, the commission affirmed the deputy commissioner’s

decision, finding “there was no willful denial to attend the appointment.” This appeal followed.

                                          II. Analysis

       Code § 65.2-607 provides:

                      A. After an injury and so long as he claims compensation,
                      the employee, if so requested by his employer or ordered
                      by the Commission, shall submit himself to examination at
                      reasonable times and places, by a duly qualified physician
                      or surgeon designated and paid by the employer or
                      commission . . . .

                      B. If the employee refuses to submit himself to or in any
                      way obstructs such examination requested by and provided
                      for by the employer, his right to compensation and his right
                      to take or prosecute any proceedings under this title shall be
                      suspended until such refusal or objection ceases and no
                      compensation shall at any time be payable for the period of
                      suspension unless in the opinion of the Commission the
                      circumstances justify the refusal or obstruction.

“Justification is a factual determination made upon an objective view of all circumstances as they

reasonably appeared to the claimant. The commission’s factual findings on this issue are

conclusive and binding on this Court if supported by credible evidence.” R. G. Moore Bldg.

Corp. v. Mullins, 10 Va. App. 211, 214, 390 S.E.2d 788, 789 (1990).

       1
         On May 19, 2008, approximately one month after claimant returned from India,
claimant notified employer she had returned to Virginia and was available for an IME.
                                          -2-
       Here, claimant provided documentation from her father’s physician that claimant was in

India caring for her ailing father when employer scheduled an IME. There is some discrepancy

in the record as to when claimant received notice of the IME. 2 Nevertheless, assuming claimant

was timely notified of the IME, credible evidence in the record supports the commission’s

factual finding that claimant’s absence from the IME was justified since she was out of the

country and could not make arrangements to return on such short notice.

                                        III. Conclusion

       For the reasons stated, we summarily affirm the commission’s decision. Rule 5A:27.

                                                                                       Affirmed.

       2
        Claimant’s counsel received notice of the IME and immediately notified employer of
claimant’s inability to attend the appointment. The IME coordinator confirmed cancellation of
the examination by letter dated January 15, 2008.
                                           -3-