ÿWPC¦  b#Ál %-^ 3 0ˆ?UNÇw4 z-Ò§y ˆ mŠ Æ¡ Æg Æ- Æó 1‡¹ N@ 72B 1ut Eé 72ë 0c 1‡€ 729NA 0JC 0T 0^á 0h? 0r§ 0| 0†• 0 1u« 0d b„U >ŒU*Ê 1aô 1aUv~¶vÓ4 0ë B ò 0@ D3O D-‚ 0K¯ ASúÆM 0¤ 0D· A«û˜HP LJ 4000/4050 PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»š~-+â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularAiê*x  Ü£ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(нCEKQW]cioAutoList1A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A:3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;Ô9$´´Ô2š½ÔÚ  ÚAÚ  Ú:Ô3  Ôà0  à(š½CEKQW]cioAutoList2A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A: 2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô!"#$%&'( ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ- ù-< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Times!"#$%&'( ÿÿ?AEIMQUY]Indent1AAAAAAAA!"#$%&'( ÿÿ?AEIMQUY]Indent2AAAAAAAAPtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  Serv Geneva ÒÒ  Serv Geneva Ò(|G2Cö$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€G»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôï­ ò»»Ô d("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3Gz$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€G»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€2ÔÔ€2¼ÔÑ#€33¼d#ÑÑ#€33¼d#ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ8€ÉXXdì»»d8Ñà@ àÔ€2îÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÓ  ÓSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANEL€ÌÓ  Óà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÔ€2¼ÔÌÓ  ÓSeptember€28,€2000€SessionÌÔ€2XÔÌò òÔ€2¼ÔSUSAN€MASONòò€óó€v.€OLD€TIME€POTTERY,€INC.,€òòet€alóó.Ô€2XÔó óÌÌà@ àò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Rutherford€CountyÌà@ àNo.€98WC„643€€€€€€Don€R.€Ash,€ChancellorÌÌÌà@ àßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` AßÌÌà@ àNo.€M2000„00226„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Mailed€„€June€26,€2001ÌFiled€„€September€13,€2001ÌßA€V) °°` dE<¢` AßÌó óÌÓ  Óà àThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€WorkersððÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€òòTennessee€Code€AnnotatedóóÏðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law.ò ò€€ó óThe€plaintiff,€Ms.€Susan€Mason,€appeals€the€judgment€of€the€trial€courtÏdismissing€the€case€at€the€conclusion€of€trial€after€finding€that€Ms.€Mason€did€not€sustain€aÏcompensable€workersðð€compensation€injury€because€did€not€carry€her€burden€of€proof€that€the€fallÏshe€had€while€working€for€the€defendant,€Old€Time€Pottery,€€aggravated€her€pre„existing€conditionÏand/or€caused€her€to€have€back€surgery.€€The€trial€court€also€ruled€that€had€it€found€that€this€hadÏbeen€a€work„related€injury€it€would€have€awarded€Ms.€Mason€a€35%€permanent€partial€disability€toÏthe€body€as€a€whole.€€For€the€reasons€set€out€in€this€opinion,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trialÏcourt.ÌÓ  ÓÌò òTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(2000);€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óÌÌÓ  ÓòòCarol€Catalano,€Sp.J.,,óó€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAdolpho€a.€Birch,€Jr.,€J.,óó€andÏòòJames€weatherford,€Sr.€J.óó,€joined.ÌÌLuther€E.€Cantrell,€Jr.,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Susan€Mason.€€ÌÌRobert€R.€Davies,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Old€Time€Pottery.ÌÌE.€Blaine€Sprouse,€Assistant€Attorney€General,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€JamesÏFarmer,€Director€of€the€Division€of€Workersðð€Compensation,€Tennessee€Department€of€Labor,ÏSecond€Injury€Fund.€ÌÓ  ÓÌà@ àò òOPINIONó óÌÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€Ms.€Mason€was€39€years€old€at€the€time€of€her€slip€and€fall€accident,€which€occurred€onÏNovember€11,€1997,€while€working€for€the€defendant,€Old€Time€Pottery,€Inc.ÌÌà àMs.€Mason€has€an€eleventh€(11òòthóó)€grade€education.€€In€the€past,€she€has€owned€and€operatedÏan€antique€business;€and€worked€as€a€cake€decorator€and€floral€designer.€€€She€had€lived€in€VirginiaÏall€her€life€until€moving€to€Murfreesboro,€Tennessee,€€in€June€of€1997.€€Ìà àÌà àMs.€Mason€suffered€from€depression€and€had€attempted€suicide€three€different€times€beforeÏmoving€to€Tennessee.€€She€also€had€a€17€year€history€of€back€pain€and€right€hip€and€leg€pain.ÏWhile€in€Virginia,€she€€was€under€the€treatment€of€an€orthopedic€surgeon€and€had€€applied€forÏSocial€Security€Disability€benefits€in€November€of€1996.ÌÌà àOn€June€30,€1997,€Ms.€Mason€went€to€work€for€the€defendant€as€a€floral€designer.€€She€alsoÏworked€part€time€at€another€flower€shop.ÌÌà àOn€September€16,€1997,€€she€saw€orthopedic€surgeon,€Dr.€Thomas€OððBrien,€where€sheÏreported€a€€long€history€of€ineffective€treatments€for€back€pain.€She€€reported€taking€Lortab€and€ÏMotrin€for€back€and€leg€pain,€and€Prozac€and€Xanax€for€depression€and€anxiety.ÌÌ€€à àOn€September€23,€1997,€Dr.€OððBrien,€after€reviewing€Ms.€Masonððs€MRI,€diagnosedÏð ðdecreased€disc€signal€consistent€with€degenerative€disc€disease€at€L4„5€and€L5„S1€with€bulges€thatÏwere€present€at€both€levels.ðð€€According€to€Dr.€OððBrienððs€records€on€that€date:ÌÌà8 àI€had€a€lengthy€discussion€with€Ms.€Mason€regarding€her€treatment€options€and€theÏfact€that€she€had€exhausted€non„operative€treatment€measures.€€She€has€hadÏsymptoms€now€for€16€years€and€they€have€steadily€been€more€progressive€since€sheÏmoved€to€Tennessee€from€Virginia.€€In€the€past€she€has€been€treated€with€physicalÏtherapy,€multiple€injections,€and€narcotic€medications.ÌÌà8 àMs.€Masonððs€treatment€options€would€involve€a€decompression€posterior€lumbarÏinterbody€fusion€with€BAK€or€Ray€cages.€€Because€she€just€started€a€job€threeÏmonths€ago,€we€will€plan€on€doing€this€at€the€end€of€the€year.Ìà à€€Ìà àDr.€OððBrien€scheduled€a€follow„up€appointment€in€two€months€at€which€time€the€surgeryÏwould€be€scheduled.€€Ms.€Mason€maintained€that€in€her€discussions€with€Dr.€OððBrien€there€wasÏnot€anything€definite€done€as€far€as€making€plans€for€future€surgery€or€any€in€depth€discussionsÏregarding€the€type€of€procedure€to€be€performed.€ÌÌà àMs.€Mason€also€sought€treatment€for€depression€at€The€Guidance€Center€in€MurfreesboroÏwhich€was€under€the€direction€of€Dr.€Libby€McCauley,€a€psychiatrist.€€On€September€29,€1997,€sheÏmet€with€therapist€Mr.€Bart€Andrews€whose€report€indicates€that€Ms.€Mason€ð ðreport[ed]€chronicÏback€pain€that€is€making€going€to€work€on€a€daily€basis€quite€difficult€and€is€due€to€have€majorÏsurgery€as€soon€as€her€probation€period€is€complete€at€her€job.ðð€€€Ms.€Mason€testified€that€she€mayÏhave€discussed€this€with€her€therapist€but€did€not€tell€him€that€she€had€back€surgery€scheduled€andÏdid€not€know€why€her€therapist€had€charted€this€in€her€history.€€ÌÌÌà àOn€October€20,€1997,€she€reported€to€Mr.€Andrews€€that€her€ð ðback€was€constantly€inÏpain.ðð€€On€November€10,€1997,€Ms.€Mason€complained€of€depression,€marked€sleep€disturbance,Ïanhedonia€(lack€of€interest),€sadness€and€occasional€suicidal€ideation.Ìà àÌà àOn€November€11,€1997,€Ms.€Mason€fell€while€working€for€the€defendant.€€According€toÏMs.€Mason,€ð ð[I]€came€around€the€corner€and€it€was€a€box€there€and€I€didnððt€see€it€and€I€€fell€on€it,Ïover€it.€€I€mean€I€ended€up€on€my€left€side€half€in€and€half€out€of€the€box.ðð€€Ms.€Mason€maintainedÏthat€she€fell€onto€and€hit€the€concrete€floor€and€that€the€box€was€empty.€€On€cross„examination€andÏin€her€deposition€Ms.€Mason€acknowledged€that€there€may€have€been€one€or€two€Christmas€wreathsÏin€the€box.€€€€ÌÌà àMs.€Beverly€Bull,€a€supervisor,€witnessed€the€accident,€and€stated€that€Ms.€Mason€ð ðjustÏkind€of€fell€back€into€the€box,€and€was€sitting€in€the€boxðð€Ms.€Bull€testified€that€after€Ms.€MasonÏfell€she€was€sitting€completely€in€the€box€which€contained€Christmas€wreaths€and€that€she€did€notÏhit€the€concrete€floor.ÌÌà àAnother€employee€Mrs.€Carolyn€Smoot€also€testified€that€she€was€walking€right€in€front€ofÏMs.€Mason€when€the€accident€occurred.€€When€she€turn€around€Ms.€Mason€ð ðwas€kind€of€justÏsitting€down€in€the€box.ðð€€Mrs.€Smoot€stated€that€the€box€had€Christmas€wreaths€in€it€and€sheÏdidnððt€think€Ms.€Mason€ð ðever€touched€the€concreteðð.Ì€Ìà àOn€November€13,€1997,€Ms.€Mason€saw€Dr.€OððBrien€stating€that€she€had€fallen€at€workÏand€had€an€increase€in€pain.€€He€€found€tenderness€on€both€sides€of€her€back€with€some€muscleÏspasm.€€A€straight€leg€raise€caused€pain€on€the€€right€side€but€not€on€left€side.€€She€returned€onÏNovember€25,€1997,€complaining€of€increased€back€pain€and€bilateral€leg€pain.ÌÌà à€€On€December€17,€1997,€Dr.€OððBrien€performed€surgery,€which€involved€the€removal€ofÏtwo€discs€and€a€two€level€fusion€with€a€bone€graft.€While€she€had€some€initial€relief€fromÏsymptoms,€at€his€examination€on€October€13,€1998,€Dr.€OððBrien€found€that€she€was€essentially€noÏbetter€than€she€was€pre„operatively€and€she€was€complaining€of€persistent€back€pain.€At€that€time€heÏconcluded€given€her€current€level€of€symptoms€he€did€not€foresee€her€returning€to€work€in€the€nearÏfuture€and€referred€her€to€a€pain€clinic.€In€his€deposition,€Dr.€OððBrien€did€state€that€he€€felt€that€sheÏcould€do€some€light€work€where€she€could€limit€her€lifting€and€alternate€standing€and€sitting.ÌÌà àDr.€OððBrien€found€that€she€had€a€10%€to€15%€permanent€partial€impairment€to€the€body€asÏa€whole€before€the€fall,€and€did€not€think€the€fall€increased€her€impairment€rating.€€When€asked€ifÏthe€fall€caused€an€anatomical€increase€in€her€pre„existing€degenerative€disc€disease,€Dr.€OððBrienÏstated:€€€ð ðI€donððt€think€it€caused€it,€you€know,€if€you€want€to€think€of€it€as€a€discreet€new€injuryÏbecause€she€had€a€flare„up€of€her€symptoms€after€that,€but€in€terms€of€...an€injury€or€breakage,€no,Ïanatomically,€structurally,€no.ðð€€He€also€said€she€would€have€had€to€have€surgery€absent€the€fall.Ìà àÌà àOn€October€6,€1999,€Dr.€David€Gaw,€orthopedic€surgeon,€performed€an€independentÏmedical€evaluation€in€which€Ms.€Mason€related€that€her€injury€occurred€ð ðwhen€she€fell€over€a€boxÏhitting€the€concrete€floor.ðð€€Dr.€Ô_ÔGawÔ_Ô€found€Ms.€Masonððs€impairment€rating€òòprioróó€to€the€fall€to€be€aÏminimum€of€7%€to€the€body€as€a€whole€based€on€€non„operated€degenerative€disease€with€pain.€ÏAfter€the€fall,€he€assigned€a€20%€impairment€rating€to€body€as€a€whole€based€on€the€surgicalÏprocedure€and€loss€of€movement.€€He€also€felt€that€Ms.€Mason€suffered€from€chronic€painÏsyndrome.ÌÌà àDr.€Ô_ÔGawÔ_Ô€stated€that€ð ðI€think€based€upon€her€history€that€it€[the€fall]€did€aggravate€herÏconditionððand€found€that€the€impairment€that€she€now€has€was€causally€related€to€her€fall€inÏNovember€of€1997.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔGawÔ_Ô€testified€as€follows:ÌÌÓ(€ 4!"#$%&'(  (ÓØØÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà0 àYou€canððt€say€then€with€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty€that€the€slip€and€fallÏactually€increased€the€severity€of€her€anatomical€injury€as€result€of€the€slip€and€fall?Ó(€ 5!"#$%&'(  (ÓÌÌÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà0 àIf€her€history€is€true€I€think€I€can.€€It€would€be€based€on€the€fact€if€she€had€no€pain€in€the€leftÏleg€before€and€then€afterwards€she€did,€something€anatomically€happened€to€cause€nerveÏroot€compression.ÌÌà àDr.€Gaw€agreed€that€the€history,€including€the€severity€of€impact,€in€this€accident€played€anÏimportant€role€in€formulating€his€opinion€that€Ms.€Mason€aggravated€her€pre„existing€condition.€ÍDr.€Gaw€acknowledged€that€Ms.€Mason€was€a€surgical€candidate€in€September,€1997,€before€herÏslip€and€fall€accident€in€November.€€€He€assigned€restrictions€of€lifting€20€to€25€poundsÏoccasionally,€10€pounds€frequently,€and€limiting€bending,€twisting€and€long€static€positions.€ÌÌà àDr.€McCauley,€who€first€saw€Ms.€Mason€in€December€1997,€€testified€Ms.€MasonððsÏdepression€increased€after€the€fall€and€therefore€made€it€more€difficult€to€treat€her€condition€sinceÏshe€had€not€responded€to€therapy€or€medication.€She€did€not€think€Ms.€Mason€was€capable€of€fullÏemployment.€€Ms.€Patsy€Bramlett,€vocational€rehabilitation€counselor,€found€that€with€Dr.€GawððsÏrestrictions€Ms.€Mason€had€a€67%€loss€of€job€access€or€opportunities.ÌÌà àMs.€Mason€testified€that€she€is€completely€disabled€because€of€the€medication€she€takes€toÏrelieve€pain€and€has€not€been€able€to€work€since€the€accident.€€She€is€very€limited€in€driving€and€hasÏtimes€when€she€is€walking€where€her€legs€ð ðgive€outðð€on€her€and€she€falls.€€Ìà àÌà àThe€trial€court€found€that€Ms.€Mason€had€not€carried€her€burden€of€proof€and€dismissed€theÏcase€ruling€ð ðthat€the€cause€of€Plaintiffððs€surgery€and€resulting€disability€was€not€due€to€the€incidentÏof€November€11,€1997,€as€alleged€in€the€Complaint€and,€therefore,€finds€that€the€Plaintiff€did€notÏsustain€a€compensable€workersðð€compensation€injury.ðð€€The€trial€court€also€found€that€if€she€hadÏsuffered€a€compensable€work„related€injury,€Ms.€Mason€would€have€been€entitled€to€35%Ïpermanent€partial€disability€benefits.€€ÌÌÓ  ÓANALYSIS€ÌÓ  ÓÌà àReview€of€findings€of€fact€by€the€trial€court€shall€be€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trialÏcourt,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€finding,€unless€the€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€óóðð€50„6„225(e)(2).òò€€Stone€v.€City€of€McMinnvilleóó,€896ÏS.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€application€of€this€standard€requires€this€Court€to€weigh€inÏmore€depth€the€factual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€courts€in€workersðð€compensation€cases.€ÏòòCorcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€GMC,€Inc.óó,€746€S.W.2d€452,€456€(Tenn.€1988).ÌÌà àWhere€the€trial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€witnesses,€especially€where€issues€of€credibilityÏand€weight€of€oral€testimony€are€involved,€on€review€considerable€deference€must€still€be€accordedÏto€those€circumstances.€€òòHumphrey€v.€David€Witherspoon,€Incóó.,€734€S.W.2d€315€(Tenn.€1987).ÌÌà àWhen€the€medical€testimony€is€presented€by€deposition,€as€it€was€in€this€case,€this€Court€isÏable€to€make€its€own€independent€assessment€of€the€medical€proof€to€determine€where€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòCooper€v.€Insurance€Co.€of€North€Americaóó,€884€S.W.2d€446,Ï451€(Tenn.€1994).ÌÌà àMs.€Mason€had€presented€three€issues€on€appeal:€Ìà à€Ìò òà àó ó€€€€I.€€€Whether€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€finding€of€the€trial€court€that€theÏplaintiff€did€not€sustain€a€compensable€work€related€injury€on€November€11,€1997,€arising€out€ofÏand€in€the€course€of€her€employment.ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€II.€€Does€the€evidence€preponderate€against€the€finding€of€the€trial€court€that€the€plaintiffÏdid€not€sustain€an€accident€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€her€employment€and€thereforeÏsustained€no€work€related€injury.ÌÌà à€€€€€€III.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€conclusions€that€the€plaintiff€sustained€a€thirty„five€percent€(35%)€permanent€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole€had€she€carried€her€burden€ofÏproof.Ìà àÌò òà à€I.€€€Whether€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€finding€of€the€trial€court€thatÏthe€plaintiff€did€not€sustain€a€compensable€work€related€injury€on€November€11,€1997,Ïarising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€her€employment.ó óÌÌà àThe€employee€has€the€burden€of€proving€every€essential€element€of€his€claim.€òòWhite€v.ÏWerthan€Industriesóó,€824€S.W.2d€158,€159€(Tenn.€1992).€Ìà àÓ  Óà àIn€order€to€be€eligible€for€workers'€compensation€benefits,€an€employee€must€sufferÏ"an€injury€by€accident€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€which€causes€eitherÏdisablement€or€death."€òòTenn.€Code€Annóó.€ðð€50„6„102(12).€The€phrase€"arising€out€of"€refers€toÏcausation.€òòReeser€v.€Yellow€Freight€Systemsóó,€òòInc.óó,€938€S.W.2d€690,€692€(Tenn.€1997).ÌÌà àExcept€in€the€most€obvious€and€routine€cases,€the€claimant€in€a€workersðð€compensationÏaction€must€establish€causation€by€expert€medical€evidence.€€òòOrman€v.€Williams€Sonoma,€Incóó.€803ÏS.W.2d€672,€676€(Tenn.€1991).Ì€Ìà àIf€a€work€injury€aggravates€a€pre„existing€condition€merely€by€increasing€pain,€but€does€notÏotherwise€ð ðinjure€or€advance€the€severityððof€the€employeeððs€condition€the€claimant€did€not€sustainÏan€injury€by€accident€withing€the€meaning€of€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Act€and€is€not€entitled€toÏcompensation.€òòCunningham€v.€Goodyear€Tire€and€Rubber€Co.óó,€811€S.W.2d€888,€891€(Tenn.Ï1991).€€ÌÌà àTo€be€compensable,€the€pre„existing€condition€must€be€advanced,€there€must€be€anatomicalÏchange€in€the€pre„existing€condition,€or€the€employment€must€cause€an€actual€progression€of€theÏunderlying€disease.€€òòSweat€v.€Superior€Industries,€Incóó.,€966€S.W.2d€31,€33€(Tenn.€1998).€€ÌÌà àMs.€Masonððs€treating€physician,€Dr.€OððBrien,€testified€that€two€days€after€the€accident€a€Ïstraight€leg€raise€of€the€left€leg€did€not€elicit€a€pain€response.€€He€concluded€that€there€was€noÏpermanent€anatomical€change€in€her€pre„existing€back€condition.€€He€assigned€10%€to€15%Ïimpairment€rating€to€Ms.€Mason€before€her€fall€and€did€not€think€the€fall€increased€her€impairmentÏrating.Ì€Ìà àDr.€Gawððs€opinion€that€she€did€suffer€an€increase€in€severity€of€her€pre„existing€conditionÏwas€based€upon€the€history€given€by€Ms.€Mason€as€to€how€the€fall€occurred€and€how€it€causedÏsubsequent€left€leg€pain.€€In€its€ruling€at€the€conclusion€of€trial,€€the€€trial€court€expressed€concernÏabout€Ms.€Masonððs€credibility€in€some€points€of€her€testimony:€ð ðI€find€some€of€your€testimonyÏinconsistent.€€There€were€some€things€about€falling€in€the€box,€telling€the€doctors€about€being€onÏprobation,€not€being€on€probation;€whether€the€surgery€was€going€to€take€place€or€not,€and€I€have€toÏconsider€all€those€things€when€Iððm€making€that€decision.ðð€€The€trial€court,€who€was€in€the€bestÏposition€to€judge€the€weight€and€credibility€of€oral€testimony,€questioned€the€underlying€facts€uponÏwhich€Dr.€Gaw€based€his€opinion.ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€ruled€as€follows:€ð ðI€do€not€believe€youððve€carried€your€burden€of€proofð!ð€theÏburdenððs€on€you€to€prove€this€ð!ð€that€that€fall€in€that€box€was€the€cause€or€aggravated€thisÏcondition.ðð€€The€court€concluded€that€ð ðthe€incident€of€11„11„97€was€not€the€cause€of€the€surgicalÏprocedureðð€and€therefore€Ms.€Mason€did€not€sustain€a€compensable€workersðð€compensationÏinjury.ÌÌà àAfter€thoroughly€reviewing€the€record€in€this€case,€we€find€that€the€evidence€supports€the€Ïfinding€of€the€trial€court.€€ÌÌò òà à€€II.€€Does€the€evidence€preponderate€against€the€finding€of€the€trial€court€that€theÏplaintiff€did€not€sustain€an€accident€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€her€employmentÏand€therefore€sustained€no€work€related€injury.ÌÌà àó óTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„6„103(a)€€provides:€€Ìà8 àEvery€employer€and€employee€subject€to€the€Workers'€Compensation€Law€shall,Ïrespectively,€pay€and€accept€compensation€for€personal€injury€or€death€by€accidentÏarising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€without€regard€to€fault....€ÌÌà à€The€appellant€argues€that€Ms€Mason€is€entitled€to€medical€expenses€for€her€injury.€ÏAlthough€there€is€no€dispute€that€Ms.€Mason€fell€while€working€for€the€defendant€on€November,€11,Ï1997,€the€court€found€that€she€failed€to€carry€her€burden€of€proof€that€as€a€result€of€this€fall€she€hadÏa€compensable€workersðð€compensation€injury€which€would€entitle€her€to€any€workersððÏcompensation€benefits€including€medical€expenses.ÌÌà àAs€we€have€upheld€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€regarding€causation,€we€find€this€issue€to€beÏwithout€merit.€€ÌÌà àò òIII.€€Whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€conclusions€that€the€plaintiff€sustained€aÏthirty„five€percent€(35%)€permanent€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole€had€she€carriedÏher€burden€of€proofó ó.ÌÌà àAs€we€have€upheld€the€trial€courtððs€ruling,€€this€issue€is€moot€and€therefore€pretermitted.ÌÌÓ  ÓCONCLUSION€ÌÓ  ÓÌà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€The€costs€are€assessed€to€Ms.€Mason.€ÌÌÌà àÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€CAROL€CATALANO,€SP.€J.€ÇÔ€2¼Ôà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÔ€2XÔÌÌò òà@ àòòÔ€2¼ÔSUSAN€MASONóó€v.€OLD€TIME€POTTERY,€INC.ó óÌò òà@ àÌÔ€2XÔà@ àChancery€Court€for€Rutherford€CountyÌà@ àNo.€98WC„643ó óÌÌÌà@ àßA€V) °°¸ d¯2E— ¸ AßÌÌò òà@ àNo.€M2000„00226„SC„WCM„CVó 󀄀ò òFiled€„€September€13,€2001ó óÌÌßA€V) °°¸ d Ev¸ AßÌò òÌó óÌà@ àò òJUDGMENT€ORDERó óÌÓ  ÓÌà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€review€filed€by€the€appellant,€Susan€Mason,Ïpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referralÏto€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€OpinionÏsetting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;ÌÌà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€and€shouldÏbe€denied.ÌÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adoptedÏand€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌà àCosts€are€taxed€to€the€appellant,€Susan€Mason,€and€her€surety€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.ÌÌà àIt€is€so€ORDERED.ÌÌÓ  ÓÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÌÌBirch,€J.,€not€participatingà@ àÌ