ÿWPCa 0fª™‡ˆoOáÉ÷Ú¾‚üÓûA,·Ò€9«SÎv¸x¿R¿Yã ÉjàÔ˜Ûf±Ì(àAcõœoå”bÅí3 {1A6A‡¬cfÓ^vöÓÚët?BôüLå„’!ùtî‚–TT$?¥ŽÈ†©¢ë/RÜùyï.+0ñ|XzOwÚ”wÅÜ–«4Ûí={‘œ¢t-;múÿuònžÜ)1©?²5óûyˆw‚^-øŽõ þy²ô2¡Æ™¸RDf®GH30F…沘ë!¬ÜYSoÁ% ñڞ̠­¹#u!¯æ>,9õ[ú~4'cáí¾†’(&,ÉàOÞÒg^/AúꉼØZ7ÅNX³Òè‡Ú‡†Ö«’Ã-r$1‘oÐ*—åàb,|÷ƒ[M„Zíò—üâ±`篡µ#¨‘ ß7à%6‚›":37h•~ó‰ÛT¨rìÁƒ$Ä€êW(ˆëbù™÷ÃG5µôŒÎ Ç®ÅS¹9m4x<¶ Ør‘Ábh|›šúºi®]ÿ ¡1Kpâ(raØÎ¬©Ýö”)iÍÌ×ÍûªëUòÿóo/8rÓlíl}ó£6qÔ†ÀGçÓqÒ¥*‚~ÝÑE©¨Ò Ð6öùô(¥ V(êKE\ )# >U :I %ƒ 0(‰U:±w@ë4+?N 0”Výê 0DçÜ+ ý 0D )H U:q )« U:ÔÆÆÔÆšÆ```````` AQ&Æw 0D= B 0Džž D/ââ B D3.˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡, øð AZ"Arial Regular MENOePEQRÓ€^V_î`Ó€lðh:&Hæd3|xl(D(2´¤$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó óÝ ƒ ´¤$ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝWe€note€here€that€Dr.€Bourland€had€obviously€made€an€error€in€his€records€as€toÐ ° Ðwhat€fingers€were€involved,€according€to€his€own€testimony.€€His€records€were€conflicting,Ïresulting€in€conflicting€testimony.€€We€accept€the€plaintiffððs€testimony€that€the€two€fingersÏthat€were€triggering€and€locking€were€the€plaintiffððs€long€finger€and€ring€finger€on€the€leftÏhand.€€('Ã$òòÚ  Ú2Ú  Úóó ÒÝ ƒ ´¤$ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€record€does€not€show€whether€this€estimate€was€based€on€appropriateÐ ° Ðguidelines. óÝ ƒ ´¤$ÝÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÓ  Óà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝWe€note€here€that€Dr.€Bourland€had€obviously€made€an€error€in€his€records€as€toÐ ° Ðwhat€fingers€were€involved,€according€to€his€own€testimony.€€His€records€were€conflicting,Ïresulting€in€conflicting€testimony.€€We€accept€the€plaintiffððs€testimony€that€the€two€fingersÏthat€were€triggering€and€locking€were€the€plaintiffððs€long€finger€and€ring€finger€on€the€leftÏhand.€€(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý Ý ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€Xª˜XXXÔÔ€‰xXXª˜ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€Xª˜X‰xÔÐ  ÐÌò òFebruary€25,€1999Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôvŒôXXª˜ÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular Ý ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€Xª˜XXXÔÔ€‰xXXª˜ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€Xª˜X‰xÔÐ  ÐÌò òFebruary€25,€1999Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôvŒôXXª˜ÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 !#%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý d($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'''÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd""""'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝñOñ›ñOññOñ›ñOñÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑò òÓ  ÓñRñœßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@E ±` ttx$X°ð Õrß›ñRñIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌNOVEMBER€1998€SESSIONó óÐ ˆØ ÐÓ¤ÓÌÌÌÌò òÓ*XˆX® ‘X°œX*ÓJERRY€WAYNE€ADAMS,à h àà À àà  àà ® àó óà  à)ò òÐ  \ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà ® àó óà  à)ò òÐ ø H Ðà ` àó óPlaintiff/Appellee,à h àà À àà  àà ® àà  à)€€€Ð Þ .  ÐÓ6XˆX ‘XXˆX® ‘X6Óà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà  à)€à  àGibson€Chancery€No.€13270Ð Ä   Ðv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà  à)Ð ªú  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà  à)à  àNo.€02S01„9804„CH„00037Ð à  Ðò òJIMMY€DEAN€FOODS€andà À àà  àà  àó ó)ò òÐ vÆ  ÐTHE€TRAVELERS€INSURANCE€à  àà  àó ó)à  àHonorableò ò€ó óGeorge€R.€Ellis,€Chancellorò òÐ b²  ÐCOMPANY,à ¸ àó óà  àà h àà À àà  àà  à)à  àò òÐ Nž  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà  àó ó)ò òÐ :Š Ðà ` àó óDefendants/Appellants.à À àà  àà  à)ò òÐ  p ÐÌÌÌòòÌÌFor€the€Appellantsóóó ó:à h àà À àà  àà  àà  àò òòòFor€the€Appelleeó óóó:Ð ¢ò ÐÌKenneth€R.€Rudstromà h àà À àà  àà  àà  àT.€J.€Emison,€Jr.Ð tÄ ÐThomas€F.€Prestonà  àà h àà À àà  àà  àà  àP.€O.€Box€13Ð Zª Ð80€Monroe€Avenue,€Suite€500à À àà  àà  àà  àAlamo,€TN€€38001Ð @ ÐMemphis,€TN€€38103ò òÐ &v ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÐ D(”#' ÐÌÌMembers€of€Panelóó:Ð +X&* ÐÌó óJustice€Janice€M.€HolderÐ à,0(, ÐSenior€Judge€John€K.€ByersÌSenior€Judge€F.€Lloyd€TatumÌÌÓg ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌñOñœñOñò òAFFIRMEDñOñ›ñOñ€à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà  àà  àà  àTATUM,€Senior€JudgeÐ Â627 ÐòòÓ  ÓÔ‡ŠJôŠXXÔÐ  ®7þ28 ÐÑ7€ª˜XXdæXXdæ7ÑO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óóóÔ#†Xª˜XŠŠJô #ÔÐ ° ÐÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓà ` àThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€WorkersððÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.ÏÔ‡X¼_XXXª˜ÔððÔ#†Xª˜XXX¼_™ #Ô€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€andÐ  d Ðconclusions€of€law.€€ÌÓ3XˆX»È’XXˆX ‘X3Óà ` àThis€is€an€appeal€by€the€plaintiffððs€employer,€Jimmy€Dean€Foods,€and€its€insuranceÏcarrier,€The€Travelers€Insurance€Company,€presenting€the€sole€issue€as€to€whether€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€supports€the€trial€courtððs€award€to€the€plaintiff,€based€onÏa€finding€of€50€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€both€arms.€€After€a€careful€review€ofÏthe€record,€we€conclude€that€the€findings€and€judgment€of€the€trial€court€must€be€ñOñœñOñaffirmed.ñOñ›ñOñÌà ` àWe€first€summarize€the€evidence.Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€testified€in€open€court.€€He€stated€that€he€was€37€years€of€age€with€aÏhigh€school€education.€€He€attended€Lane€College€for€six€months.€€The€only€otherÏeducation€he€had€was€vocational€training€as€an€automobile€mechanic€while€in€high€school.€ÏThe€plaintiffððs€history€includes€three€years€employment€at€Brown€Shoe€Company€operatingÏa€machine€in€the€manufacture€of€shoes.€€He€worked€for€ten€years€at€Kellwood€Plant€usingÏa€mechanical€press€to€press€coats.€€He€then€went€to€work€for€the€defendant,€Jimmy€DeanÏFoods,€as€a€ð ðblocker,ðð€which€is€a€worker€who€takes€the€shoulders€and€the€blade€out€of€aÏhog€using€both€hands€and€arms.€€He€was€terminated€in€January€of€1997€because€he€wasÏfrequently€absent€from€work.€€Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€testified€that€in€1996,€he€began€having€swelling,€throbbing,€and€tinglingÏin€his€hands€and€arms€and€felt€like€little€pins€were€sticking€in€them.€€He€reported€hisÏdifficulty€to€his€employer€and€was€ultimately€seen€by€Dr.€William€Bourland,€an€orthopedicÏsurgeon.€€Ìà ` àWhen€the€plaintiff€went€to€Dr.€Bourland,€in€addition€to€the€difficulty€he€was€havingÏwith€his€hands€and€arms,€his€long€finger€and€ring€finger€on€the€left€hand€were€locking.€€HeÏtestified€that€Dr.€Bourland€operated€on€his€right€wrist€and€ð ðdid€somethingðð€to€the€two€fingersÏon€his€left€hand.€€After€his€surgery,€he€returned€to€work€at€Jimmy€Dean,€earning€a€wageÏequal€to€the€wage€he€earned€before€the€accident.€€Ìà ` àSince€being€terminated€from€Jimmy€Dean,€plaintiff€testified€that€he€has€worked€atÐ ä945; ÐA.€O.€Smith€in€Milan,€Tennessee,€and€at€Foamex.€€He€testified€that€he€was€laid€off€at€theÏtime€of€trial,€because€his€employer,€A.€O.€Smith,€was€putting€in€a€new€line,€but€that€heÏwould€be€contacted€later€to€resume€employment.€€He€testified€that€he€was€able€to€do€hisÏwork€at€A.€O.€Smith€and€Foamex,€as€well€as€the€work€he€formerly€did€at€Brown€ShoeÏCompany€and€Kellwood€Plant.€€He€testified€that€he€could€not€resume€the€work€as€a€blockerÏat€Jimmy€Dean.€€Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€testified€that,€at€the€time€of€trial,€his€ring€finger€and€long€finger€on€his€leftÏhand€ð ðclicked,ðð€and€that€he€had€swelling,€numbness,€tingling,€and€pain€in€his€left€hand€andÏleft€arm.€€He€said€he€did€not€have€the€grip€strength€in€either€of€his€hands€that€he€had€beforeÏthe€accident.€€He€testified€that€although€there€is€no€activity,€hobby,€or€event€that€he€cannotÏdo€now€that€he€could€do€before€the€accident,€ð ðthere€are€things€I€canððt€do€as€well€as€I€usedÏto€do.ðð€€For€example,€the€plaintiff€testified€that€he€did€not€have€enough€strength€to€open€jarsÏand€has€difficulty€picking€up€glasses€and€drops€things.€€He€has€difficulty€with€a€stickÏgearshift€on€his€car€as€well.€€When€he€presses€the€gear€lever€against€the€palm€of€his€hand,Ïpain€runs€up€his€right€arm.€€He€testified€that€he€has€trouble€lifting€heavy€objects€or€workingÏon€machinery€or€anything€that€ð ðaffectsðð€his€arm€and€wrist.€€He€cannot€grip€and€hold€a€knife,Ïhammer,€or€screwdriver€or€turn€a€wrench.€€His€fingers€are€no€longer€locking,€but€ð ðtheyððll€clickÏevery€now€and€then.ðð€€In€addition,€he€has€sharp€pain€in€his€left€arm€that€awakens€him€atÏ2:30€or€3:00€on€some€mornings.€€Both€hands€swell€about€three€times€each€week.€€ñOñœñOñ€€€€Ìà ` àDr.€William€L.€Bourland,€an€orthopedic€and€hand€surgeon,€testified€by€deposition.€ÏHe€first€examined€the€plaintiff€on€September€4,€1996,€at€which€time€the€plaintiff€complainedÏof€pain€in€both€hands.€€The€plaintiff€gave€a€history€of€having€a€problem€with€numbness€andÏtingling€in€both€hands€for€about€one€year€while€employed€at€Jimmy€Dean.€€He€also€gaveÏa€history€of€having€a€problem€with€numbness€and€clicking€in€the€ring€finger€on€both€handsñOñ׃×ñOññOñ׃ ×ñOñÝ ƒ 'ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð .T). Ðand€had€been€taking€Advil€and€Oridus,€which€are€anti„inflammatory€drugs.Ìà ` àDr.€Bourland€testified€that€from€his€physical€examination€and€tests,€he€reached€theÏconclusion€that€the€plaintiff€was€suffering€with€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€TestingÐ h3¸.4 Ðrevealed€no€weakness€or€atrophy€in€the€Thenar€muscle€group.€€He€had€a€good€sweatÏpattern€indicating€that€there€was€no€permanent€damage€to€the€nerves,€and€he€had€noÏdecrease€sensitivity€to€light€touch.€€Ìà ` àDr.€Bourland€testified€that€he€first€treated€the€plaintiff€conservatively,€injecting€bothÏwrists€with€CortisoneñOñ›ñOñ€and€Xylocaine.€€He€returned€plaintiff€to€work,€but€took€him€off€hisÏregular€job€for€three€weeks.€€Dr.€Bourland€testified€that€he€examined€Mr.€Adams€again€onÏNovember€6,€1996,€for€recurring€problems€with€numbness€in€his€hands.€€The€plaintiff€didÏwell€after€the€injections€until€he€went€back€to€his€regular€job,€where€his€trouble€continued.€ÏDr.€Bourland€testified€that€a€nerve€conduction€study€showed€significant€nerve€compressionÏon€the€right€side.€€The€plaintiff€was€also€continuing€to€have€trigger€finger€release€in€the€twoÏfingers€on€his€left€hand.€€Dr.€Bourland€concluded€that€a€carpal€tunnel€release€on€the€rightÏside€and€a€finger€trigger€release€on€the€left€side€was€indicated.€€Dr.€Bourland€testified€thatÏhe€had€no€notation€regarding€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€or€symptoms€on€the€left€side€on€theÏNovember€6€visit,€and€that€his€impression€was€that€plaintiff€was€having€more€trouble€withÏhis€trigger€fingers€on€the€left€side€than€with€carpal€tunnel.Ìà ` àDr.€Bourland€testified€that€on€November€15,€1996,€he€performed€an€endoscopicÏcarpal€tunnel€release€on€the€right€hand€and€released€the€right€arm€trigger€finger,€as€well€asÏthe€left€arm€trigger€finger.€€Dr.€Bourland€examined€plaintiff€again€on€November€19,€1996,Ïand€testified€that€plaintiff€was€doing€well€with€both€hands€and€was€no€longer€having€anyÏnumbness€on€the€right€side.€€Dr.€Bourland€released€plaintiff€to€return€to€light€duty€work€andÏrequested€him€to€return€in€three€weeks.Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€Bourland€on€December€17,€1996.€€Dr.€Bourland€testifiedÏthat€the€plaintiff€at€that€time€was€still€having€numbness€on€his€left€side.€€He€had€slightÏtingling€in€the€hands€a€few€days€before€and€a€slight€click€in€the€left€long€finger.€€Dr.ÏBourland€released€the€plaintiff€to€light€duty€work€on€this€date€and€allowed€him€to€return€toÏfull€work€on€January€2,€1997.€€He€returned€on€January€15,€1997€doing€well.€€He€gave€aÏhistory€of€some€swelling€in€the€right€hand€since€returning€to€regular€duty,€but€there€was€noÏswelling€at€that€time.€€There€was€some€tightness€in€the€flexor€tendons€on€both€sides.€€OnÏFebruary€17,€1997,€the€plaintiff€returned,€stating€that€he€still€had€numbness€and€tingling€atÏnight.Ð Ì84: Ðà ` àThe€plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€Bourland€on€May€28,€1997€for€a€final€evaluation.€€Dr.ÏBourland€testified€that,€at€that€time,€the€plaintiff€was€still€complaining€of€numbness€in€hisÏright€hand,€but€this€hand€had€improved€after€surgery.€€He€no€longer€had€a€problem€withÏtriggering€of€fingers€except€he€was€still€having€problems€with€his€left€ring€ñOñœñOñfinger.€€Dr.ñOñ›ñOñÏBourland€ñOñœñOñreinjectedñOñ›ñOñ€the€left€ring€finger€with€Marcaine€and€Celestone.€€Ìà ` àDr.€Bourland€testified€that€on€May€28,€1997,€the€plaintiff€reached€maximum€medicalÏimprovement,€and€he€discharged€plaintiff€on€that€date€with€a€five€percent€permanentÏimpairment€of€the€right€arm€according€to€the€AMA€Guidelines,€secondary€to€persistentÏcarpal€tunnel€symptoms.€€This€was€based€on€persistent€symptoms€of€decreased€sensitivityÏin€the€hand.€€Dr.€Bourland€testified€that€if€he€had€used€ð ðTable€16,€Upper€ExtremityÏImpairment€Due€to€Entrapment€Neuropathy,ðð€the€impairment€rating€of€the€right€arm€wouldÏhave€been€10€percent.€€Dr.€Bourland€testified€that€he€discharged€plaintiff€from€his€care€withÏno€restrictions€and€allowed€him€to€resume€normal€activities€as€tolerated€with€instructionsÏto€return€if€he€had€further€problems€with€either€hand.€€Dr.€Bourland€also€testified€that€he€didÏnot€give€the€plaintiff€an€impairment€rating€for€his€left€arm,€because€the€last€time€plaintiffÏcomplained€of€any€problems€with€his€left€side€(other€than€his€fingers)€was€on€December€17,Ï1996.Ìà ` àDr.€Bourland€was€of€the€opinion€that€the€AMA€Guidelines€allow€no€additionalÏimpairment€for€loss€of€grip€strength€in€reference€to€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€Dr.€BourlandððsÏprofessional€opinion€was€that€no€patient€loses€true€grip€strength€with€carpal€tunnel€release.€ÏñOñœ›ñOñà ` àDr.€Joseph€Boals,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€examined€the€plaintiff€on€July€17,€1997,Ïat€the€request€of€plaintiffððs€attorney€and€testified€by€deposition.€€Dr.€Boals€testified€that€inÏhis€opinion,€there€is€impairment€of€both€upper€extremities€of€approximately€20€percent.€€HeÏbased€this€on€the€fact€that€plaintiffððs€strength€index,€as€calculated€according€to€Page€65€ofÏthe€AMA€Guidelines,€shows€a€strength€index€in€the€forties.€€He€used€a€table€to€determineÏthat€each€of€plaintiffððs€arms€was€disabled€by€20€percent.€€Dr.€Boalsððs€diagnoses€were:Ïresidual€from€right€carpal€tunnel€release€and€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€on€the€left,€withÏongoing€weakness.€€Dr.€Boalsððs€grip€strength€testing€showed€an€average€grip€strength€forÏthe€plaintiff€to€be€58€pounds€on€the€right€and€56€pounds€on€the€left.€€According€to€theÏdoctorððs€testimony,€a€person€of€plaintiffððs€age€would€be€expected€to€have€a€grip€strength€ofÐ Ì84: Ðabout€115€pounds.Ì€€à ` àDr.€Boals€stated€that€plaintiff€was€employable,€but€suggested€that€he€get€a€lighterÐ |Ì Ðjob€that€does€not€involve€heavy€gripping€or€repetitive€use€of€the€hands.€€He€advised€againstÏthe€plaintiff€returning€to€his€former€job€as€a€butcher.€€Keyboard€work,€factory€assemblyÏwork,€chain€saw€operation,€jackhammer€use,€and€use€of€hand€tools,€such€as€pliers,€cutters,Ïand€screwdrivers,€are€eliminated€for€the€plaintiff.Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€gave€Dr.€Boals€a€history€that€he€initially€developed€pain€and€numbnessÏin€both€hands.€€This€complaint€was€the€only€notation€in€Dr.€Boalsððs€record€or€in€hisÏrecollection€concerning€the€left€hand.€€Therefore,€Dr.€Boals€testified€that€he€did€not€knowÏwhether€the€plaintiff€was€suffering€with€pain€or€difficulty€in€the€left€hand€at€the€time€of€hisÏone€visit€to€him.€€Ìà ` àDr.€Boals€testified€that€losses€of€grip€strength€are€not€related€to€the€impairment€ofÏð ðthe€median€nerve,€but€the€release€of€the€ligament€that€holds€the€carpal€tunnel€togetherÏhence,€strength€loss€comes€after€surgery€and€not€before.ðð€€He€testified€that€in€this€case,€heÏcould€not€explain€why€the€left€arm€and€hand,€which€had€not€been€operated€on,€would€haveÏthe€weakness€demonstrated€in€the€tests€given€to€the€plaintiff.€€Dr.€Boals€further€testifiedÏthat,€if€the€plaintiff€had€a€normal€grip€strength€on€the€left,€he€ð ðwould€only€be€about€five€toÏten€percent׃ ×Ý ƒ 'ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€[impaired]€based€on€his€EMG,€which€did€show€some€changes.€.€.€.ððÐ <#Œ" Ðà ` àThe€standard€of€appellate€review€of€findings€of€fact€of€a€trial€court€is€òòdeóó€òònovoóó,Ð %X $ Ðaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€findings,€unless€the€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Ô‡X¼_XXXª˜ÔððÔ#†Xª˜XXX¼_Â<#Ô€50„6„225(e)(2);€òòHenson€v.€City€ofÐ  (ð#( ÐLawrenceburgóó,€851€S.W.2d€809,€812€(Tenn.€1993).€€We€are€not€bound€by€the€findings€ofÐ „*Ô%* Ðthe€trial€court€in€workersðð€compensation€cases;€rather,€this€Court€now€determines€where€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòKeen€v.€Jones€Truck€Linesóó,€814€S.W.2d€23,€25€(Tenn.Ð .l). Ð1991).€€Plaintiff€has€the€burden€of€proof€to€establish€his€claim€by€a€preponderance€of€theÏevidence.€€òòRoark€v.€Liberty€Mutual€Ins.€Co.óó,€793€S.W.2d€932,€934€(Tenn.€1990).€€WhereÐ ´1-2 Ðthe€trial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€if€issues€of€credibility€andÏweight€to€be€given€oral€testimony€are€involved,€considerable€deference€must€be€given€thoseÐ L5œ06 Ðcircumstances€on€review.€€òòTownsend€v.€Stateóó,€826€S.W.2d€434,€437€(Tenn.€1992).€€WhenÐ ° Ðthe€medical€testimony€is€presented€by€deposition,€as€it€was€in€this€case,€this€Court€is€ableÏto€make€its€own€independent€assessment€of€the€medical€proof€to€determine€where€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòHenson€v.€City€of€Lawrenceburgóó,€851€S.W.2d€809,Ð  d Ð812€(Tenn.€1993).Ìà ` àOnce€the€causation€and€permanency€of€an€injury€have€been€established€by€anÏexpert€witness,€the€courts€may€consider€many€pertinent€factors,€including€age,€job€skills,Ïeducation,€training,€duration€of€disability,€and€job€opportunities,€in€addition€to€anatomicalÏimpairment€for€the€purpose€of€evaluating€the€extent€of€a€claimantððs€permanent€disability.€ÏòòMcCaleb€v.€Saturn€Corp.óó,€910€S.W.2d€412,€416€(Tenn.€1995).€€Ð Ü, ÐñOñœñOñà ` àFromñOñ›ñOñ€the€entire€record,€ñOñœñOñwe€find€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderateñOñ›ñOñ€against€theÏfinding€that€the€plaintiff€sustained€a€50€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€both€arms.€ÏñOñœñOñThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€therefore€affirmed.ÌñKñà ` àPlaintiff€will€pay€one„half€of€the€costs€and€defendants€will€pay€the€remaining€one„half.ñKññLñà ` àCosts€are€ñLññMññLñjuñLññMññNñadjudged€against€the€œdefendantñNññPññNñ.ñNññPññRñ›ñRññQñs.ñQñ›ñNñÌñNñÌÓÓÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à________________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àF.€LLOYD€TATUM,€SENIOR€JUDGE€ÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€JUSTICEÌÌÌÌ___________________________________Ô‡X¼_XXXª˜ÔÐ 8,ˆ', ÐJOHN€K.€BYERS,€SENIOR€JUDGEÌÌÌÔ#†Xª˜XXX¼_G#Ôà ` àÌœñ^ñÐ  Ô0$,1 Ðñ^ññ_ñ›ñ_ññ_ñÑ` °Ñà@  DàÔ‡»#c »XXª˜ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@mm*DàAT€JACKSONÔ#†Xª˜X »»#cØG#ԈРx  ÐÌÌÓ6°,X…XDp XXˆX»È’X6ÓJERRY€WAYNE€ADAMS,à h àà œ à)à È àGIBSON€CHANCERYÐ Pð ÐÓ<°,X°D‚, X°,X…XDp X<Óà œ à)à È àNO.€13270Ð 6Ö ÐÓ<°,°Dp X°,X°D‚, X<Óà ` àPlaintiff/Appellee,à œ à)à È àÐ ¼ Ðà ` àà œ à)à È àHon.€George€R.€Ellis,Ð ¢ Ðñ_ññ`ññ`ññ_ññ_ññlññ`ñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@E î` ttx$Xèð Úrßñ`ññlññlññlññ_ñvs.à ` àà œ à)à È àChancellorÐ èˆ  Ðà ` àà œ à)ÌJIMMY€DEAN€FOODS€andà œ à)à È àNO.€02S01„9804„CH„00037Ð ´T  ÐTHE€TRAVELERS€INSURANCE€à œ à)Ð š:  Ðñ_ññlññlññ_ññ_ññlñßt€(>.*jx Ù` `€€@E@Y` ttx$x‘4 œ tßñlññ_ñCOMPANY,à œ à)Ð €  Ðà ` àà œ à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellants.à œ à)à È àAFFIRMED.Ð Lì  ÐÌÌÌà@þþ(DàÔ‡»#c »XXª˜ÔJUDGMENT€ORDERÔ#†Xª˜X »»#c=M#ÔˆÐ ä„ ÐÌÓÓÌÓ6°À°` p’X°,°Dp X6Óà ¸ àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€ofÏreferral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€areÏincorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà ¸ àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÏPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà ¸ àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€theÏCourt.Ìà ¸ àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Appellants€and€their€surety,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.Ìà ¸ àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€25th€day€of€February,€1999.ÌÌà ¸ àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àà (# à¼à ¸ àà È àPER€CURIAMÌÐ –9605 ЇÌÌñ_ññ`ññ_ñÔ†ÿÿÔÔ†ÿÿÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ôñ_ññ`ñ›