ÿWPC–! 9# .UN9 %‡ 0ûU:ˆ4ÂÖåw@í 0?- 0Dl ư Æv < ÆB Æ 0JÎ 0T 0^l 0hÊ 0r2 0|¤ 0†  0¦ 1u6 AQ«Æü 0 0@Ù 0D B] D/z 0d© B  D3*U>]U *›U*ÅB)ïDC AM[Ô¨É|v~EvÓØHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ÓH=$¡¡Ñ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ€XÎ_XXXÔÑ7€¾úXXdðXXdð7Ñ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularWX$3|x¢. ƒ.„.….D†.e‡.Ó€“.”.V•.î–.Ó€¢.(ï(3§{$¤¤Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€X8½XXXÔÑ7€µ1XXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5H„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 52 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a) !"#%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ï3»1$¢¢Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€X8½XXXÔÑ7€µ1XXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó d'''÷ÿ dxdP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓüÿP Pd$$$$'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Arial< Œ 9p`(Times% Line 7 d22227Border 1dd "3Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ÊÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€0ÔÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ!"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€0ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€0XÔÌÌò òMarchÏ31,Ï1998ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€0ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó ¿Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€0ÔÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ!"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€0ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€0XÔÌÌò òMarchÏ31,Ï1998ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€0ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿáùEG(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  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€/ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€0ÔÑ#€11Xd#ÑÑ#€11Xd#ÑÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÑ À ÑÑ X Ñò ò›œ›Þ ÞÌÌó óà@ àò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÙ€ ÙœßR€453A1-j|ûÿ¦` 81 `€€@ÿRß›à@ àAT€KNOXVILLEó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌHUBERT€R.€SCOTT,à àà àà à)€à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à)à àSHELBY€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNO.€02S01„9709„CH„00077Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌKIMBERLY„CLARK€CORPORATION,à à)à àHON.€FLOYD€PEETE,€JR.,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àCHANCELLORÌà àDefendant/Appellantà àà à)à àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òòòÌFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àà àFor€the€Appellee:ÌÌóóó óMcDonald€Kuhnà àà àà àà àJohn€E.€DunlapÌCarol€Mills€Haydenà àà àà àà à1433€Poplar€AvenueÌ80€Monroe€Avenueà àà àà àà àMemphis,€TN€€38104ÌSuite€550ÌP.O.€Box€3160ÌMemphis,€TN€€38173„0160ò òòòÌÌÌóóó óÌÌÌÓ  Óò òòòÌÌM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÌò òòòMembers€of€Panel:ÌÌó óóóChief€Justice€E.€Riley€AndersonÌSenior€Judge€John€K.€ByersÌSpecial€Judge€Roger€E.€ThayerÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÔ% € ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMEDà à€à àà àà àà àà àà àBYERS,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓòòò òOPINIONó óóóÌÓ  Óà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€CourtÏof€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ìà àIn€this€case,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€plaintiff€suffered€an€injury€to€his€backÏduring€the€course€and€scope€of€his€employment€with€the€defendant.€€The€trial€courtÏawarded€the€plaintiff€25€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€wholeÏfor€the€injury€to€the€lumbar€spine.€€The€trial€court€also€determined€that€the€plaintiffððsÏclaim€for€the€alleged€hernia€injury€was€not€compensable€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€€€€€€Ïðð€50„6„212(a).Ìà àThe€defendant€appeals€and€says€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€determining€thatÏthe€plaintiff€sustained€25€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€aÏwhole.€€The€plaintiff€appeals€and€says€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€determining€thatÏthe€hernia€injury€was€not€compensable.Ìà àWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÓ  Óò òFACTSó óÌÓ  Óà àThe€plaintiff,€age€63€at€the€time€of€trial,€left€school€when€he€was€in€the€fifthÏgrade€and€has€no€additional€education€or€training.€€After€leaving€school,€the€plaintiffÏworked€on€his€fatherððs€farm.€€Later,€he€joined€the€Air€Force€where€he€did€menial€jobsÏfor€three€years,€leaving€after€he€was€given€an€honorable€discharge€because€heÏcould€not€pass€the€required€tests€to€be€promoted€to€the€next€rank.€€After€leaving€theÏAir€Force,€the€plaintiff€took€a€job€as€a€truck€driver€for€two€different€companies.Ìà àBy€1974€or€1975,€the€plaintiff€worked€as€a€truck€driver€for€the€defendant.€€TheÏplaintiff€was€classified€as€a€lumper€because€he€not€only€operated€the€truck€but€heÏloaded€and€unloaded€the€truck€unless€he€paid€others€to€do€the€work.€€OnÏSeptember€13,€1990,€the€plaintiff€testified€that€he€was€unloading€wooden€palletsÏfrom€his€truck€when€he€injured€his€back€and€suffered€double€hernias.€€HeÏimmediately€notified€the€defendant€about€the€accident€and€was€instructed€to€returnÏto€Memphis€for€medical€care.Ìà àThe€plaintiff€first€saw€Dr.€George€Jenkins,€who€upon€examination€referred€himÏto€Dr.€James€C.€H.€Simmons€for€the€back€problems€and€Dr.€C.€Rad€Andrews€forÏhernia€repair.€€For€his€back€problems,€the€plaintiff€was€treated€with€physical€therapyÏand€work€hardening,€but€he€testified€that€these€activities€hurt€his€back€even€more.€€InÏ1991,€the€plaintiff€underwent€a€double€hernia€operation.€€The€hernias€have€rupturedÏonce€again€and€will€require€surgery€in€the€future.Ìà àThe€plaintiff€testified€that€he€continues€to€have€low€back€pain€and€cannotÏbend€over€for€long€periods€of€time€since€the€accident.€€The€plaintiff€also€said€that€heÏhas€muscle€spasms€which€require€him€to€sit€down,€that€he€cannot€drive€for€longÍdistances,€and€that€he€has€difficulty€lifting.€€Since€the€accident,€the€plaintiff€has€notÏreturned€to€work€and€has€accepted€early€retirement.€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àòòò òÌÓ  ÓóóMEDICAL€EVIDENCEó óòòÌÓ  Óà àóóDr.€James€C.€H.€Simmons,€a€neurosurgeon,€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€OctoberÏ1,€1990€and€noted€that€he€experienced€pain€in€the€lumbosacral€region.€€Dr.ÏSimmons€treated€the€plaintiff€with€physical€therapy€and€work€hardening€andÏreleased€him€in€July€1991.€€Dr.€Simmons€also€noted€that€the€plaintiff€said€he€wasÏevaluated€by€two€physicians€who€found€that€he€had€hernias.€€However,€it€was€alsoÏnoted€that€one€physician€did€not€recommend€surgery€and€felt€that€the€plaintiffððsÏhernias€were€unrelated€to€his€low€back€pain.€Ìòòà àóóDr.€Tewfik€E.€Rizk,€a€rheumatologist,€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€March€21,€1991Ïat€the€request€of€the€plaintiffððs€attorney.€€Dr.€Rizk€noted€that€the€plaintiff€hadÏsustained€a€back€injury€and€hernias€and€ordered€an€EMG€which€revealed€L5„S1Ïradiculopathy.€€Dr.€Rizk€also€noted€that€the€plaintiff€had€muscle€spasms€and€aÏuniform€loss€of€range€of€motion€of€the€lumbar€spine.Ìà àDr.€Rizk€completed€two€Standard€Form€Medical€Reports.€€The€first€StandardÏForm€Medical€Report€dealt€with€the€plaintiffððs€back€injury€and€was€written€August€16,Ï1995.€€Dr.€Rizk€found€that€it€was€more€probable€than€not€that€the€plaintiffððs€spinalÏproblems€were€causally€related€to€his€injury€at€work.€€Dr.€Rizk€determined€that€theÏplaintiff€could€safely€lift€or€carry€a€maximum€of€20€pounds;€frequently€lift€or€carry€aÏmaximum€of€15€pounds;€stand,€walk,€or€sit€less€than€six€hours€a€day;€occasionallyÏclimb,€balance,€kneel,€crouch,€or€crawl;€and€never€stoop€or€twist.€€Dr.€Rizk€assignedÏthe€plaintiff€a€ten€percent€permanent€anatomical€impairment€rating€to€the€body€as€aÏwhole€for€the€back€injury.Ìà àThe€second€Standard€Form€Medical€Report€dealt€with€the€plaintiffððs€herniaÏinjury€and€was€written€by€Dr.€Rizk€on€May€30,€1996.€€Dr.€Rizk€noted€that€the€plaintiffÏsaid€he€developed€hernias€immediately€following€his€work€injury,€that€he€underwentÏsurgery,€and€that€the€hernias€ruptured€again€for€no€apparent€reason.€€Dr.€RizkÏdetermined€that€the€plaintiff€could€safely€lift€15€pounds,€carry€less€than€10€pounds,Ïwalk€or€sit€no€more€than€six€hours€a€day,€and€occasionally€climb,€balance,€stoop,Ïkneel,€crouch,€crawl,€or€twist.€€Dr.€Rizk€assigned€the€plaintiff€a€15€percent€permanentÏanatomical€impairment€rating€to€the€body€as€a€whole€for€the€hernias€(five€percent€forÏthe€right€side€and€ten€percent€for€the€left€side).€€€Ìòòà àóóDr.€Ernest€L.€Cashion,€a€neurosurgeon,€testified€by€deposition.€€Dr.€CashionÏexamined€the€plaintiff€on€June€20,€1996€for€an€independent€medical€evaluation€atÏthe€request€of€the€defendant€and€reviewed€his€medical€records€and€x„ray€films.€€Dr.ÏCashion€noted€a€loss€of€range€of€motion,€mild€spasms,€and€degenerative€arthritis€inÏthe€plaintiffððs€lumbar€spine,€recommending€that€the€plaintiff€consult€a€rheumatologistÏor€arthritis€specialist.€€Dr.€Cashion€found€that€the€plaintiff€had€not€suffered€anyÏneurological€problems€as€a€result€of€his€work€injury€and€therefore€could€not€assignÏthe€plaintiff€an€impairment€rating€from€a€neurological€standpoint.€€However,€Dr.ÏCashion€agreed€that€certain€doctors€might€give€the€plaintiff€a€five€percentÏimpairment€rating.€€òòÌÓ  Óò òóóANALYSISó óòòÌÓ  Óà àóóReview€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€theÏrecord€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€theÏfindings,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Ïðð€50„6„225(e)(2).€€òòStone€v.€City€of€McMinnville,€óó896€S.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€ÌThe€application€of€this€standard€requires€this€Court€to€weigh€in€more€depth€theÏfactual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€court€in€a€workersðð€compensation€case.€ÏòòSee€Corcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€GMC,€Inc.,€óó746€S.W.2d€452,€456€(Tenn.€1988).òòÌà àóóThe€extent€of€vocational€disability€is€a€question€of€fact€to€be€determined€fromÏall€of€the€evidence,€including€lay€and€expert€testimony.€€òòWorthington€v.€Modine€Mfg.ÏCo.,óó€798€S.W.2d€232,€234€(Tenn.€1990).€€In€making€a€determination€of€vocationalÏdisability,€the€court€shall€consider€all€pertinent€factors,€including€lay€and€expertÏtestimony,€the€employeeððs€age,€education,€skills€and€training,€local€jobÏopportunities,€and€capacity€to€work€at€types€of€employment€available€in€theÏclaimantððs€disabled€condition.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„241(a)(1).€€òòRoberson€v.ÏLoretto€Casket€Co.,€óó722€S.W.2d€380,€384€(Tenn.€1986).Ìà àAfter€reviewing€the€record€in€this€case,€we€find€that€the€trial€courtððs€award€ofÏ25€percent€vocational€disability€for€the€injury€to€the€lumbar€spine€is€supported€by€aÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence.€€The€following€facts,€brought€out€by€lay€and€expertÏtestimony,€clearly€show€the€extent€of€the€plaintiffððs€vocational€disability:€€(1)€he€is€63Ïyears€old;€(2)€he€has€a€fifth€grade€education€and€no€job€skills;€(3)€his€back€injury€isÏpermanent€and€prevents€him€from€returning€to€work;€and€(4)€he€has€an€anatomicalÏimpairment€rating€of€ten€percent€from€Dr.€Rizk.Ìà àWe€have€also€reviewed€the€record€on€the€issue€of€whether€the€plaintiff€canÏrecover€workersðð€compensation€benefits€for€his€alleged€hernia€injury.€€The€medicalÏevidence€only€reveals€that€the€plaintiff€told€the€doctors€that€he€developed€herniasÏimmediately€following€his€work€injury,€but€there€is€no€medical€evidence€in€the€recordÏto€substantiate€the€plaintiffððs€claim€that€the€hernias€actually€occurred€that€way.€€In€theÏplaintiffððs€own€testimony,€he€merely€stated€that€Dr.€Jenkins€was€more€concernedÏwith€the€plaintiffððs€hernias€than€with€his€back€injury€and€never€stated€that€heÍdeveloped€the€hernias€immediately€following€his€work€injury.€€Therefore,€weÏconclude€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€finding€of€the€trialÏcourt€that€the€plaintiff€cannot€recover€for€his€alleged€hernia€injury€under€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€50„6„212(a).Ìà àWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€The€cost€of€this€appeal€is€taxed€toÏthe€defendant.€€à àà àÌÓÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€œJudgeÇÑ ` Ñà@ àÔ€0¼ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€JACKSONÔ€0XÔÌÌÌÓ#` Ü…X^ŠÐ X#ÓHUBERT€R.€SCOTT,à àà à)à àSHELBY€CHANCERYÌÓ#` Ü` ^ŠÐ X#Óà à)à àNO.€99721„2ÌÓ#` Ü` ¸ ^ŠÐ X#Óà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à à)à àÌà àà à)à àHon.€Floyd€Peete,€Jr.,Ìvs.à àà à)à àChancellorÌà àà à)ÌßJ€46;+'b|ËÞ` ‚- `€@ÿJßKIMBERLY„CLARK€CORPORATION,à à)à àNO.€02S01„9709„CH„00077Ìà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appellant.à à)à àAFFIRMED.ÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€0¼ÔJUDGMENT€ORDERÔ€0XÔÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓÌÓ` p`  ’XÓà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÏorder€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€theÏPanel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€ofÏthe€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€madeÏthe€judgment€of€the€Court.Ìà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Appellant,€and€Surety,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.Ìà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€31st€day€of€March,€1998.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌ(Holder,€J.,€not€participating)ÌÌÌÌ›