Court Opinion

ID: 8374329
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-19 12:29:26.598675+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:46:17.209337
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                 Oct 19, 2022
                                                                                 07:00 AM(CT)
                                                                              TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                             WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                    CLAIMS

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

 CHRISTOPHER CUTSINGER,            ) Docket Nos. 2021-06-0007
            Employee,              )              2022-06-1079
 v.                                )
 BELLSOUTH                         ) State File Nos. 48212-2020
 TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LLC,          )                 26837-2022
            Employer,              )
 and                               )
 OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE            ) Judge Joshua Davis Baker
 COMPANY,                          )
             Carrier.              )
 ___________________________________________________________________

                    EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER
 ____________________________________________________________________

       In a September 28, 2022 expedited hearing of consolidated cases, Mr. Cutsinger
requested authorization for a blood patch procedure from a July 2020 injury. He also
sought temporary disability benefits for a February 2022 injury. Because he offered
insufficient evidence to show he is likely to prevail at a final hearing on his requests for
benefits, the Court denies them. However, the Court grants continuing, causally-related
medical treatment of his work injuries.

                                      Claim History

       While working for Bellsouth, Mr. Cutsinger alleged two work injuries to his
shoulders, neck, and back occurring about nineteen months apart. The Court heard both
cases together in the interest of judicial expediency.

      Mr. Cutsinger first alleged an injury from lifting traffic cones in July 2020.
Bellsouth accepted his claim, and after some initial treatment with a walk-in clinic, Mr.
Cutsinger chose neurosurgeon Dr. Scott Parker from a panel of physicians.

        After testing revealed only age-related changes, borderline carpal tunnel syndrome
bilaterally, and mild cubital tunnel syndrome, Dr. Parker treated Mr. Cutsinger non-

                                             1
surgically for left-shoulder and cervical strains. The cervical treatment included a cervical
epidural steroid injection [“cesi”], which caused what a physiatrist later called “a very
unusual cascade of symptoms.” Mr. Cutsinger testified that he was offered an epidural
blood patch to treat a headache caused by the injection, but he declined the treatment at
that time.

         His treatment also included several referrals by Dr. Parker, including one to Dr.
James Anderson for a cognitive evaluation for symptoms of “significant stress and
anxiety.” But because those symptoms preexisted the work injury and seemed unrelated
to lifting traffic cones, Bellsouth declined authorization. So, Mr. Cutsinger began treating
with Dr. Anderson using private insurance.

       Dr. Parker also referred Mr. Cutsinger to pain management and to another
neurosurgeon. Both doctors found he suffered from symptoms unrelated to his work and
released him to return to full-duty employment without restrictions.

        After the conclusion of these referrals, Dr. Parker placed Mr. Cutsinger at maximum
medical improvement without permanent impairment and released him to work without
restrictions. He testified later that he had no outstanding treatment recommendations or
referrals at that time, but Mr. Cutsinger could return to him as needed.

       Instead of returning to work, roughly two months later, Mr. Cutsinger visited the
walk-in clinic at which he had treated initially; this time, though, he did not have
Bellsouth’s authorization. The providers at the walk-in clinic made new referrals and
treatment recommendations, and they imposed work restrictions.

       Bellsouth declined to pay for treatment at the walk-in clinic, since Mr. Cutsinger
had not first attempted to see Dr. Parker. It further declined to pay for temporary disability
benefits or for any treatment with Dr. Anderson that was not authorized. At this point, Mr.
Cutsinger requested his first expedited hearing for temporary disability and medical
benefits. The Court accepted his request and heard the case.

       On February 11, 2022, the Court entered an expedited hearing order granting Mr.
Cutsinger continuing treatment with Dr. Parker. The Court, however, denied his request
for payment for unauthorized medical treatment, including treatment with Dr. Anderson.
The Court additionally denied temporary disability benefits, since three authorized
physicians had placed him at maximum medical improvement for the work injury.

       Exactly one week after the Court issued that order, Mr. Cutsinger alleged a new
injury to his shoulders, neck, and back from “lifting a spool of cable off the ground and
twisting [it] to store spool in [a] bucket truck.” He testified that he requested medical
treatment on February 22.

                                              2
       Meanwhile, Mr. Cutsinger was still treating under private insurance with Dr.
Anderson. Because of residual complaints about the cervical epidural steroid injection
received in September 2020, Dr. Anderson wrote on February 11, 2022, that Mr. Cutsinger
“may need blood patch” because of “cesi [cervical epidural steroid injection] 9/25/20 but
most symptoms better.”

       Two weeks after alleging his new injury, Mr. Cutsinger returned to Dr. Parker for
treatment for his 2020 injury but reported “another injury at work which resulted in new
neck and arm pain as well as low back and leg pain.” Dr. Parker could not “fully
comprehend the nature of his symptoms, but there does seem to be possibly a radicular
component in the neck and in the legs.”

       Therefore, Dr. Parker imposed work restrictions for the new injury and ordered
cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine MRIs. Because of the restrictions, Bellsouth initiated
temporary disability benefits.

       When the MRIs yielded normal results and “no structural compression on the nerves
which could be causing his symptoms,” Dr. Parker recommended physical therapy and
noted that Mr. Cutsinger “would like to see a shoulder specialist.” He then released him
from treatment to return as needed.

       Bellsouth offered a panel of orthopedists for the new injury on April 13, 2022, and
Mr. Cutsinger selected orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Cornelius. In his Rule 72
declaration, Mr. Cutsinger stated that, on April 18, 2022, he returned both the orthopedic
panel and a “specialty group panel” choosing Concentra.

       At Concentra, Mr. Cutsinger saw a nurse practitioner, who imposed restrictions for
the new shoulder injury until Dr. Cornelius could evaluate him. Meanwhile, Bellsouth
continued paying temporary disability benefits.

       In an initial visit, Dr. Cornelius also assigned work restrictions and ordered a left-
shoulder MRI, noting Mr. Cutsinger said “someone told him that his neck checks out fine
and that his shoulder [is] the issue.” Dr. Cornelius also added his first impression: “It is
my opinion that the patient’s injury is within the scope of employment.”

        After the MRI, Dr. Cornelius noted “partial tearing of articular surface of
supraspinatus tendon of approximately 10%” in the left shoulder.” He recommended an
injection and physical therapy and also mentioned a “detailed discussion [with Mr.
Cutsinger] of the etiology of the patient’s condition.”

       However, at the next visit, Dr. Cornelius had changed his causation assessment after
reading “4 years of other orthopedic notes with [the] patient having similar complaints.”

                                             3
After consideration of that history, Dr. Cornelius concluded, “I cannot say that his current
symptoms are more likely than not due to the 02/18/2022 incident.”

      Still, Bellsouth is providing medical treatment with Dr. Cornelius, who saw Mr.
Cutsinger as recently as September 16, when temporary disability benefits stopped, even
though Mr. Cutsinger remains under restrictions.

                       Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

       Mr. Cutsinger must present sufficient evidence that he is likely to prevail at a final
hearing to receive benefits at this expedited hearing. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-
239(d)(1) (2021); McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App.
Bd. LEXIS 6, at *9 (Mar. 27, 2015).

        Mr. Cutsinger’s requests at this hearing remained largely the same as those at his
earlier expedited hearing. The Court declines to revisit its decision from the last hearing
without new evidence. As Mr. Cutsinger presented no new evidence concerning those
requests—payment for unauthorized medical treatment and temporary disability benefits
after his 2020 work injury—they remain denied.

      However, Mr. Cutsinger also asked Bellsouth to pay for a blood patch procedure,
which Dr. Anderson suggested earlier this year that he “may need” to treat complaints from
the September 2020 cervical epidural steroid injection. He also sought reinstatement of
temporary disability payments from September 16, 2022, for his 2022 injury.

       Bellsouth argued that Mr. Cutsinger has received all the medical treatment and
disability benefits to which he is entitled, and he has not presented expert medical proof to
show he is likely to prevail at a final hearing on additional medical treatment or temporary
disability benefits.

        Turning to the blood patch procedure, the Worker’s Compensation Law requires an
employer to “furnish, free of charge to the employee, such medical and surgical treatment
. . . made reasonably necessary by accident as defined in this chapter.” Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 50-6-204(a)(1)(A). Any treatment recommendation or referral by a panel physician is
presumed medically necessary for treatment. Id. at § 50-6-204(a)(3)(H).

       Here, Mr. Cutsinger is requesting a blood patch to treat complaints from an injection
two years ago. As proof of its reasonableness and necessity, he offered a notation from Dr.
Anderson that he “may need” a blood patch because of the 2020 injection, even though
“most [of his] symptoms [are] better.” However, this procedure was offered to Mr.
Cutsinger by Dr. Parker, the authorized treating physician, shortly after the 2020 injection,
but he declined to accept it. Now, more than two years later, Mr. Cutsinger claims the
employer should have offered a panel to give the blood patch and asks that Dr. Anderson

                                             4
be named as the authorized treating physician and perform the procedure. The Court denies
this request.

        Further, because so much time has passed, it is now unclear whether the blood patch
is necessary because Dr. Parker has testified that he has no outstanding treatment
recommendations for Mr. Cutsinger, including the blood patch, even though he saw him a
little more than two weeks after Dr. Anderson recommended the procedure. Dr. Parker
also recorded no lingering complaints or symptoms from the 2020 injection.

       In summary, without a recommendation from Dr. Parker, or at least some evidence
that Mr. Cutsinger’s “very unusual cascade of symptoms” from the injection is still present
and that the blood patch is reasonable and necessary treatment for those symptoms, the
Court holds that Mr. Cutsinger is unlikely to prevail at a final hearing in obtaining
authorization for the requested treatment.

       Lastly, the Court considers Mr. Cutsinger’s request for temporary disability
benefits. To prevail at a final hearing, he must show: 1) he became disabled from working
due to a compensable injury; 2) a causal connection exists between his injury and inability
to work; and 3) the duration of his disability. Jones v. Crencor Leasing and Sales, 2015
TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7 (Dec. 11, 2015). An injured worker is entitled
to temporary partial disability benefits “where the treating physician has released the
injured worker to return to work with restrictions prior to maximum recovery, and the
employer . . . cannot return the employee to work within the restrictions.” Id. at *8.

        Although Mr. Cutsinger proved he is presently under restrictions that Bellsouth
cannot accommodate, he did not present sufficient proof of a causal connection between
his alleged work injury and those restrictions. While he relied on Dr. Cornelius’s initial
impression of a work-related injury in his left shoulder, the doctor’s opinion changed after
considering Mr. Cutsinger’s preexisting condition. Without expert medical opinion
connecting his disabled condition, including his need for restrictions, to his work accident,
Mr. Cutsinger is unlikely to prevail on this issue at a final hearing. Therefore, the Court
denies his request for temporary disability benefits.

       However, Mr. Cutsinger “remains entitled to reasonable and necessary medical
treatment causally related to [his] work injur[ies].” Limberakis v. Pro Tech Sec., Inc., 2017
TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 53, at *7 (Sept. 12, 2017).

IT IS ORDERED as follows:

   1. The Court denies Mr. Cutsinger’s requested relief at this time, but he may continue
      to receive reasonable and necessary medical care from Drs. Parker and Cornelius.

                                             5
  2. The Court sets these claims for a status conference on January 9, 2023, at 9:00
     a.m. Central Time. The parties must call (615) 741-2113 or toll-free at (855) 874-
     0474 to participate. Failure to call might result in a determination of the issues
     without the party’s participation.

ENTERED October 19, 2022.

                                ___________________________________
                                Joshua Davis Baker, Judge
                                Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                          6
                                       APPENDIX

Exhibits

   1) Medical records filed by the Employer on February 1, 2022
   2) Medical records filed by the Employer on September 14, 2022
   3) Rule 72 Declaration of Christopher Cutsinger for Docket No. 2021-06-0007
   4) Rule 72 Declaration of Christopher Cutsinger for Docket No. 2022-06-1079
   5) Choice of Physicians form dated April 13, 2022
   6) Wage Statement
   7) Dr. Parker’s August 28, 2020 report
   8) CESI Referral Order
   9) CESI Operative Report
   10) Concentra record dated April 22, 2022
   11) Dr. Cornelius record dated April 27, 2022
   12) Dr. Cornelius record dated May 5, 2022
   13) Choice of Physician forms concerning Drs. Clendenin and Baker
   14) Restrictions from Dr. Parker dated April 8, 2022
   15) Restrictions from Dr. Parker dated March 2, 2022
   16) Restrictions from Dr. Cornelius dated April 27, 2022
   17) Restrictions from Dr. Cornelius dated May 25, 2022
   18) Restrictions from Dr. Cornelius dated June 22, 2022
   19) Restrictions from Dr. Cornelius dated July 20, 2022
   20) Restrictions from Dr. Cornelius dated August 19, 2022
   21) Restrictions from Dr. Cornelius dated September 16, 2022
   22) Plan of Care from Dr. Anderson dated February 11, 2022
   23) Unsigned Choice of Physician form
   24) Questionnaire completed by Christopher Cutsinger

Technical Record: Docket No. 2021-06-0007

   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice
   3. Request for Expedited Hearing
   4. Employer’s Dispute Certification Notice Submission
   5. Order Setting Expedited Hearing
   6. Employer’s Response to Employee’s Request for Expedited Hearing
   7. Employer’s Exhibit List
   8. Employee’s Motion to Approve Cognitive Evaluation
   9. Employer’s Response to Motion to Approve Cognitive Evaluation
   10. Employee’s Motion to Approve CareNow visits
   11. Employer’s Response to Motion to Approve CareNow visits

                                         7
   12. Employee’s Motion to Receive Dr. Parker’s Questionnaire
   13. Employer’s Response to Motion to Receive Dr. Parker’s Questionnaire
   14. Notice of Filing Deposition Transcript of Christopher Cutsinger
   15. Motion for Extension
   16. Order Granting Extension
   17. Notice of Filing of the Deposition Transcript of Dr. Scott Parker
   18. Expedited Hearing Order entered February 11, 2022
   19. Order Setting Status Conference entered March 31, 2022
   20. Order Setting Status Conference entered May 24, 2022
   21. Order Setting Status Conference entered June 14, 2022
   22. Request for Expedited Hearing

Technical record: Docket No. 2021-06-1079

   1.   Petition for Benefit Determination
   2.   Dispute Certification Notice
   3.   Request for Expedited Hearing
   4.   Employer’s Response to Employee’s Request for A Decision on the Record
   5.   Employer’s Response to Employee’s Request for Expedited Hearing

                                 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

        I certify that a copy of this Order was sent as indicated on October 19, 2022.

 Name                         Certified   Via      Via Service sent to:
                               Mail       Fax     Email
 Christopher Cutsinger,                            X    gotsync@bellsouth.net
 Employee
 Kristen Stevenson,                                X     kcstevenson@mijs.com
 Employer’s Attorney                                     ssshell@mijs.com

                                    ____________________________________________
                                    Penny Shrum, Court Clerk
                                    Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
                                    Wc.courtclerk@tn.gov

                                              8
                           Expedited Hearing Order Right to Appeal:

     If you disagree with this Expedited Hearing Order, you may appeal to the Workers’
Compensation Appeals Board. To appeal an expedited hearing order, you must:

   1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: “Notice of Appeal,” and file the form with the
      Clerk of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims within seven business days of the
      date the expedited hearing order was filed. When filing the Notice of Appeal, you must
      serve a copy upon all parties.

   2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten
      calendar days after filing of the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person at
      any Bureau office or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In the
      alternative, you may file an Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the Bureau’s
      website or any Bureau office) seeking a waiver of the fee. You must file the fully-
      completed Affidavit of Indigency within ten calendar days of filing the Notice of
      Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency will
      result in dismissal of the appeal.

   3. You bear the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal. You may request
      from the court clerk the audio recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. If a transcript of
      the proceedings is to be filed, a licensed court reporter must prepare the transcript and file
      it with the court clerk within ten business days of the filing the Notice of
      Appeal. Alternatively, you may file a statement of the evidence prepared jointly by both
      parties within ten business days of the filing of the Notice of Appeal. The statement of
      the evidence must convey a complete and accurate account of the hearing. The Workers’
      Compensation Judge must approve the statement before the record is submitted to the
      Appeals Board. If the Appeals Board is called upon to review testimony or other proof
      concerning factual matters, the absence of a transcript or statement of the evidence can be
      a significant obstacle to meaningful appellate review.

   4. If you wish to file a position statement, you must file it with the court clerk within ten
      business days after the deadline to file a transcript or statement of the evidence. The
      party opposing the appeal may file a response with the court clerk within ten business
      days after you file your position statement. All position statements 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.

For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
                                              NOTICE OF APPEAL
                                      Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
                                        www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/
                                        wc.courtclerk@tn.gov | 1-800-332-2667

                                                                                  Docket No.: ________________________

                                                                                  State File No.: ______________________

                                                                                  Date of Injury: _____________________

         ___________________________________________________________________________
         Employee

         v.

         ___________________________________________________________________________
         Employer

Notice is given that ____________________________________________________________________
                         [List name(s) of all appealing party(ies). Use separate sheet if necessary.]

appeals the following order(s) of the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims to the
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (check one or more applicable boxes and include the date file-
stamped on the first page of the order(s) being appealed):

□ Expedited Hearing Order filed on _______________ □ Motion Order filed on ___________________
□ Compensation Order filed on__________________ □ Other Order filed on_____________________
issued by Judge _________________________________________________________________________.

Statement of the Issues on Appeal
Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Parties
Appellant(s) (Requesting Party): _________________________________________ ☐Employer ☐Employee
Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________
Email: __________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: ______________________________________________ BPR#: _______________________
Attorney’s Email: ______________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
                           * Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellant *

LB-1099 rev. 01/20                              Page 1 of 2                                              RDA 11082
Employee Name: _______________________________________ Docket No.: _____________________ Date of Inj.: _______________

Appellee(s) (Opposing Party): ___________________________________________ ☐Employer ☐Employee
Appellee’s Address: ______________________________________________ Phone: ____________________
Email: _________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: _____________________________________________ BPR#: ________________________
Attorney’s Email: _____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
                              * Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellee *

                                             CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, _____________________________________________________________, certify that I have forwarded a
true and exact copy of this Notice of Appeal by First Class mail, postage prepaid, or in any manner as described
in Tennessee Compilation Rules & Regulations, Chapter 0800-02-21, to all parties and/or their attorneys in this
case on this the __________ day of ___________________________________, 20 ____.

                                                           ______________________________________________
                                                            [Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]

LB-1099 rev. 01/20                                 Page 2 of 2                                        RDA 11082