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CharlesS.Kelly,Jr.,_Dyersburg_,TN,fortheAppellee,Donald_Sisk_ k##   % 4 %4 X4XXX4      &     MEMORANDUMOPINION K  'Ԍ &m!& Ќ  X4XXX4    '&?Facts '9#( #"X,&XXX4    #1  X4XX"X,&  PlaintiffwasfortyoneyearsoldatthetimeoftrialandemployedbyDefendantasan )%* assistantwarehousemanagerinApril,2000.Hesustainedaninjurytohisneckwhenaco *%+ employeeputhiminaheadlock.Followingtheincident,Plaintiffexperiencedpainandwas +&,  seenbyadoctor.Defendanttreatedtheincidentascompensable,andpaidapplicablemedical g,'- expensesandtemporarytotalbenefitsuntilPlaintiffwasreleasedtoreturntowork.Atthetime  oftrialPlaintiffwasworkingforDefendantatadifferentjobandatahigherrateofpay.#1w݌     X4XXX4  #"X,&XXX4    #  X4XX"X,&# ݌̌  X4XXX4      Defendantappealstheawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefits,allegingthatthe b preponderanceoftheexpertmedicalproofestablishesthatPlaintiffsinjurieswerenot H permanent,andthattheawardof36%permanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawholewas . ~ excessive.  d   X4XXX4      ,E1` hp x (#XE&  ,  I.PermanentDisability,  jԌ  0 Ќ  X4XXX4  ,K.` hp x (#X(#K'     Theexistenceandextentofapermanentvocationaldisabilityarequestionsoffactfor    determinationbythetrialcourtandarerevieweddenovo,accompaniedbyapresumptionof   correctness,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Walkerv.SaturnCorp.,986 x  S.W.2d204,207(Tenn.1998). ^    Whenthemedicaltestimonydiffers,thetrialjudgemustchoosewhichviewtobelieve. *z  Indoingso,heisallowed,amongotherthings,toconsiderthequalificationsoftheexperts,the ` circumstancesoftheirexamination,theinformationavailabletothem,andtheevaluationofthe F importanceofthatinformationbyotherexperts.Ormanv.Williams_Sonoma_,Inc.,803S.W.2d , 672,676(Tenn.1991).Moreover,itiswithinthediscretionofthetrialjudgetoconcludethat  theopinionofcertainexpertsshouldbeacceptedoverthatofotherexpertsbecauseitcontains  themoreprobableexplanation.Hinsonv.WalMartStores,Inc.,654S.W.2d675,6767(Tenn.  1983).Fromourindependentexaminationoftherecord,wearenotpersuadedthetrialcourt t abuseditsdiscretionbyacceptingtheopinionofDr.Warner. Z #"X,&XXX4    #  X4XX"X,&  Dr.WarnerobtainedhisM.D.degreein1954fromtheUniversityofTennessee, &v completedhisinternshipatJohnGastonHospital,andservedwiththeU.S.PublicHealth  \ Service.HemaintainedageneralpracticeinKentuckyandcompletedaresidencyingeneral B surgeryinWestVirginia.Dr.Warnerhasbeeningeneralsurgerypracticein_Dyersburg_, ( Tennesseesince1962.Hewasaboardcertifiedsurgeon,buthasbeeninageneralpracticeof  medicineduringthepastfewyears.#݌  Ќ  X4XXX4        Dr.WarnerusedtheFourthEditionoftheAMAGuidelinestoassessthedisabilityofthe p!  plaintiff.Heuseda_Jaymar_Ԁ_Dynometer_Ԁtoobtainareadingongripstrength,severaltimes.He V"! founddecreasedsensationtopinprick.Hetestifiedthesetestsweresomewhatobjectiveand <#" determinedthatPlaintiffhada32%lossofgripstrength.Dr.Warnerreviewedthephysical "$r# therapyrecordsofPlaintiffanddeterminedhehadthesameproblemearliertoagreaterdegree. %X $ Plaintiffsreflexwasreducedontheleftside.FromanexaminationhedeterminedthatPlaintiff %>!% hadabulgingdiskwithneuropathyandposttraumatic_cephalgia_.UsingtheAMAGuidelines &$"& tables,hedeterminedthatPlaintiffhada12%impairmenttothebodyasawholewhenhe ' #' submittedtheWorkersCompensationC32report.AthisdepositionDr.Warnerreviewedthe (#( tablesanddeterminedthatadditionaldisabilityforpersistentpainshouldhavebeenincluded. )$) Dr.WarnerconcludedthatPlaintiffhadaratingof16to18%tothebodyasawhole. l*%*   #"X,&XXX4    #%  X4XX"X,&  Dr._Darrion_Ԁ_Prewitt_ԀpracticesinternalmedicineandtreatedPlaintiffforneckpainand 8,', spasmsaftertheaccident.Hediagnosedacutecervicalneckstrainandleftshoulderstrain.He -n(- treatedPlaintiffconservativelywithmedicine.HedidnotorderanMRI,CATscanoranyother  typeoftest.#%%݌  Ќ  X4XXX4  #"X,&XXX4    #*(  X4XX"X,&#*(p(݌̌  X4XXX4  #"X,&XXX4    #(  X4XX"X,&  Dr._Lovell_,aneurosurgeon,revieweda_myelogram_ԀandMRIofPlaintiffwhichrevealeda b bony_spondylosis_Ԁattwolevelsintheneck.Heprescribedmedicine,asoftcollartowear,andan H overthedoorcervicaltractiondevicetobeusedtwotothreetimesadaybyPlaintiff.Onthe . ~ nextvisitPlaintiffrelayedcomplaintsofsomeresidualpressuresensationsdowntheneck.  d However,herequestedtobereturnedtoworkashewantedclosurewiththeissuesatwork,was  J nolongerangryatthegentlemanwhohadputhimintheheadlock,anddesiredtoreturntofull  0 dutystatus.Dr._Lovell_ԀreleasedPlaintifftoreturntowork.Heassessesnopermanentdisability    undertheAMAGuidelines.#(D)݌    Ќ  X4XXX4      Onthequestionofpermanentdisability,thetrialcourtwasfacedwithsharplyconflicting x  medicalevidence.Theruleisthatthetrialcourtisprimarilyresponsibleforresolving ^  conflictingtestimony,andonappealtheissueisonlywhethertheevidencepreponderates D  againsttheevidenceacceptedbythecourt.Thus,thetrialcourthasconsiderablediscretionto *z  acceptevidencepresentedbyonemedicalexpertoverthatofanotherexpert.Thomasv.Aetna ` Life&_Cas_.Co.,812S.W.2d278(Tenn.1991);Johnsonv._Midwesco_,Inc.,801S.W.2d804 F (Tenn.1990). ,     Fromourreviewoftherecord,wecannotsaytheevidencepreponderatesagainstthe  conclusionofthecourt.  X4XXX4      &  1  II.ExcessiveAward11  1Ԍ Z Ќ  X4XXX4  'Z1#"X,&XXX4    #2  X4XX"X,&  Defendantassertsthatthetrialcourt'sawardof36%permanentpartialdisabilityis &v excessiveandpreponderatesagainsttheevidence.#22݌  \ Ќ  X4XXX4      Inassessingthedegreeofanemployee'svocationaldisability,factorswhichshouldbe ( consideredaretheemployee'sskillsandtraining,education,localjobopportunities,age,  anatomicalimpairmentrating,andcapacitytoworkatthekindsofemploymentavailableinthe  employee'sdisabledcondition.Tenn.CodeAnn.50-6-241(b);Walker,986S.W.2dat208.   Theclaimant'sownassessmentofherphysicalconditionandresultingdisabilitiesmustalsobe p!  evaluated._Uptain_ԀConstr.Co.v._McClain_,526S.W.2d458,459(Tenn.1975).Thetrialcourt V"! shouldconsiderbothexpertandlaytestimonywhendecidingtheextentofanemployee's <#" disability.Hinsonv.WalMartStores,Inc.,654S.W.2d675,677(Tenn.1983). "$r#   Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibility %>!% andweighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccorded &$"& thosecircumstancesonreviewbecauseitisthetrialcourtwhichhadtheopportunitytoobserve ' #' thewitnesses'demeanorandtoheartheincourttestimony.Longv.TriConInd.,Ltd.,996 (#( S.W.2d173,177(Tenn.1999). )$)   #"X,&XXX4    #4:  X4XX"X,&  Thetrialjudgefoundtheplaintifftobeacrediblewitnessanddeterminedthathestillhas R+&+ problemswithpain,weakness,andtingling.Thereisampleevidenceintherecordtosupport 8,', thisfinding.#4:z:݌ -n(- Ќ  X4XXX4  #"X,&XXX4    #<  X4XX"X,&  Thetrialjudgedeterminedthatthe2.5capappliesbecausePlaintiffcontinuestoworkat  ahigherrateofpayandassesseddisabilityat36%whichiswellwithinthecapbasedonthe | anatomicalratingassessedbyDr.Warnerof16to18%tothebody.#<a<݌ b Ќ  X4XXX4  #"X,&XXX4    #4>  X4XX"X,&  Theextentofaninjuredworker'spermanentdisabilityisaquestionoffactbasedon . ~ numerousfactors,includingtheemployee'sage,skillsandtraining,education,capacitytowork,  d localjobopportunitiesandtheextentoftheworker'smedicalorclinicalimpairment.Tenn.  J CodeAnn.50-6-241(a)(1).Fromaconsiderationofthosefactors,totheextenttheywere  0 establishedbytheproof,wearenotpersuadedtheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrial    court'sawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsbasedon36%tothebodyasawhole.#4>z>݌    Ќ  X4XXX4  #"X,&XXX4    #A  X4XX"X,&  Therefore,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.#AA݌ x  Ќ  X4XXX4  #"X,&XXX4    #B  X4XX"X,&#B*C݌̌  X4XXX4  ! X"X,&XXX4    X!C  X4XX"X,&  Costsofappealaretaxedtothedefendantappellant.!CD݌ D  Ќ  X4XXX4      9"h hhp x (#X(#9     p      x  _______________________________    9 p x (#hhhX(#9% 5 %52FJOEH.WALKERIII,SPECIALJUDGE     H.` hp x (#X(#H  @ 8R{RXXdd8@9 9 PXX4INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @@@SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL   @((%ATJACKSON  @FFAugust16,2002Session $    DONALD_SISK_Ԁv._NEXAIR_,LLC   < jH@  ChanceryCourtforMadisonCounty  T @%No.57758  ` @*A7T) ` dE<' ` A߈ (x  @> > No.W200103077_WC_ԄR3CVFiledOctober18,2002 ?  A7T) ` dE<V ` A W   @# JUDGMENTORDER  n UPP   ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingthe  orderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthe  Panel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsof  law,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference;     ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionof  thePanelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and *    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactand B conclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismade N thejudgmentoftheCourt.  !Z Ѐ "f    ` CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellant,_Nexair_,LLC,forwhich "#r executionmayissueifnecessary. .$~     ` ITISSOORDERED. F&!" #PUPJ#Sy P   `     h     PER_CURIAM_ v)$% #P SyO##X4XPHG#