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USUS.,  _XXXXXK-XXX  R8XXXdd8  @ #XXXK-h#[,XXXINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE#XXX[,#K-XXXԈ &   (AssignedonBriefsApril3,2002) L #XXXK-# K-XXXLARRYDEANSEALv.CHARLESBLALOCK&SONS,INC.,etal.  J  #XXXK-R#AppealfromtheCircuitCourtforHancockCounty  p @@No.C2980_Kindall_ԀT.Lawson,Judge  \ @@*AV) ` dE< ` A  4  @@TTNo.E200100050SCWCMCVFiledOctober11,_2002_ /  AV) ` dE<` A    K-XXX  #XXXK-##XXXXXXI#Inthisworkerscompensationcase,weareaskedtodeterminewhetherthetrialcourterredin (  awardingbenefitsfora93%vocationaldisabilitytothebodyasawhole.Theemployercontends  thatcompensationshouldbelimitedtoanawardforlossofascheduledmember.Afterreviewing  therecordandapplicableauthority,weconcludethattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrial  courtsawardofbenefitsfordisabilitytothebodyasawhole;accordingly,wemodifythejudgment  ofthetrialcourttoprovideforanawardof100%disabilitytotheleg.Additionally,wefindnoerror t inthetrialcourtsadmissionofthephysicaltherapiststestimony. ` XXXXXX Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B)MotionforReview;FindingsofFactandConclusions 8 ofLawoftheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanelAffirmed;Judgmentofthe $t TrialCourt Modified.  `   _Adolpho_ԀA.Birch,Jr.,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichFrankF._Drowota_,III, < C.J.,andJaniceM.HolderandWilliamL.BarkerJJ.,joined.E.RileyAnderson,J,not ( participating.  DavidM.Sanders,Knoxville,Tennessee,fortheappellant,TravelersInsuranceCompany#XXXXXX#XXXXXX.#XXXXXX #XXXXXX   JamesM.Davis,Morristown,Tennessee,fortheappellee,LarryDeanSeal#XXXXXX #XXXXXX.#XXXXXX #XXXXXX t"!  @@OO& OPINION  8% $     I.FactsandProceduralHistory '`"& V #XXXXXX #   `     h      p       Theemployee,LarryDeanSeal,was thirtynineyearsoldatthetimeoftrialandhadan (8$( eighthgradeeducation.Hisworkhistoryconsistedprimarilyofmanuallabor,includingoperating )$%) aforklift,trimmingpartsinadiecastingplant,feedinglumberthrougharipsawinafurniture *&* factory,runningarollerforapavingcompany,andoperatingabackhoe. +&+   ,',n _  OnJuly13,1998,SealwasworkingasaheavymachineoperatorforCharlesBlalock&   Sons,Inc.(Blalock).Whileusingascraperonasteephill,Seallostcontrolofthemachine.It  careenedthrougharockyarea,andSealwasthrownagainsttheseat,windshield,andsteeringwheel.  Hisfootbecamecaughtundertheseat;hisheelandsternumwerefractured.Itishisfootinjury t whichhascausedextendeddisability. `   SealwasfirsttreatedbyPaulReed,M.D.,whoorderedxraysandprescribedmedicationfor 8  pain.Later,SealsoughtmedicaltreatmentintheMorristown!HamblenHospitalemergencyroom. $ t HewasgivenmedicationforpainandreferredtoStephenGraham,M.D.,whocontinuedtreatment  ` withpainmedicationandfittedSealwitha camwalkerQ  #  1      ׀braceforhisleg.Sealwasunabletowear  L  thebrace,however,becausethemetalbarsonthesideofthebracecausedpainwhenhisfoot  8  swelled.GrahamreleasedSealtoreturntoworkonNovember17,1998,andsubsequentlyopined $  thatSealreachedmaximummedicalimprovementonDecember16,1998.      SealinformedBlalockthathecouldreturntowork,butBlalockterminatedhisemployment   becausetheworkrestrictionsimposedbyhisdoctorprohibitedhimfromhandlingheavymachinery   orstandingtodirecttrafficasaflagperson.Sealcontinuedtoseektreatmentforpainandswelling p inhisleg.AfterGrahamrelocated,SealpursuedtreatmentwithJohnHancock,M.D.,whoreferred \ SealtoMichaelW.Bratton,M.D.,anorthopedicsurgeon. H   SealfiledacomplaintseekingbenefitsundertheWorkersCompensationAct,andtheparties  p proceededtotrial.Attrial,Sealtestifiedthatthepainandswellinginhisleglefthimunabletofarm,  \ operatepedalsonheavymachinery,getonandoffsuchmachinery,orstandforovertentofifteen H minutesonconcrete.Heassertedthatthepainfromhisinjuryextendeduphisbackandcausedhim 4 tolimpwhenhewalked.Hefurthertestifiedthattheswellinginhisfoothadcontinuedandthatthe   backpainwasworsening.     Thepartiespresentedextensivedepositiontestimony.Sealofferedthetestimonyof  orthopedicsurgeonWilliamJ.Gutch,M.D.;vocationalexpertNormanR.Hankins,Ed.D.;and  physicaltherapistKathyB.Lane.GutchtestifiedthatSealsufferedfromafractureofthecalcaneus,O  #  2       l traumaticarthritisofthesubtalarjoint,restrictionofmotionandpainintheankleandhindfoot, X  persistentswellinginthefoot,andcalfatrophy.HedescribedSealsinjuryasasignificantone D! whichwouldcausepainforSealslifetimeanddrasticallylimitSealsabilitytowalkorstand,and 0"  heopinedthatthepaininevitablywouldbecomeunrelenting.Eventually,hestated,aprocedure #l! knownassubtalararthrodesis,involvingasurgicalfusionofjointsinthefoot,wouldberequiredto $X" alleviatesomeofSealspain.GutchconcludedthattheinjuryhadrenderedSealunabletowalkor $D # standformorethanthirtyminutesatatime(totalingthreehoursinaneighthourday),carryobjects, %0!$ climbstairs,walkonunlevelground,orpushtheclutchandbrakepedalsonheavy_equipment. &"% Ї  HankinstestifiedthatheperformedavocationalassessmentonSealandadministeredtests  tomeasureSealsabilities.HestatedthatSealreadonathirdgradelevel,performedarithmeticon  asecondgradelevel,and,basedontheSlossonIntelligenceTest,wasfoundtohaveanIQoffifty  four.HankinsfurtherstatedthatSealdidnotshowanyclericalaptitude,hadpoormemory,and t functioned atalevelthatwouldbegenerallyconsideredtobemildlyretarded.Hankinsfoundthat ` Sealsrestrictionswouldeliminate93  to  96%ofthejobsSealwasqualifiedfor,andheconcluded L  thatSealwouldhavenorealisticchanceofobtainingemploymentwerehetocompeteintheopen 8  labormarketforajobdoingsedentarywork.HeopinedthatSealwas100%vocationallydisabled. $ t   LanetestifiedthatsheperformedafunctionalcapacityevaluationonSeal.Sheobservedthat  L  Sealcomplainedofpaininhisheelimmediatelyuponstandingandpaininhislowerbackafter  8  sittingforonehour.Inhertesting,shefounddecreasedankleandfootmotion,anabnormalgait,and $  alossofrighthipflexion,andshefurtherfoundthatSealcouldlifttenpoundsonafrequentbasis,   twentypoundsonanoccasionalbasis,andlessthanfortypoundsonaonetimebasis.Shealsonoted   thatatreadmilltestcausedSealtosufferseverebackpainandheelpain.     BlalockpresentedthedepositiontestimonyoforthopedicsurgeonMichaelW.Bratton,M.D., p andvocationalexpertMichaelT.Galloway,M.S.,C.R.C.BrattonfoundSealtohaveverypoor \ motion,alimp,aflatteningofthecalcaneus,andarthriticchangestothesubtalarjointbetweenthe H heelboneandtheboneabovetheheel.HetestifiedthatSealwouldexperiencepainafterwalking 4 fiveminutes,wouldbelimitedinhisabilitytowalkonunevenground,andwouldbemoresuited  p toa sittingdownjob.InBrattonsopinion,Sealcoulddriveheavyequipment,butsuchactivity  \ wouldnotbebeneficialtohislongtermhealth.BrattonagreedwithGutchthatthearthritiswould H progress,andinevitably,Sealwouldneedsurgicalfusionofcertainjointsinhisfoot.Accordingto 4 Bratton,thissurgerywouldincreaseSealsimpairmentrating.     Gallowaytestifiedbydepositionthathe,likeHankins,administeredaSlossonIntelligence  TesttoSeal.ThetestresultedinanIQscoreoftwentyseventofortyfive(betweenseverely  mentallyhandicappedandmoderatelymentallyhandicapped),aresultwhichGallowayopinedwas  toolowtobevalid.Heinitiallyconcluded,basedonmedicalrecords,thatSealhada20%lossof l labormarketaccessunderBrattonsrestrictionsanda60%lossoflabormarketaccessunderGutchs X  restrictions.ButafterreviewingalaterletterdraftedbyBratton,GallowaytestifiedthatSealactually D! hadnovocationaldisabilityatall.HetestifiedthatSealwasqualifiedforjobsinvolvingfood 0"  preparation,assembling,packaging,bagging,inspectingproduction,garmentfolding,driving, #l! operatingsewingmachines,operatingpressmachines,machinefeeding,andconstructionwork. $X"   Initsdeterminationofthecase,thetrialcourtfirstaddressedwhetherthefractureinthefoot %0!$ shouldbetreatedasaninjurytothebodyasawholeorasascheduledmemberinjury.Itfoundthat &"% theeffectsoftheinjuryextendedbeyondSealsfoot,andconsequently,itregardedSealsinjuryas '#& beingtothebodyasawhole. (#'   )$( _  ThetrialcourtnextaddressedtheextentofSealsvocationaldisability.NotingSeals  credibilityandtheevidenceconcerninghisvocationalabilitiesandprospects,itfounda93%  vocationaldisabilitytothebodyasawhole.     Blalocksworkerscompensationinsurancecarrier,P  #  3      ׀TravelersInsuranceCompany ` (Travelers),appealedthisdecision,contendingthat:(1)theinjurytoSealsheelwasnotan L  impairmenttothebodyasawholeunderTennesseeCodeAnnotated506207(3)(1999);(2)the 8  93%disabilityratingwasexcessive;and(3)thedepositiontestimonyofthephysicaltherapistwas $ t notadmissibleasexpertmedicalevidence.TheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel  ` concludedthattheinjurywaslimitedtoSealsrightlegandheldthattheawardfordisabilitytothe  L  bodyasawholewaserror.Additionally,thePanelfounderrorintheadmissionofthephysical  8  therapiststestimony.ThePanelremandedthecasetothetrialcourtfortherecalculationofthe $  awardasoneinvolvingdisabilitytoascheduledmember.     SealfiledamotionforreviewtothisCourtpursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotated506   225(e)(5)(B)(1999&Supp.2001),whichwasgranted.   @JJII.StandardofReview \   Inworkerscompensationcases,thestandardofreviewofquestionsoflawisdenovowith 4 nopresumptionofcorrectness.Tuckerv.Foamex,L.P.,31S.W.3d241,242(Tenn.2000).Our  p reviewofatrialcourtsfactualfindings,however,isdenovoupontherecordaccompaniedbya  \ presumptionofcorrectness,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Id.;Tenn.Code H Ann.506225(e)(2)(1999&Supp.2001). Whenthetrialcourthasseenthewitnessesandheard 4 thetestimony,especiallywhereissuesofcredibilityandtheweightoftestimonyareinvolved,the   appellatecourtmustextendconsiderabledeferencetothetrialcourtsfactualfindings.Richards   v.LibertyMut.Ins.Co.,70S.W.3d729,732(Tenn.2002).Ontheotherhand,when,asinthecase  beforeus,themedicalproofispresentedbydeposition,thisCourtisinthesamepositionasthetrial  judgeforevaluatingsuchevidenceandmayassessindependentlytheweightandcredibilitytobe  affordedtheexperttestimony.Id. l @$III.Analysis D!   A.DesignationofImpairmenttotheBodyasaWhole #l!     Thefirstissuepresentedbythepartiesconcernsthetrialcourtsfindingofadisabilitytothe $D # bodyasawhole.TravelerscontendsthatSealsinjurieswerelimitedtoascheduledmember,and %0!$ therefore,itwaserrortoapportioncompensationtothebodyasawhole.Sealrespondsthatthe &"% injuryextendedbeyondthescheduledmemberandthatthetrialcourtsdecision,accordingly,should '#& beaffirmed.Undertheevidencepresentedinthiscase,wefindthatthedisabilityisappropriately  limitedtoascheduledmember.    ItisuncontestedthattheinitialinjuryoccurredtotheheelofSealsrightfoot,ascheduled t member.Inordertosupportanawardforpermanentdisabilitytothebodyasawhole,itmustbe ` shownthattheeffectsofthescheduledmemberinjuryextendtoanunscheduledportionofthebody. L  SeeWellsv.SentryIns.Co.,834S.W.2d935,938(Tenn.1992);Thompsonv.LeonRussellEnters., 8  834S.W.2d927,928(Tenn.1992).AlthoughtheevidenceshowsthatSealsufferedfromatrophy $ t tohiscalfasaresultofhisfootinjury,thisalonewouldnotsatisfytherequirementofeffects  ` extendingtounscheduledpartsofthebodybecausethelegalsoisascheduledmember.  L  Additionally,ourcaseshavehistoricallytreatedaninjurytothelegandfoot,asaninjurytoone  8  scheduledmember,theleg.Seee.g.,Reaganv.TennesseeMunicipalLeague,751S.W.2d842,843 $  (Tenn.1988).Nomedicalevidenceofaninjurytoanunscheduledportionofthebodyisfoundin   therecord.Accordingly,thetrialcourtsdesignationoftheimpairmenttothebodyasawholemust   bemodified.Furthermore,theevidenceofSealseducationalbackground,mentalability,and   vocationalbackground,inconjunctionwiththemedicalevidencethatthefractureofthecalcaneus   willbeaprogressiveinjuryseverelylimitingSealsabilitytowalkorstand,supportsafindingthat p Sealhasa100%disabilitytohisleg.Thetrialcourtsawardofworkerscompensationbenefits \ basedonthebodyasawholeisthereforemodifiedtoprovideforanawardbasedon100%disability H totheleg. 4   B.AdmissionofPhysicalTherapistsTestimony  \     Travelersalsoassertsthatthetrialcourterredinadmittingthedepositiontestimonyof 4 physicaltherapistKathyB.Lane.ThisCourthasheld thataphysicaltherapistisnotqualifiedto   formandexpressanexpertopinionastothepermanentimpairmentorpermanentphysical   restrictionsofaninjuredperson....[A]physicaltherapiststestimonymustbelimitedtoobjective  findingsandcannotencompassanopiniononultimatedisability.Boltonv.DNAIns.Co.,821  S.W.2d932,938(Tenn.1991).Wehaveacknowledged,however,that nothingwehavesaidwould  limitaphysicaltherapistfrommakingfuturephysicalactivityrecommendationstothereferring l physicianorapatientbasedontheresultsoftestsperformedwithinthescopeofaphysical X  therapistslicensure,norfromofferingtestimonythereon.Id.Lanestestimonywascomprisedof D! herobjectivetestfindingsandthereforewaswithinthesestrictures;therewasnoerrorinadmitting 0"  Lanestestimony. #l! @rr#IV.Conclusion $D #   Weconcludethatthedisabilityawardedinthiscasemustbelimitedtoascheduledmember &"% !theleg.Accordingly,wemodifythejudgmentofthetrialcourttoprovideanawardof100% '#& disabilitytotheleg.Thecaseisremandedtothetrialcourtforfurthernecessaryproceedings.Costs (#' onappealshallbetaxedtoLarryDeanSeal,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. )$( =XXXdd= h+&* Ї   `     h     ___________________________________     `     h     ADOLPHOA.BIRCH,JR.,JUSTICE