WPC" u[.IBq0 ZfeWݷ8b[=rla~Ynj8;ʊgnnj,@|mJql8cz!0'ja1]yCfՁI|+l-Ǭ7P쟃/~a~MD49K ש:y$ְ= M@W6?<̏ XRVʔ ,/nh[eXhCߘ%Gfٛ- OڨBmKD(5G"iu@=H+nG&MweL9)JX7%=5:9czG$ob v ,kQ}b`rRﯩƆyyQ9-UY%Ǥ7}y`t_o+O`o-+`,UTfx_0*=Xx$;Jt_AbU<>\ 0< 0$D 0<h 0 0 * 0 0 0  0  0, 0 0:_ 0U>f     0#UNA %M(NON zW^ )E5w74;O mQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ 0hhhh B 0 D5p D- 0K AS p 06! 0D" AL"\  `&Times New Roman' WORKERS COMP PANEL "Terryl James"0Terryl James .   6] h4Heading 1XXX) $ DL!)   A74 <DL!A6k v4Heading 2XXX   ) $ DL!)     A74 <DL!A <:Default Para<%% :Body Text I2 X XXX X <%% :Body Text I1  XXX  :NN 8Body Text 2XXX5+ 4 <DL!55+ 4 <DL!56'' 4Body TextXXX      :YY 8Body Text 3XXX  5+ 4 <DL!5  5+ 4 <DL!5<>> :Body Text In X XXX     X 8w} 6Block Text  XXX     /%` ` ` <DL/     5+ 4 <DL!5  0> .Footer !>44 <DL!>:8Page Number  !)..      tIXXtItI  _! !X!  X.XtIX.XXX. $ !!$   3    tIXX.tItI(2!$ =!..      `AXX`A`A  \  `&Times New Romana9a10#|x(=$..      jXXjjHP LaserJet 8000 Series PS0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularXLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5"C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptQ) *DJ)<U(G2n$ =!..      `AXX`A`A   4   0  X9X`A d(3 u$ =!..      `AXX`A`A  VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3 u$ =!..      `AXX`A`A  ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK =!..      tIXXtItI  _       ,X8tIdd8X.XtI3 $ DL!X3      < 4DL!$ X!<&  b  Q XX.INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEEbT  Ԍ  Ќ' X4X!'tIQ   ?+ 4 <DL!X?Q tISPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL'6   ATKNOXVILLE  (April26,2000Session) $ 6 4DL!X!6X.XQ  X.XXX.  < $ DL!4X!<    < 4DL!$ X!<&    Q XX.WILLIEGRACEGREENV.ATRIUMMEMORIALSURGERY  CENTER  AԌ  " Ќ  04X!4X!0X.XQ   'DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtfor_Bledsoe_ԀCounty   No.26344JeffreyStewart,Chancellor ~   ____________________________ J  X.XXX.   < $ DL!4X!<    < 4DL!$ X!<&    No.E199900730_WC_ԄR3CVMailedSeptember12,2000  ~Ԍ   Ќ  04X!4X!0X.XXX.  H+ 4 <DL!4X!HtIXX._________________ x  FILED:OCTOBER17,2000 7 _________________ z '  X.XtIX.XXX.B+ 4 <DL!X!B    A   ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers \ CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTennesseeCode B Annotated506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsof ( factandconclusionsoflaw.Theappellant,AtriumMemorialSurgeryCenter(hereafter   AtriumMemorial),appealsanawardofthirtyfivepercentdisabilitytothebodyasa p wholetoWillieGraceGreen.Appellantcontendsthetrialcourterred(1)infindingthat V theemployeesunderlyingpreexistingconditionwasadvancedorprogressedbyher < work,and(2)inawardingpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsinanyamount.We " affirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.A ݌  Ќ$ X!X!$X.XXX.     X.XXX.        %  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight%Y;Judgmentofthe X %  %ChanceryCourtisAffirmed. :݌ >   Ќ  X.XXX.  X.XXX.6 $ DL!X!6      H+ 4 <DL!$ X!H&  x  Peoples,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichBarker,J.,andTerryL.  "" _Lafferty_,Sr.J.,joined.xy  Ԍ "l# Ќ$ X!X!$X.XXX.    ' "[ X.XXX.  B+ 4 <DL!X!B     DavidC.Nagle,Chattanooga,Tennessee,fortheappellant,AtriumMemorialSurgery $8!% Center. ݌ %"& Ќ  $ X!X!$X.XXX.   X.XXX.  B+ 4 <DL!X!B     StephenT.GreerandRussellAnne_Swafford_,_Dunlap_,Tennesseefortheappellee, n'#( WillieGraceGreen  #݌ T($) Ќ  $ X!X!$X.XXX.  6 4DL!X!6H+ 4 <DL!4X!HtIXX. X.XtI P.*0 _ԇ 4    < OPINION    X  Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecord  J ofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unless  0 thepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.T.C.A.506225(e)(2);Stonev.Cityof    McMinnville,896S.W.2d548,550(Tenn.1995).Theapplicationofthisstandard    requiresthisCourttoweighinmoredepththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthe f  trialcourtsinworkerscompensationcases.Corcoranv.FosterAutoGMC,Inc.,746 L  S.W.2d452,456(Tenn.1988). 2       XXX.XXX.       WillieGraceGreentestifiedshehadbeeninvolvedinamotorvehicleaccidentin z  1995whichresultedinmusclespasmsandlowbackpainthatresolved,andthatshehad ` beenpainfreeforayearandahalfinAugust1997.Shetestifiedthat,onAugust7, F 1997,shewasworkingasascrubnurseforAtriumMemorialandslippedonafreshly , moppedfloorandtwistedherback.Immediatelyaftertheincident,shebeganto  experiencepaininherlowback.Asimilarincidentoccurredthenextday,August8,and | thelowbackpaincontinuedandeventuallydevelopedintoradiatinglegpain.She b testifiedthatpriortotheseincidents,shehadnotexperiencedbackpain.Shetestified H thattheworkinjuryhascausedhertohavedifficultywithbending,lifting,andrepetitive . activities.Shewasunabletocontinueworkingasascrubtechnicianandnowworksat  TennesseeTechnologyCentertrainingstudentstobescrubtechnicians,which,she v testified,islessphysicallydemandingandforfewerhours. V݌ \ Ќ  X.XXX. XX    XXX.XXX.     !   !>"݌ B Ќ  X.XXX. XX    XXX.XXX.     "  Dr.SusanPick,anorthopedicsurgeonfirstsawMs.GreenonSeptember1995 ( withcomplaintsofcervical,thoracicandlowerlumbarspinepainasaresultofamotor  vehicleaccident.AnMRIwasperformedonOctober10,1995.Dr.PicktreatedMs. x Greenforthebackpain,buttestifiedthatitwastemporaryinnature.Dr.PicksawMs. ^ GreenonAugust11,1997withcomplaintsoflowerbackpainextendingdownherright D   legfollowingtheincidentsatworkthepreviousThursdayandFriday.AnotherMRIwas *!! performedonAugust21,1997.Dr.Picktestifiedthatthe1995MRIwasnormalandthe "" 1997MRIshoweddesiccationordryingoutofthediscs,anormalpartoftheaging "r# processnotcausedbyMs.GreensworkatAtriumMemorial.Dr.Picktestifiedthaton #X $ December8,1997,shereleasedMs.Greentoreturntowork atregularduty,butshesaid $>!% shefeltshecouldtrytomodifyalittlebit.Ifsheknewsomethingwasgoingtoaggravate %$"& her,shecouldmodifyheractivityalittlebit.SoIputnorestrictionsonher. & #' ConcerningMs.Greenspriorcomplaintsofbackpain,Dr.Picktestifiedasfollows: "Y#݌ t'#( Ќ  X.XXX. XX     Z($)  X    <% <DLX!< Q.DoyouthinkthisincidentatworkthatshehadinAugust, @)%* 1997,aggravatedherpreexistingcondition? &*&+  X    H+ 4 <DL!  XLHA.Yes.  +', Q.Howdiditdothat? +n(-   XX.XXX.    <%` ` ` <DLX!<   G+  A.Well,basicallyshehadresolvedherlowerbackpainafterthe ,T). carwreckandallthat,andwasnothavinganyproblemswith -:*/ thatpriortotheincident.AndIthinkyouwillfind,with . +0 peoplethathaveunderlyingarthritisorwhatever,anoveruse  situationorafallorsomethingcanaggravateanunderlying j situation.Itdidntcausethearthritis,butitcanaggravateit. G++݌ P Ќ    * X!` ` ` XL*X.XXX. X  Q.Howdoesthatmanifestitself;causingpain? 6 A.Usuallybypain.  Q.WhataboutinMrs.Greenssituation? ~ A.Iwouldsaybypain. d  XӀ   <      D      L   !!H!  J  X.XXX.  G0  ݀Dr.Pickalsotestifiedthatshecouldnotsaywhethertheincidentatworkadvancedor  0 acceleratedMs.Greensunderlyinganatomicalconditions,butshewashavingnopain    beforeand (it)definitelyadvancedthepain.G00݌    ЌX.XXX.    X.XXX.  52  522݌̌X.XXX.    X.XXX.    2   4 Dr.ToddC.Bonvallet,anorthopedicsurgeonwhospecializesinspinalsurgery, L  alsotreatedMs.Green.Whenshedidnotrespondtoconservativetreatment,he 2  performedalumbarfusiononMarch18,1998.Hetestifiedthatshereachedmaximum   medicalimprovementonSeptember14,1998andthat,asaresultoftheinjury,shehasa z  twelvepercentpermanentmedicalimpairmenttothebodyasawhole.Hetestifiedthat ` shehadapreexistingspondylosiswhichwasnotcausedbyheremployment.Asked F whethertheincidentsatAtriumMemorialinAugust1997actuallycausedananatomical , changeinherspondylosis,heanswered: Thepatienthadanunderlyinglumbar  spondylosisasymptomaticbeforeherfall.Shebecamesymptomaticafterherfall.Its | reasonabletobelievethatthefallwasthecauseofthesymptomsthatshewas b experiencing.Notthepathology,thesymptoms.Askedifthesymptomswereincreased H pain,heresponded: Notincreasedpain,thesymptomswerepain.Healsotestified . thatitwasmorelikelythannotthattheinjuryinAugust1997didadvancetheseverityof  herunderlyinganatomicalcondition.Ms.GreenhadnottoldDr.Bonvalletthatshehad v complaintsoflowerlumbarbackpainfromamotorvehicleaccidentin1995. \ Ѐ2P3݌ B ЌX.XXX.   X ( ЀThereisnoevidencethatMs.Greensufferedanypainorthatshehadany  medicalimpairmentcausedbytheunderlyingconditionatthetimeoftheincidents.We x findthatthefactsandmedicaltestimonyinthiscasejustifyajudgmentfortheemployee ^ becausetheSupremeCourthasheld: Thereisnodoubtthatpainisconsidereda D   disablinginjury,compensablewhenoccurringasaresultofaworkrelatedinjury. *!! Talleyv.VirginiaIns.Reciprocal,775S.W.2d587(Tenn.1989).Inthiscase,Ms.Green "" waspainfreebeforetheincidentsatworkinAugust1997.Bothdoctorstestifiedthatthe "r# workinjurycausedherpreexistingspondylosistobecomesymptomatic.Counselfor #X $ AtriumMemorialarguesthatthereisnocompensableinjurybyaccidentwherethework $>!% aggravatesapreexistingconditionmerelybyincreasingpain.Townsendv.State,826 %$"& S.W.2d434(Tenn.1992).Tobecompensable,thepreexistingconditionmustbe & #' advanced,theremustbeananatomicalchangeinthepreexistingcondition,orthe t'#( employmentmustcauseanactualprogressionoftheunderlyingdisease.Sweatv. Z($) SuperiorIndustries,Inc.,966S.W.2d31,3233(Tenn.1998).Inthiscase,however,the @)%* medicaltestimonyestablishesthatMs.Greensunderlyinganatomicalconditionwas &*&+ advancedoracceleratedbecauseshewashavingnopainbeforetheinjury.Theinjury  +', alsoresultedinapermanentmedicalimpairmentoftwelvepercenttothebodyasawhole +n(- thatdidnotexistbefore,andhascausedMs.Greentochangetoalessphysically ,T). demandingjob.Anemployerisresponsibleforworkerscompensationbenefitsifthe -:*/ employmentcausesanactualprogressionoraggravationofthepreexistingcondition . +0 whichproducespainwhichisdisabling.Hillv.EagleBendMfg.,Inc.,942S.W.2d483,  488(Tenn.1997). j  P  6   󀀀 Conclusion     XXX.XXX.     RD  Wefindthecontentionsoftheappellant,AtriumMemorialSurgeryCentertobe ~ withoutmeritandaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.Thiscaseisremandedforany d appropriateproceedings.CostsoftheappealareassessedtotheAppellant. RDD݌  J Ќ  X.XXX. XX    Ӏ  0 Ѐ      Ӏ     f   L   2     X.XXX.B+ 4 <DL!X!B  X3DL!X!3G    ______________________________ z  Ѐ   D HowellN.Peoples GH݌  ` Ќ' X!X!'X.XXX.  X.XXX.B+ 4 <DL!X!B  I  Q XX.@9 9 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEEIiJ݌  Ќ$ X!X!$X.XQ   @ATKNOXVILLE,TENNESSEE   #X.XXX.އJ# Q XX.  @ WILLIEGRACEGREENVS.ATRIUMMEMORIALSURGERY B CENTER#X.XQ K#  N K@99 ChanceryCourtforBledsoe Z  @xx&No.2634 @  @*AV$) ` dE< ` A߈    @ No.E199900730WCR3CVFiledOctober17,2000  }  AV$) ` dE<` A I   @& JUDGMENT  >   4  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderof t referraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanels Z memorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichare @ incorporatedhereinbyreference; &  4  Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthememorandumOpinionofthe   Panelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and n  4  Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactsandconclusions T oflawareadoptedandaffirmedandthedecisionofthePanelismadetheJudgementof : theCourt.    4  Costsonappealaretaxedtotheappellant,AtriumMemorialSurgery  Centerandsurety,DavidC.Nagleforwhichexecutionissueifnecessary. p 10/17/00 <   Ѐ 4   !6# tIXX.