WPC Y1\ͫ=[h4F|"]N}G%\`8,N' Kl@S@dY\dZn"r{\O_N2* s$5z8eeWssJ"oUe=${qe@50:䓺̉艇o<1TMBrdEnRɝ͐X04ݰaE|w6:KSވN?ޘ㇏KaC*2JtIoKpkře$&8,%,f]=xN68-e GZPiYƢ$Q*3.J-5KIoޯFVJsoۧv<>4r,~ YD9 D:|~ԈjԞT8ޮrV/+GvajtvP"b#\ % UN# 0q UN ^ G wS zW  4   m   k 1AN8 0:NE 1u 72_ 0c 0DUNN8 z:U@b D1 B 0 B  0$ D3 D- 0K(( ASs 0 0D0 AtHP LaserJet 4,,,,,,0(hH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman RegularE(L  C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptL-(LX3|xULevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 7 )   _(|3$ !..8$dd8     3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0    R$      1  XX  _XXXXThetrialcourtawardedthirtypercent(30%)permanentpartialdisabilitytotherightarmor  60weeksofbenefitsandtwentyfivepercent(25%)permanentpartialdisabilitytotheleftarmor  50weeksofbenefitsbasedonatwohundred(200)weekmaximumlossofanarmforatotalaward  ofonehundredten(110)weeksofbenefits.Lossoftwoarms,TennesseeCodeAnnotated506 t 207(3)(A)(ii)(w),isascheduledinjurywithamaximumoffourhundred(400)weeksofbenefits. ` Twentysevenandonehalfpercent(271/2%)permanentpartialdisabilityofbotharmsisalsoone L  hundredten(110)weeksofbenefits.#XXXX~#(%$  1  ("  Z 6Times New Roman Regular C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(9 Z(Times New Roman - -99)! dxdxP Pd(|G2$ !..8$dd8         0  XCX d(|3$ !..8$dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !..8$dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _8XXdd8    @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  @@ATJACKSON 0 (January27,2000Session) H XX #XX#BOBBYRAYCARPERv._RAMER_ԀWOODPRODUCTSXX   P @@ DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtfor_McNairy_ԀCounty  X @@No.7200DeweyC._Whitenton_,Chancellor  H @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.W199902147_WC_ԄR3CVMailedJune8,2000;FiledJuly21,2000   AV) ` dE<` A    XXXX    ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation  AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotated506225(e)  forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.The ~ defendant,_Ramer_ԀWoodProducts(_Ramer_),appealsthejudgmentofthe_McNairy_ԀChanceryCourt j awardingpermanentpartialdisabilityofthirtypercent(30%)totherightarmandtwentyfivepercent V (25%)totheleftarm.Forthereasonsstatedinthisopinion,weaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt B asmodifiedtoasingleawardoftwentysevenandonehalfpercent(271/2%)permanentpartial .~ disabilitytobotharms.#XXXX##XXr#XX   j    Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheTrialCourt F AffirmedasModified.  6 Maloan,Sp.J.#X #XX.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichHolder,J.,andWeatherford,Sr.  J.,joined.  CarolA.M.Hayden,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellant,_Ramer_ԀWoodProducts !  ChristopherL.Taylor,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellee,BobbyRayCarper v#"     MEMORANDUMOPINION #XX< #XX V% $   #XX( #dXXd  Theplaintiff,BobbyRayCarper(Carper),was50yearsofageatthetimeoftrial.He 6'"& completedthethirdgradeandtestifiedhecantreadandcanbarelywritehisname.Heoperateda "(r#' _chopsaw_Ԁat_Ramer_Ԁfrom1987toOctober1989;December,1989,toJune,1993;andfromFebruary, )^$( 1997,untilheresignedinAugust,1997,forbreathingproblems.Hispriorworkhistoryismanual )J%) labor. *6&*   Dr.Lowell_Stonecipher_ԀexaminedCarperonOctober28,1997,diagnosedbilateralcarpal ,(, tunnelsyndrome,andperformedcarpaltunnelreleasesonMay3,1998.Astocausation, -(- Dr._Stonecipher_Ԁstated runningasawatasawmillforaboutthreeyearsandthosethingscancause  peopletohaveacarpaltunnel.Dr._Stonecipher_Ԁassignednopermanentimpairment.    Dr.Joseph_Boals_ԀexaminedCarperforanindependentmedicalevaluation.Dr._Boals_Ԁwas t oftheopinionhiscarpaltunnelsyndromewascausedbyhisemploymentat_Ramer_Ԁandassigneda ` tenpercent(10%)permanentpartialimpairmenttoeachupperextremitybasedongripstrength L  testing.Dr._Boals_ԀrestrictedCarpertonorepetitiveworkandnoheavygripping. 8    CarperwasunawarehisarmproblemswerecausedbyhisworkuntilDr._Stonecipher_Ԁtold  ` himsoonOctober28,1997.Carpersattorneywrote_Ramer_ԀonNovember5,1997,andadvised  L  themofthisclaim.Hetestifiedhishandsarenumb,tingle,hurtallthetime,andhecantdoanyyard  8  workorholdanything. $    Attrialandonappeal,_Ramer_ԀdeniesCarperhassufferedacompensableinjury.Thetrial   courtfoundacompensableinjuryandawardedpermanentpartialdisabilityofthirtypercent(30%)   totherightarmandtwentyfivepercent(25%)totheleftarm.     @&ANALYSIS \   Thescopeofreviewofissuesoffactisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt, 4 accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindings,unlessthepreponderanceofevidence  p isotherwise.TennesseeCodeAnnotated506225(e)(2)._Lollar_ԀvWalMartStores,Inc.,767  \ S.W.2d143(Tenn.1989).Whenatrialcourthasseenandheardwitnesses,especiallywhereissues H ofcredibilityandweightoforaltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccorded 4 thetrialcourtsfactualfindings.HumphreyvDavid_Witherspoon_,Inc.,734S.W.2d315(Tenn.   1987).However,wheretheissuesinvolveexpertmedicaltestimonywhichiscontainedintherecord   bydeposition,asitisinthiscase,thenallimpressionsofweightandcredibilitymustbedrawnfrom  thecontentsofthedepositions,andthereviewingcourtmaydrawitsownimpressionastoweight  andcredibilityfromthecontentsofthedepositions.OvermanvWilliams_Sonoma_,Inc.,803S.W.2d  672,67677(Tenn.1991). l   _Ramer_Ԁfirstcontendsthetrialcourterredinfindingacompensableinjurytobotharms,citing D! BarkervHomeCrestCorp.etal,805S.W.2d373,375(Tenn.1991).InBarker,theTennessee 0"  SupremeCourtreliedonthe lastdayworkedruletodeterminewhichoftwoinsurancecarriers #l! wouldberequiredtoprovidecoveragefortheworkerscarpaltunnelsyndrome.Theruleisstated $X" as thedateoftheaccidentalinjuryoccurredwhenplaintiffsconditionreachedthepointhecould $D # nolongerworkathisjob.Applyingthisrule,theSupremeCourtdeterminedtheinsurerproviding %0!$ coverageonthedatewhentheconditionsseveritypreventedtheworkerfromworkingwouldbe &"% responsibleforcompensationbenefits._Ramer_ԀsubmitsthisrulepreventsCarperfromrecovering '#& becauseheretiredinAugust,1997,duetobreathingproblems;wasnotdiagnosedwithcarpaltunnel (#' &  syndromeuntilOctober1997;and,therefore,hisinjurywasneverdisablingwhileheworkedfor )$( _Ramer_.')  |*%)  h+&*   _Ramer_srelianceonBarkerandthe lastdayworkedruleismisplaced.Thisargumentwas  recentlyconsideredandrejectedbytheTennesseeSupremeCourtinDanaStoryvLegionIns.Co.,  3S.W.3d450,454(Tenn.2000).InStory,theemployeedidnotmissanytimefromworkpriorto  herterminationand,therefore,theemployersinsurancecarrierassertedtheemployeedidnotsuffer t acompensableinjuryaccordingtoBarker.Storyheldthatthe lastdayworkedruleisnottobe ` appliedtoissuesofcausationandstated: L    8 ` Applyingthisnarrowruletoquestionsofcausationwouldcreatea $ t precedentwhichwouldmakeanyworkerinjuredbyrepetitivestress  ` ineligibleforcompensationunlessthatworkermisseswork.This  L  applicationisinconsistentwiththenatureoftheTennesseeWorkers  8  CompensationActwhichisdesignedtoprotectworkersfrom $  economicdevastationfollowingjobrelatedinjuries.Story,at454. ` x` x   Aninjuryarisesoutofemploymentifithasarational,causalconnectiontothework._Resser_   vYellowFreight_Sys_.Inc.,938S.W.2690,692(Tenn1997).Inthiscase,bothDr._Stonecipher_Ԁand   Dr._Boals_ԀexpressedtheiropinionthatCarperscarpaltunnelsyndromewascausedbyoraggravated p byhisoperatinga_chopsaw_Ԁat_Ramer_.ThefactthatCarperdidnotmissanyworkorhiscondition \ wasnotdiagnoseduntilafterheretiredfrom_Ramer_Ԁdoesnotcontrolastowhetherhesustaineda H compensableinjuryatwork.Wefindtheevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrialcourts 4 findingofcompensability.  p   Thefinalissueisvocationaldisability.TennesseeCodeAnnotated506241(a)(1)requires H thetrialcourttoconsiderallpertinentfactors,includinglayandexperttestimony,employeesage, 4 education,skillsandtraining,localjobopportunities,andcapacitytoworkattypesofemployment   availableinclaimantsdisabledconditionindeterminingtheextentofaninjuredworkerspermanent   disability.WalkervSaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204(Tenn.1998).    Asinmanyworkerscompensationcases,thereisadisagreementamongthetreatingand  evaluatingphysiciansastotheextentofpermanentimpairment.Thetrialcourthasthediscretion l toaccepttheopinionofonemedicalexpertovertheopinionofanothermedicalexpert.Johnsonv X  _Midwesco_,Inc.,801S.W.2d804,806(Tenn.1990). D!   BasedonCarpersage,lackofeducation,transferablejobskills,layandmedicalevidence, #l! wefindtheevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrialcourtsawardofpermanentpartial $X" disabilitytoeacharm. $D #   Thepanelnotesthetrialcourtmadeseparateawardstoeacharm.TennesseeCodeAnnotated &"% 506207(3)(A)(ii)(w)providesscheduledbenefitsforthelossoftwo(2)arms,therefore,we '#& modifytheawardtotwentysevenandonehalfpercent(271/2%)permanentpartialdisabilityto (#'  botharmswhichwillneitherincreasenordecreasetheaward,butwillconformthetrialcourts )$( judgmenttothestatute. %  1      ׀_McIlvain_ԀvRussell_Stover_ԀCandies,Inc.,996S.W.2d179,181(Tenn.   1999).    @ll%CONCLUSION t   Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmedasmodified.Thedefendant,_Ramer_ԀWood L  Products,istaxedwiththecostsofthisappeal. 8     ` @u u INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @ SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  @%ATJACKSON   #dXX #  BOBBYRAYCARPERv._RAMER_ԀWOODPRODUCTSXXd  ` T5@  ChanceryCourtfor_McNairy_ԀCounty `  @__&No.7200 L  @*AV) ` dE<` A߈ `  @m m No.W199902147_WC_ԄR3CVFiledJuly21,2000  [  AV) ` dE<` A 3   @& JUDGMENT  .  #XXXX #"XXXX   ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferral  totheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsetting  forthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; z    ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanel R shouldbeacceptedandapproved;and >    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaware f adoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. R Ѐ  >     ` CostsonappealaretaxedtotheDefendant/Appellant,_Ramer_ԀWoodProducts,for * whichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.     ` ITISSOORDERED.    #XXX"X*8#   `     h     PER_CURIAM_ >% %    `     h     #XX5#