WPC[G XMnc!^bQ)e(ݮ:fBǒvU;vf'Kv̈E74M)~۲c\V7(p-0Ʃʄ/]t$*;2*i!`o0F>B 3 02O"D}߯ShZvom*Rآ4K,(w1({vwUU`W־iSTeb>0f1dϰ&B̥fSy"S;+LBw3{o׻&k+搘eQoW0TdNF X#]=P%gpa]SLrb32gDzm_k~UEҸhY:]坆J2p[-_\BdDI n3*",2mE:i[:P <+#]#UGN %% 0:+ ^ e wq 4u   m h - U NF 0 0~ 0D NJ 0L 0= 0+ 0U:8`1 0 0v 0X 07 0 0 0 0! 0" 0_# 02$ 0% 0% 0& 0z' 0X( 03) 0 * 0* 0+ 0, 0M- 00. 0<F. 0. 0>@/ 0v~/ 0`/ 0`T0 0`0 0`1 0`t1 081 0 2 022 03 0: 4 0YF4 0_4 0 4 0j6 0r7 B*8 D/ 9 D+O9 0z9 D/: 0-; 06; 01< 0:9= 0^s= 0<=U6 >U>C>U *> C*>U@> 0V?-k??x@-BEBB BBBzBHP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 60(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,v}) pm)+003|x U LeudtkeVerverisEnsalada CasLuedtke ## m Xd#6Times New Roman Regular2J+M 0_level1  X 2( ` hp x 223  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  (.(3($ !USUS.,      0  (-$  5  2G+M 0_level2   /%` ` hp x /23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2D+M 0_level3   ," hp x ,23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2A+M 0_level4  ` ) hp x )23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2>+M 0_level5   &hhp x &23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  "Arial Regular  ($USUS.,    1    _ԀRXˍXXXThedefendantsbriefassertsthatBaconstandsforthepropositionthatbeforeaheart  attackiscompensableunderworkerscompensationtheremustbean unexpectedresult.#XˍXXRXˍf#RXˍXXXˍԀThe   defendant#XˍXXRXˍ}#RXˍXXXˍԀmistakenlycitesapassagefromBacondiscussing heartattackswhichareprecipitated  byemotionalstress,worry,ortension,withoutanyphysicalexertionorstrain.Bacon,808  S.W.2dat50.#XˍXXRXˍ#RXˍXXXˍԀAsrelevanttothiscase,nounexpectedresultisrequiredforheartattackscaused | byphysicalexertion.Id.#XˍXXRXˍ## V ($USUS.,    4    _RXˍXXXԀThemaximumweeklybenefitis sixtysixandtwothirdspercent(66A%)ofthe  employeesaverageweeklywageuptoonehundredpercent(100%)ofthestatesaverage  weeklywageasdeterminedbythedepartmentofemploymentsecurity.#XˍXXRXˍe#RXˍXXXˍTenn.CodeAnn50 | 6102(a)(7)(A)(viii)#XˍXXRXˍ#RXˍXXXˍ.#XˍXXRXˍR#In1997,atthetimeofLuedtkesdeath,thestatesaverageweeklywage b was$517.Luedtkesaverageweeklywagewas$525.50,twothirdsofwhichis$350.34.Since H twothirdsofLuedtkesaverageweeklywageisbelowthe1997averageweeklywageforthe . ~ state,thestatesaverageweeklywageisnotafactor.RXˍXXXˍFederatedIns.Co.v._Lethcoe_,18S.W.3d  d 621,623(Tenn.2000)#XˍXXRXˍ#RXˍXXXˍ;Spencer,922S.W.2dat510#XˍXXRXˍ#.RXˍXXXˍԀAlthoughnotrelevanthere,theminimum  J weeklybenefitis fifteenpercent(15%)ofthestatesaverageweeklywage,or$77.55per  0 week.SeeTenn.CodeAnn506102(a)(8)(E)#XˍXXRXˍF#RXˍXXXˍ.#XˍXXRXˍu#RXˍXXXˍԀ#XˍXXRXˍ#RXˍXXXˍ    #XˍXXRXˍ#Ԁ2;+M 0_level6   #p x #23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  28+M 0_level7  h  p x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  25+M 0_level8   pp x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  22+M 0_level9    x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  2JM 0_levsl1  X 2( ` hp x 223  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2GM 0_levsl2   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2DM 0_levsl3   ," hp x ,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2AM 0_levsl4  ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2>M 0_levsl5   &hhp x &23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2;M 0_levsl6   #p x #23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  28M 0_levsl7  h  p x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  25M 0_levsl8   pp x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  22M 0_levsl9    x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  2JM 0_levnl1  X 2( ` hp x 223   5+ ` hp x 5  2GM 0_levnl2   /%` ` hp x /23   5+ ` hp x 5  2DM 0_levnl3   ," hp x ,23   5+ ` hp x 5  2AM 0_levnl4  ` ) hp x )23   5+ ` hp x 5  2>M 0_levnl5   &hhp x &23   5+ ` hp x 5  2;M 0_levnl6   #p x #23   5+ ` hp x 5  28M 0_levnl7  h  p x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  25M 0_levnl8   pp x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  22M 0_levnl9    x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  0.Normal<:Definition T<AA:Definition L , 5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 586Definition(''&H1      XXX(&H2  XXX(&H3  XXX(&H4 XXX XXX(&H5  XXX(&H6  XXX20Address8MM6Blockquote , , 5+ ` hp x 5   5+ ` hp x 5,*CITE,dl*CODEKN<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXSO\  `&Times New RomanS42Emphasis64Hyperlink    <:FollowedHype    4go2Keyboard KN<6X9`(Courier NewK XXXSO\  `&Times New RomanS<:Preformatted/%  ,Kk %#/KN<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXSO\  `&Times New RomanS/%  ,Kk %#/<:zBottom of 7D(X7  ?P%2A`Arial?7E(X7  XXXSO\  `&Times New RomanS&  d dC)1dxd'dxd<:zTop of For7G(X7  ?P%2A`Arial?7E(X7  XXXSO\  `&Times New RomanSC)2dxd0KS.SampleKN<6X9`(Courier NewKSO\  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterKN<6X9`(Courier NewKXXXSO\  `&Times New RomanS42Variable: 8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB  <6X9`(Courier New\  `&Times New Roman%2A`Arial&25% Filld(9 Z(Times New Roman (.3$ !USUS.,   ## m Xd# ($USUS.,    5    _ԀThemedicalexpensesincludeanambulancecharge,$518.62,andemergencyroom  care,$865.42.  ($USUS.,    3    _ԀThemaximumtotalbenefit [f]orinjuriesoccurringonorafterJuly1,1992isfour  hundred(400)weekstimesthemaximumweeklybenefit.SpencerRXˍXXXԀv.TowsonMoving&  Storage,922S.W.2d508,510(Tenn.1996)(emphasisinoriginal)#XˍXXRXˍ#;seealsoTenn.CodeAnn. | 506102(6)(C). ## m Xd# d p ($USUS.,    2    _ԀARXˍXXXsdiscussedinChapman,thefailureofanemployeetoseekmedicaltreatmentdoesnot  affecttherightofrecovery.Concerninganemployeewhorefusedtoundergoopenheart  surgery,thisCourtheld: |  S8  Aninjuredemployeeisnotunderadutytosubmittoanoperationinorderthatthe H pecuniaryobligationcreatedinhisfavoragainsthisemployermaybeminimized . ~ whensuchoperationisattendedwithseriousriskoflifeormemberorwherethere  d isadifferenceofmedicalopinionastotheadvisabilityandresultofsuch  J operation. 0   Chapman,627S.W2dat124(citationsomitted). S#XˍXXRXˍg#ԀInthiscaseDr.VerverisfeltLuedtkeshould R  havehadopenheartsurgery.__ !USUS.,  _RXˍXXXRXRXˍ  T< <8 ˍ XXdd8W<INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  {  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  ATNASHVILLE    August2000Session  * JOFRANCESLUEDTKE,survivingspouseofRichardLuedtke,deceased,  F Applicantv.TRAVELERSINSURANCECOMPANY,Respondent  T DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtofDavidsonCounty  p No.9827III,Hon.EllenLyle_Hobbs_,Chancellor .~  ________________________________________________ <  No.M199901717_WC_ԄR3CVMailed:October13,2000 X  FiledDecember15,2000 f  ________________________________________________ t ;  Thisworkers#RXˍXR\#RXRXˍ#R=#RcompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers  CompensationAppealsPanelinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)for  hearingandreportingfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthiscase,the  plaintiffsuedforbenefitsfollowingthedeathofherhusband,theemployee.The   employeediedofaheartattackwhileatwork.Thetrialcourtfoundthatthe  employeewasexertinghimself,butthattherewasnocausalconnectionbetweenthe & exertionandhisdeath.ThisPanelhasconcludedthatthetrialjudgewasincorrectin 4 findingthattheexertionwasnotlinkedtotheemployeesdeath.Wefindthatdeath B ordisabilityarisesoutofandinthecourseofemployment#R#R#RXˍXR#RXRXˍԀwhentheexertionofthe P employeesworkcausestheheartattack,oraggravatesapreexistingcondition.It ^ makesnodifferencethattheemployeesufferedfromapreexistingheartdiseaseor  l thattheattackresultedfromordinaryexertionoftheemployeeswork. *!z  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChancery F# CourtReversed  T$ _Drowota_,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJohn_A.Turnbull_,Sp.J.and p&!  FrankG.Clement,Jr.,_Sp.J._,joined. ~'"! JosephM.DaltonandCatherineS.Hughes#RXˍXR#RXRXˍ#R#R,Nashville,TN,fortheApplicant,Jo )$# FrancesLeudtke. *%$  +'% T< T8 ˍ XXd XXd8 T  _SeanAntoneHunt,Spicer,Flynn,&Rudstrom,PLLCNashville,TN,forthe  Respondent,TravelersInsuranceCompany.     OPINION  *   Thedeceasedemployee,RichardLuedtke,workedasaprofessionalpainterfor  F HaroldMooreandSonsPainting.HaroldMooreandSons#RXˍXR* #RXRXˍԀworkedasthepainting  T subcontractorforrenovationstotheMasseyAuditoriumatBelmontUniversityin  b Nashville.TheprojectwastobecompletedbythelatestonAugust6,1997,asthat  p datewasscheduledforanimportantcampusevent.Duetothedeadline,thejobwas .~  stressfulforeveryoneinvolved.Becausetherenovationswerebehindschedule, <  Luedtkeworkedovertimetocompletethejobontime.Infact,Luedtke#RXˍXR%#RXRXˍԀhadworked J  fifteenofthesixteendayspriortohisdeath. X    OnthemorningofSeptember24,1997,Luedtke#RXˍXRr#RXRXˍԀwassandingtheauditorium t doorsandhadbeendoingsoforaboutanhourandahalf.Acoworker,Doug  Russell,wasworkingnexttoLuedtke#RXˍXRT#RXRXˍԀatthetime.Russellturnedandnoticedthat  Luedtke#RXˍXRK#RXRXˍԀwas layingonthefloor.AttemptstoresuscitateLuedtkewere  unsuccessful.Luedtke#RXˍXR#RXRXˍԀwaspronounceddeadatVanderbiltUniversityMedicalCenter  ofaheartattack.     #RXˍXR#RXRXˍLuedtke#RXˍXRR#RXRXˍԀfirstbecameawareofpossibleheartproblemswhenhewas & hospitalizedforanotherailment#RXˍXR#RXRXˍ#Rl #RԀinMay1996#RXˍXRL#RXRXˍ#R#R.Throughout1996,Luedtke#RXˍXR#RXRXˍsheart 4 conditionwasasymptomatic.However,inthetwomonthspriortohisdeath,Luedtke#RXˍXR{#RXRXˍ B begantoshowsymptomsofpossibleheartfailure.Thesymptomsincludedfainting P twice,coughingupfluid,andfatigue.Fromthetimehediscoveredheartproblems ^ untilhisdeath,Luedtkewasreluctanttoseektreatment.Twomonthshadpassed  l betweenthetimethatLuedtkessymptomsbegantoappearandthedateofan *!z appointmentfortreatmentwithDr.JohnVerveris,September24,1997.Luedtkedid 8" notmakethisafternoonappointment,becausehediedthatmorning.Luedtkeswife, F# JoFrancesLuedtke(hereinafter theplaintiff),broughtthissuitforworkers T$ compensationbenefits.#RXˍXR0#RXRXˍ b%    Attrial,thepartiesintroducedthedepositionsofthreedoctorsintoevidence#R##XˍXr#XXˍR. ~'"! Twoofthedoctors,RobertB.Gaston,M.D.#RXˍXRH#RXRXˍ#Rg#RԀandJohnVerveris,M.D.#R,#R#RXˍXR#RXRXˍ,wereLuedtkes (#" treatingphysicians.Theother,LeonH.Ensalada,M.D.#RXˍXR#RXRXˍ#R#R,neverexaminedLuedtke. )$# Dr.EnsaladabasedhisdiagnosisonthemedicalrecordsandonthetranscriptofDr. *%$ Ververissdeposition. +'% Ї  Dr.GastonwasLuedtke#RXˍXRi#RXRXˍsprimarycarephysicianandfirstsawLuedtke#RXˍXR#RXRXˍԀin  April1996.Dr.GastonreportedthatuponexaminationLuedtke#RXˍXRJ #RXRXˍslungsandheart  appearednormalandthatLuedtke#RXˍXR #RXRXˍԀdidnotcomplainofanysymptomsassociatedwith  heartproblems.Dr.Gastondiagnosedaperirectalabscessandsuggestedsurgery. *   Dr.GastonsentLuedtketoageneralsurgeon,Dr.LeNeve,whodetected  F Luedtkesirregularheartbeat.Dr.GastonsawLuedtke#RXˍXRn!#RXRXˍԀagaininJune1997.  T AccordingtoDr.Gastonsrecords,nothingsuggestedthatLuedtkesufferedfromany  b discomfortorsymptomsindicativeofheartproblems.   p   DuringpreparationfortheApril1996surgerywithDr.LeNeve,testsrevealed <  thatLuedtke#RXˍXR"#RXRXˍԀsufferedprematureventriclecontractionsoranirregularheartbeat.Dr. J  Ververis,Luedtkescardiologist,clearedLuedtke#RXˍXR$#RXRXˍԀforsurgerybutscheduledan X  appointmenttofollowuptreatment#R##XˍXs%#XXˍRԀonMay8,1996.Attheexamination,Dr. f  Ververis#RXˍXR,&#RXRXˍԀperformed#RXˍXR&#RXRXˍԀanarteriogram#RXˍXR'#RXRXˍԀanddiagnosedseveredilatedcardiomyopathyor t aweakheart.    LuedtkereceivednoothertreatmentforhisheartanddiedonSeptember24,  1997.TestifyingaboutLuedtkesconditionatthetimeofhisdeath,Dr.Ververisfelt  thatLuedtke#RXˍXRp'#RXRXˍsconditionwassoseverethatanyactivity,includingwalkingor   sleepingcouldhavecontributedtocongestiveheartfailure.However,Dr.Ververis  testifiedwithinareasonabledegreeofmedicalcertaintythattheactivityofsanding & doorjambsprobablybroughtabouttheheartattack. 4   Eightdaysbeforethetrial,thedefendantdeposedanotherphysician,Dr. P Ensalada#RK&##XˍX)#XXˍR,tocorroborateportionsofDr.Ververistestimony.Dr.Ensaladanever ^ examinedLuedtke#RXˍXRO+#RXRXˍ;however,Dr.EnsaladareviewedLuedtke#RXˍXR!,#RXRXˍsmedicalrecordsand  l Dr.Ververissevidentiarydeposition.Dr.Ensalada#RXˍXR,#RXRXˍԀconcludedthatventricular *!z fibrillationorafatallyabnormalheartbeatcausedLuedtkesdeath.Dr.Ensalada 8" repeatedlydeniedthatthedecedentsexertionplayedanyroleinhis#RXˍXR3-#RXRXˍԀheartfailure.#RXˍXRW.#RXRXˍ#Rn+#R F#    Fromtheevidence,thetrialjudgefoundthat Luedtkewasphysicallyexerting b%  himselfatthetimehedied,butthattheplaintifffailedtoshowcausationbetween p&!  thedeceasedsheartfailureandhisemployment.Thus,benefitsweredenied. ~'"!    I.  +'% t0  Theplaintiffstatestwoissuesforreview.Thefirstiswhetherthetrialcourt  erredindenyingtheplaintiffsmotioninlimineseekingtoexcludetheevidentiary  depositiontestimonyofDr.EnsaladapursuanttoRule703oftheTennesseeRules * ofEvidence.#RXˍXR.#RXRXˍ#R.#RԀThesecondiswhetherthetrialcourterredinfindingthatLuedtkewas 8 engagedinphysicalexertiononthejobwhenhediedofaheartattack,butthatsuch  F attackandresultingdeathwerenotprecipitatedbythephysicalexertionofLuedtkes  T job.#RXˍXR%2#RXRXˍ#Rg2#R    b   TheplaintiffspositionthatDr.Ensaladastestimonybydepositionshouldbe .~  excludedasevidenceisnotsupportedbyanycaselaw.Rule703oftheTennessee <  RulesofEvidenceallowsanexperttobaseopinionsonfactsnotadmissiblein J  evidence.Tenn.R.Evid.703.AlthoughDr.EnsaladawasnotLuedtkestreating X  physician,Rule703cannotblockhistestimony.SeeHaleyv.DyersburgFabrics, f  Inc.,729S.W.2d665,667(Tenn.1987).ThefactthatDr.Ensaladaisnotthetreating t physician,andthathisspecialityisinpainmanagement,andnotininternalmedicine  orcardiology,goestocredibilityandweight,notadmissibility. #RXˍXR3##XˍXXRXˍ'4#XXˍR     TurningtothesecondissuethisCourthasaddressedliabilityforworkers  compensationfollowingaheartattackmanytimes.InBaconv.SevierCo.,808   S.W.2d46(Tenn.1991#RXˍXR7#RXRXˍ),#RXˍXRZ9#RXRXˍԀ#RXˍXR9#RXRXˍthisCourtdeterminedliabilityforaheartattackcausedby  emotionalstress.Id.at49.#R 8#R#RXˍXR9#RXRXˍԀIndoingso,theCourtsuccinctlyexplainedtherulefor & heartattacksprecipitatedbyphysicalexertion#R:##XˍX:#XXˍR: 4 8  Whentheprecipitatingfactorisphysicalinnature,theruleiswell P settledthatifthephysicalactivityorexertionorstrainoftheemployees ^ workproducestheheartattack,oraggravatesapreexistingheart  l condition,theresultingdeathordisabilityistheresultofanaccident *!z arisingoutofandinthecourseandscopeoftheemployment.Itmakes 8" nodifferencethattheemployee,priortotheattack,sufferedfroma F# preexistingheartdisease,orthattheattackwasproducedbyonly T$ ordinaryexertionortheusualphysicalstrainoftheemployeeswork. b%      Id.(citationsomitted).#RXˍXR;#RXRXˍ -  1       (#" W< W8 ˍ XXd XXd8 W  #RXˍXR[?#RXRXˍ  Thedefendantarguesthatthedecedentwasnotunderanyunusualstrain,that  thestateofhisdiseasewasthesolecauseofhisdeath,andthatLuedtkewasreluctant  toundergomedicaltreatment.However,thereneednotbeany extraordinary * exertionorunusualphysicalstraintopermitrecovery.Id.at50(citationsomitted). 8 Also,#RXˍXRt@#RXRXˍԀLuedtkesfailuretoseekmedicaltreatmentdoesnotaffecttherightof  F recovery.Chapmanv.EmployersIns.Co.ofAla.,627S.W.2d122,123(Tenn.  T 1981)#RXˍXRrB#RXRXˍ.\( -  2      ׀#RXˍXRC#RXRXˍRather,causationisthehurdletobeclearedbeforerecoveryisgranted.#RXˍXRD#RXRXˍ  b Further,#RXˍXRD#RXRXˍԀabsolutecertaintyinmedicalproofoncausationisnotnecessarysince  p  expertopinionmustalwaysbemoreorlessuncertainandspeculative.Id.#RXˍXR E#RXRXˍ;seealso .~  AmericanIns.Co.v.Ison,538S.W.2d382,385(Tenn.1976).#RXˍXRF##XˍXXRXˍ;#XXˍR <    TheplaintiffintroducedmedicalproofthatLuedtkesdeathwascausally X  relatedtohisworkplaceexertion.Thedefendantintroducedprooftodisputethe f  plaintiffsexperts.Thetrialcourtheldthat Luedtkewasexertinghimselfatthetime t ofhisdeath,butthat theplaintiffhasnotdemonstratedthatitwasthatexertionthat  causedhisdeath.However,therewasmedicalproofthatlinkedtheheartattackto  theexertion.Dr.Gaston,thetreatingphysician,statedthatoverexertioncouldlead  tocardiacarrest.Dr.Ververisstatedthat somethingwasgoingtotakehim,whether  itwasathomeoratwork.Hewasgoingtoeventuallydieofheartdisease.Anytype   ofactivitycouldhaveprecipitatedheartfailureorheartattack....#RXˍXRF#RXRXˍԀDr.Ververis  wentontostatethattheactivityofsandingprobablybroughtabouttheheartattack.  However,thedefendantassertsthatDr.Ververispositionisthatexertioncouldnot  havecausedLuedtkesdeath.Thedefendantsexpert,Dr.Ensalada,statedthat  Luedtkesdeathcouldnothavebeencausedbyexertionbaseduponanegativestress * testperformedonLuedtkeonJuly23,1996.#RXˍXRJ##XˍXXRXˍF#XXˍR 8   ThetrialcourtagreedwiththedefendantandDr.Ensaladaandfound thatthe  T plaintiffsdeathwascausedbythenaturalprogressionofthedisease.However,the  b plaintiffassertsthatthepreponderanceoftheevidencepointsintheotherdirection.  p Boththedecedentstreatingphysicianandhiscardiologiststatethatphysicalexertion .~  couldhaveorprobablycausedLuedtkesdeath.OnlyDr.Ensaladaisunwillingto <  statethatthecauseoftheheartattackcouldbeduetophysicalexertion. J      Althoughthetrialcourtsfindingsmustbegivenconsiderabledeference f  concerningtheweightandcredibilityofwitnessestestimonywhentheytestifylive, t  wheretheissuesinvolveexpertmedicaltestimonyandallthemedicalproofis  containedintherecordbydeposition,asitisinthiscase,thenthisCourtmaydraw  itsownconclusionsabouttheweightandcredibilityofthattestimony.Krickv.City  ofLawrenceburg,945S.W.2d709,712(Tenn.1997).#RXˍXRXM#RXRXˍ#RwM#R    InDownenv.AllstateIns.Co.,811S.W.2d523(Tenn.1991),thisCourtheld  that#RXˍXRR#RXRXˍԀ medicalwitnessesarerarely,ifever,abletostatetheiropinionsonmedical & causation,withreasonablecertainty.Id.at525(citingKingv.JonesTruckLines, 4 814S.W.2d23,2829(Tenn.1991)).#RXˍXRS#RXRXˍ#RR#RFurthermore, medicaltestimonythatthe B normalexertionofemploymentcouldhaveormighthavecausedtheaccelerationor P aggravationofapreexistingheartconditionissufficienttomakeoutaprimafacie ^ casethattheinjuryordeatharoseoutofemployment.Id.#RTU#R#RXˍXRU#RXRXˍԀInacasecitedbyneither  l party,thisCourtheld thatanawardmayproperlybebaseduponmedicaltestimony *!z totheeffectthatagivenincidentcouldbethecauseoftheemployeesinjury,when 8" thereisalsolaytestimonyfromwhichitreasonablymaybeinferredthattheincident F# wasinfactthecauseoftheinjury.Reeserv.YellowFreightSystem,Inc.,938 T$ S.W.2d690,692(Tenn.1997)(citationomitted). b%    Thedefendantassertsthatthedecedentsconditionwassoseverethatany ~'"! exertionwouldhavecausedLuedtkesdeath.However,evenifaslightexertion (#" causedLuedtkesdeath,theclaimisstillcompensablesolongastheexertionis )$# workrelated: Theaggravation,acceleration,orexacerbationofapreexisting *%$ conditionordiseasebroughtaboutbyanaccidentalinjuryoroccupationaldiseaseis +'% compensable.Thomasv.AetnaLife&Cas.Co.,812S.W.2d278,284(Tenn.1991)  (citingSwift&Co.v.Howard,212S.W.2d388(Tenn.1948)).Therulefor  workplaceheartattacks iswellestablishedthatanemployertakestheemployeeas  hefindshim,thatis,withhisdefectsandpreexistingafflictions.King,814S.W.2d * at27#RXˍXR3W#RXRXˍ(citationomitted). 8   Furthermore,aheartattackiscompensable wherethereisampleevidenceto  T concludethat[theemployee]wasdoingtheworkthathewasemployedtodoatthe  b timehesufferedtheattackwhichresultedinhisdisablinginjury.Id.at28#RXˍXRz]#RXRXˍԀ(citation  p omitted).#RXˍXR_#RXRXˍԀThetestimonyofDrs.GastonandVerverisfulfillthepreponderanceofthe .~  evidenceburdenofacausalconnectionbetweentheexertionofsandingdoorjambs <  andLuedtkesdeath.Luedtkes#RXˍXR_#RXRXˍ#RV#RԀphysicalexertionwasthecauseofhisheartattack. J     II. f   #RXˍXR`##XˍXXRXˍ`#baRXˍXXXˍRXRXˍ  Inordertoavoidtheexpenseanddelayassociatedwitharemand,wewill  calculatethebenefitsduetheplaintiff.Sincethiscasedoesnotinvolveany  dependentchildren,theapplicablestatutoryprovisiontodeterminetheplaintiffs  weeklycompensationrateisTenn.CodeAnn.506210(e)(1),whichprovidesas  follows: Ifthedeceasedemployeeleavesasurvivingspouseandnodependent   child,thereshallbepaidtothesurvivingspousefiftypercent(50%)oftheaverage  weeklywagesof[the]decedent.Tenn.CodeAnn.506210(e)(1)#RXˍXRa#RXRXˍ#Ra#R.Luedtkes & averageweeklywagewas$525.50;therefore,halfofhisaverageweeklywage#R=e#R#RXˍXRd#RXRXˍ,#Re#R#RXˍXR1f#RXRXˍ 4 $262.75#Rtf#R#RXˍXRf#RXRXˍ,istheworkerscompensationweeklyrate. B   Theonlylimitationondeathbenefitstodependentsisthatthecompensation ^ bepaidduringdependencyandmustnotexceedthemaximumtotalbenefit.Jones  l v.GeneralAccidentIns.Co.,856S.W.2d133,134(Tenn.1993).#RXˍXRVg#RXRXˍ#Rg#RԀBenefitsaretobe *!z paiduntilthestatutorymaximumisreachedoruntilthesurvivingspousediesor 8" remarries.Id.at13435.TheapplicablemaximumtotalbenefitreferredtoinTenn. F#  CodeAnn.506210(e)(10)isfoundatTenn.CodeAnn.506102(6).V -  3      ׀#R6i#R#RXˍXRh#RXRXˍԀ_The T$ plaintiffsmaximumtotalbenefitisthemaximumweeklybenefit,$350.34,_ -  4      _   multipliedby400weeks,or$140,133.34.SeeTenn.CodeAnn506102(a)(6)(C)#RXˍXRdk#RXRXˍ#R"k#R.#RXˍXRm##XˍXXRXˍHm#RXˍXXXˍRXRXˍԀ  Thus,theplaintiffshallbepaid$262.75perweekuntilshedies,remarries,orthe  maximumtotalbenefitisreached.#Rm##XˍXm#XXˍR *   Finally,weconcludethattheplaintiffisentitledtoburialexpensesof$4,500  F dollarsandmedicalexpensesof$1,384.04#Rn##XˍXn#RXˍXXXˍRXRXˍ.Ur  -  5      ׀Tenn.CodeAnn.506204(c).The  T judgmentofthetrialcourtisreversed.#RXˍXR(p#RXRXˍ#R p#RԀ#Rdq#R#RXˍXR"q#RXRXˍCostsonappealaretaxedtoTravelers  b InsuranceCompany.  p #RXˍXRq#RXRXˍ  #RXˍXRr#@*#XˍXXRXˍq#ԈRXˍXXXˍ   `     h   ______________________________________ >     `     h   FRANKF._DROWOTA_,III,JUSTICE #XˍXXRXˍs#  $  <   8 ˍ XXd XXd8    RXˍXXXˍRXRXˍ@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @$ATNASHVILLE     JOFRANCESLUEDTKE,survivingspouseofRichardLuedtke,deceasedv. * TRAVELERSINSURANCECOMPANY  8 #RXˍXRu#u   ChanceryCourtforDavidsonCounty  , No.9827III0 @ EllenLyle_Hobbs_,Chancellor   v@*AZX) ` dE< ` A߈      No.M199901717SCWCMCVFiledDecember15,2000   wAZX) ` dE<N` A O  Ol NP  l  @& JUDGMENT  D    ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponTravelersInsuranceCompanysmotionforreview ` pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferral F totheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsetting , forthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference;    Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshould  beDENIED;and t   Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadopted @ andaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.TheCourtfurther &v recommendsthattheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanelopinionbepublished.O#PX Pnx#OP XPN#l  Pɍx#NP  l   \   CostswillbeassessedtoTravelersInsuranceCompanyforwhichexecutionmayissueif g necessary. <    `     h     PER_CURIAM_ !  _Drowota_,J.,notparticipating "!  O#PX P|#N#XXP}# NPXXOP XPRXRXˍO#PX P2#N#XXP##Rt##XˍXQ#