ÿWPC”! 9# .UN9 %‡ 0ûU:ˆ4ÂÖ åëw@ó 0?3 0Dr ƶ Æ| 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[Ó¨È{v~CvÓÁ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(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$3|x0H ñ/îò/ ó/ ô/ õ/ ö/ ÷/ ø/ ù/Ó€0(ï(3Øý$¤¤Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XèøXXXÔÑ7€ÕXXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 52 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a) !"#%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ï3}d$¢¢Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XèøXXXÔÑ7€ÕXXdìdì7ÑÝ  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 ÉÝ 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 òMarchÏ3,Ï1998ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€0ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó ¾Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€0ÔÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ!"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€0ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€0XÔÌÌò òMarchÏ3,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  ÝÙ€ ÙÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÑ À ÑÑ X Ñò ò›œßR€453A1-j|` 81 `€€@ÿRß›Þ ÞÌÌó óà@ àò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌà@ àAT€JACKSONó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌJANET€WYNN,à àà àà àà à)€à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHENRY€CIRCUITÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNO.€02S01„9709„CV„00081Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.€CREED€McGINLEY,ÌTECUMSEH€PRODUCTS€COMPANY,à à)à àJUDGEÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à€Ìà àDefendant/Appellantà àà à)à àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àà àFor€the€Appellee:ÌÌóóó óDavid€F.€Hessingà àà àà àà àGayden€Drew,€IVÌ105€East€Wood€Streetà àà àà àDrew€&€Martindale,€P.C.ÌParis,€TN€38242à àà àà àà à470€North€Parkway,€Suite€CÌà àà àà àà àà àà àJackson,€TN€38305ò òòòÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€ONóóó óÌÌò òòòMembers€of€Panel:ÌÌó óóóJustice€Janice€HolderÌSenior€Judge€John€K.€ByersÌSenior€Judge€William€H.€InmanÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ% € ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÌÌAFFIRMED€à àà 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 àReview€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).ÏThe€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).Ìà àThe€trial€court€awarded€the€plaintiff€a€30€percent€permanent€partial€disabilityÏto€her€right€leg,€a€40€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€each€of€her€arms,€andÍmedical€expenses€in€the€amount€of€$707.00.€€The€trial€court€noted€that€the€plaintiff€isÏvery€bright€and€capable€of€expressing€herself.Ìà àThe€defendant€raises€the€following€issues€on€appeal:ÌÒ ` ÒÒ H ÒÓÓð ð1.à àDoes€the€evidence€preponderate€against€the€Trial€Courtððs€finding€thatÏPlaintiff€sustained€a€thirty€(30%)€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€herÏright€leg.ÌÌ2.à àDoes€the€evidence€preponderate€against€the€Trial€Courtððs€finding€thatÏPlaintiffððs€condition€to€each€of€Plaintiffððs€arms€was€caused€by€the€workÏactivities€performed€at€Tecumseh€Products€Company.ÌÌ3.à àDoes€the€evidence€preponderate€against€the€Trial€Courtððs€finding€thatÏPlaintiff€sustained€a€forty€(40%)€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€eachÏof€her€arms.ÌÌ4.à àDid€the€Trial€Court€err€in€finding€that€Tecumseh€should€pay€Dr.€JamesÏSpruillððs€medical€charges€in€the€amount€of€$707.00.ððÌÌÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÓÓòòò òà àóóó óWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÓ  Óò òFACTSó óÌÓ  Óà àThe€plaintiff,€age€23€at€the€time€of€trial,€graduated€from€high€school€andÏattended€one€year€at€Bethel€College€but€was€financially€unable€to€continue€herÏcollege€education.€€Her€work€experience€includes€working€as€a€cashier€and€clerk€atÏWal„Mart.Ìà àBeginning€September€6,€1994,€the€plaintiff€worked€for€the€defendant€as€aÏwedge€adjustor,€a€job€she€did€for€two€months.€€She€also€performed€duties€as€a€clipÏand€gage€worker.€€The€plaintiffððs€permanent€job,€which€she€performed€99€percent€ofÏthe€time,€was€that€of€a€capper.€€Working€as€a€capper€required€the€plaintiff€to€stand€onÏher€feet€eight€hours€a€day.€€The€plaintiff€testified€that€all€of€these€jobs€required€theÏrepetitive€use€of€her€hands€and€arms.Ìà àOn€January€16,€1995,€the€plaintiff€fractured€her€right€ankle€when€she€got€herÏfoot€caught€in€some€open€steps.€€She€underwent€two€surgeries€on€her€foot€andÍmissed€a€total€of€11€weeks€of€work.€€The€plaintiff€returned€to€work€without€anyÏrestrictions,€but€she€testified€that€she€continued€to€have€swelling,€pain,€and€stiffnessÏin€her€ankle€and€that€her€ankle€gave€her€problems€when€she€stood€for€long€periodsÏof€time.€€Ìà àBeginning€the€first€of€1996,€the€plaintiff€experienced€problems€with€herÏhands,€feeling€numbness€in€the€third€and€fourth€fingers€of€her€left€hand€and€in€theÏthumb€and€index€finger€of€her€right€hand.€€During€an€annual€examination€forÏepilepsy€in€October€1996,€the€plaintiff€complained€to€Dr.€James€Spruill€of€numbnessÏin€her€hands.€€On€October€14,€1996,€she€learned€from€Dr.€Spruill€that€she€hadÏdeveloped€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€Dr.€Spruill€offered€to€refer€the€plaintiffÏto€a€surgeon,€but€she€did€not€seek€any€medical€treatment€at€that€time.Ìà àOn€October€17,€1996,€the€plaintiff€notified€Cindy€Morris,€Benefits€CoordinatorÏfor€the€defendant,€that€she€began€experiencing€numbness,€burning,€stiffness,€andÏcramping€in€her€hands€on€March€15,€1996.€€However,€this€claim€for€workersððÏcompensation€benefits€was€denied€for€lack€of€notice€and€because€the€functionalÏrequirements€of€a€capper€were€not€at€risk€for€a€cumulative€trauma€disorder.Ìà àThe€plaintiff€still€works€for€the€defendant€as€a€capper€and€maintains€a€goodÏwork€record.€€She€testified€that€she€walks€30€minutes€to€one€hour€every€day€beforeÏgoing€to€work.€€She€also€testified€that€she€can€work,€cook,€clean,€drive,€and€doÏlaundry€but€that€her€hands€get€tired€when€doing€these€activities.òòò òÌÓ  ÓóóMEDICAL€EVIDENCE:€€LEG€INJURYó óÌÓ  Óà àDr.€Eugene€Gulish,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€treated€the€plaintiff€for€the€injuryÏto€her€ankle.€€On€February€5,€1996,€Dr.€Gulish€removed€five€screws€and€a€plate€thatÏhe€had€inserted€to€stabilize€the€plaintiffððs€fracture€during€the€first€surgery.€€Dr.€GulishÏreleased€the€plaintiff€with€no€work€restrictions€on€March€29,€1996.€€Dr.€Gulish€isÍambiguous€about€whether€there€is€any€permanent€impairment€to€the€plaintiffððs€rightÏleg€as€a€result€of€her€injury€at€work.€€Ìòòà àóóDr.€Robert€J.€Barnett,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€performed€an€independentÏmedical€examination€of€the€plaintiffððs€leg€at€her€attorneyððs€request€on€January€29,Ï1997.€€Dr.€Barnett€found€arthritic€changes,€limited€range€of€motion,€a€one„half€inchÏatrophy€of€the€right€calf,€and€a€one„fourth€enlargement€of€the€right€ankle.€€He€opinedÏthat€the€plaintiff€sustained€a€15€percent€anatomical€impairment€to€her€right€legÏbased€upon€the€òòAMA€Guidesóó€and€recommended€that€the€plaintiff€not€stand€moreÏthan€six€hours€a€day.€Ìà àThe€defendant€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erroneously€awarded€the€plaintiff€aÏ30€percent€impairment€to€the€right€leg€because:€€(1)€the€plaintiff€is€very€bright€andÏattended€college;€(2)€the€plaintiffððs€treating€physician,€whose€testimony€should€beÏgiven€more€weight€because€he€saw€her€for€15€months,€found€no€anatomicalÏimpairment€to€the€right€ankle€and€placed€no€work€restrictions€on€her;€(3)€theÏplaintiffððs€evaluating€physician,€who€saw€her€only€once,€made€no€comparisonsÏconcerning€her€ankleððs€range€of€motion;€and€(4)€the€plaintiff€is€able€to€walk€30Ïminutes€to€one€hour€before€work€each€day€and€is€able€to€work€as€a€capper€whileÏstanding€for€eight€hours.€Ìòòà àóóThe€plaintiff€states€that€there€is€a€conflict€in€the€medical€evidence€in€that€Dr.ÏGulish€found€no€anatomical€impairment€to€her€leg€while€Dr.€Barnett€found€a€15Ïpercent€anatomical€impairment€to€her€leg.€€Thus,€the€plaintiff€argues€that€the€trialÏcourt€exercised€its€discretion€in€choosing€to€accept€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Barnett€overÏthat€of€Dr.€Gulish.€€Aside€from€the€anatomical€impairment€rating€found€by€Dr.€Barnett,Ïthe€plaintiff€points€out€that€the€trial€court€could€not€disregard€her€own€testimonyÍabout€the€pain€and€stiffness€she€still€feels€in€her€ankle€from€standing€eight€hours€aÏday€at€work.€ÌÓ  Óò òMEDICAL€EVIDENCE:€€ó óà àò òCARPAL€TUNNEL€SYNDROMEó óÌÓ  Óòòà àóóDr.€James€Spruill,€a€neurologist,€saw€the€plaintiff€on€October€7,€1996€for€anÏannual€examination€for€epilepsy.€€At€that€time,€the€plaintiff€complained€to€Dr.€SpruillÏof€numbness€in€her€hands.€€Dr.€Spruill€ordered€a€nerve€conduction€study€andÏdetermined€that€the€results€were€compatible€with€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€Ìòòà àóóDr.€Joseph€C.€Boals,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€performed€an€independentÏmedical€examination€of€the€plaintiffððs€hands€and€arms€at€her€attorneyððs€request€onÏDecember€30,€1996.€€Dr.€Boals€found€a€negative€Phalenððs€examination€bilaterallyÏand€no€definite€numbness€in€either€hand.€€Dr.€Boals€opined€that€the€plaintiff€hadÏbilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome,€that€she€needed€surgery,€and€that€she€hadÏsustained€a€ten€percent€anatomical€impairment€to€each€arm€based€upon€the€òòAMAÏGuidesóó.€€€€Ìà àThe€defendant€claims€there€is€no€evidence€to€support€the€trial€courtððs€findingÏthat€the€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€which€the€plaintiff€suffers€was€caused€by€her€workÏas€a€capper.€€In€support€of€this€claim,€the€defendant€presented€the€testimony€ofÏKenneth€Springer,€a€physical€therapist.€€Mr.€Springer€testified€that€he€had€done€aÏjob€analysis€of€the€job€performed€by€the€plaintiff€and€found€no€significant€risk€factorÏof€cumulative€trauma€to€the€shoulder,€elbow,€or€wrists€of€an€employee€performingÏthis€task.€Ìà àThe€plaintiff€testified€that€she€continues€to€have€problems€with€her€handsÏwhile€doing€her€work€as€a€capper.ÌÓ  Óò òANALYSISó óÌÓ  Óà àIn€order€to€be€eligible€for€workersðð€compensation€benefits,€an€employee€mustÏsuffer€ð ðan€injury€by€accident€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€whichÏcauses€either€disablement€or€death.ðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„102(a)(5).€€TheÏphrase€ð ðarising€out€ofðð€refers€to€causation.€€The€causation€requirement€is€satisfied€ifÏthe€injury€has€a€rational,€causal€connection€to€the€work.€€òòReeser€v.€Yellow€FreightÏSys.,€Inc.,€óó938€S.W.2d€690,€692€(Tenn.€1997)€(citations€omitted).Ìà àAlthough€causation€cannot€be€based€upon€merely€speculative€or€conjecturalÏproof,€absolute€certainty€is€not€required.€€Any€reasonable€doubt€in€this€regard€is€toÏbe€construed€in€favor€of€the€employee.€€We€have€consistently€held€that€an€awardÏmay€be€properly€based€upon€medical€testimony€to€the€effect€that€a€given€incidentÏð ðcould€beðð€the€cause€of€the€employeeððs€injury,€provided€that€there€is€also€layÏtestimony€from€which€it€reasonably€may€be€inferred€that€the€incident€was€in€fact€theÏcause€of€the€injury.€€òòId.€€óóÌà àOn€the€injury€to€the€plaintiffððs€leg,€there€is€no€dispute€on€causation.€€The€onlyÏdispute€is€whether€there€is€any€permanent€injury.€€In€reaching€a€judgment€on€theÏextent,€if€any,€of€permanent€vocational€impairment€to€the€plaintiffððs€leg,€the€trial€judgeÏhad€medical€testimony€from€two€physicians€which€was€in€conflict€as€to€whether€thereÏwas€any€impairment€or€not.€€In€addition,€the€trial€judge€had€the€plaintiffððs€testimonyÏabout€how€the€injury€affects€her€now.Ìà àThe€defendant€says€the€evidence€does€not€support€a€finding€that€the€plaintiffÏsuffers€a€30€percent€permanent€impairment€to€her€right€leg€because€the€evidenceÏsubmitted€by€the€treating€physician€Dr.€Gulish€showed€that€the€plaintiff€suffered€noÏpermanent€impairment.€€The€defendant€insists€that€Dr.€Gulishððs€testimony€should€beÏgiven€greater€weight€than€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Barnett,€who€only€saw€the€plaintiff€forÍpurposes€of€evaluation€and€found€that€she€retained€a€15€percent€impairment€to€herÏright€leg.Ìà àThe€Supreme€Court€has€said€that€the€trial€court€may€properly€give€moreÏweight€to€the€testimony€of€a€treating€physician€than€that€of€a€physician€who€sees€anÏemployee€only€for€purposes€of€evaluation.€€òòSee€Crossno€v.€Publix€Shirt€Factory,óó€814ÏS.W.2d€730,€732€(Tenn.€1991);€òòOrman€v.€Williams€Sonoma,€Inc.,óó€803€S.W.2d€672,Ï677€(Tenn.€1991).€€However,€this€case€does€not€compel€the€trial€judge€to€give€moreÏweight€to€the€treating€physicianððs€testimony.€€To€do€so€would€mean€there€would€beÏno€need€for€an€employer€or€an€employee€to€have€an€independent€medicalÏexamination€done€in€a€workersðð€compensation€case.Ìà àAs€we€understand€this€issue,€each€case€must€be€decided€upon€its€ownÏmedical€evidence.€€The€trial€judge€must€make€a€decision€on€the€medical€evidenceÏand,€when€there€are€conflicting€opinions€by€the€experts,€the€trial€judge€may€acceptÏthe€opinion€of€one€medical€expert€over€another.€€òòJohnson€v.€Midwesco,€Inc.,óó€801ÏS.W.2d€804,€806€(Tenn.€1990).€Ìà àWe€may€make€our€own€independent€assessment€of€the€medical€evidenceÏwhen€it€is€presented€by€deposition€or€written€reports,€as€it€is€in€this€case.€€òòCooper€v.ÏInsurance€Co.€of€N.€Am.,€óó884€S.W.2d€446,€451€(Tenn.€1994);€òòLanders€v.€FiremanððsÏFund€Ins.€Co.,€óó775€S.W.2d€355,€356€(Tenn.€1989).€€In€doing€so,€we€should€notÏignore€the€conclusion€reached€by€the€trial€judge€upon€the€assessment€of€theÏconflicting€medical€opinions.€€Unless€there€is€some€reason€in€the€record€toÏdemonstrate€the€unreliability€of€the€testimony€or€written€reports€of€an€examiningÏphysician,€we€should€exercise€great€discretion€in€rejecting€the€trial€judgeððs€findingsÏand€not€reject€them€without€some€obvious€reason€to€do€so.Ìà àWe€have€made€an€independent€assessment€of€the€medical€evidenceÏregarding€the€plaintiffððs€leg€injury,€and€we€find€the€evidence€does€not€preponderateÏagainst€the€findings€of€the€trial€judge€that€the€plaintiff€suffers€from€a€30€percentÏpermanent€partial€disability€to€her€right€leg.Ìà àOn€the€plaintiffððs€carpal€tunnel€syndrome,€there€is€a€dispute€on€causation€andÏwhether€there€is€any€permanent€impairment.€€There€is€medical€evidence€in€thisÏrecord€showing€that€the€plaintiff€developed€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€Dr.€BoalsððÏwritten€report€concludes€that€the€plaintiffððs€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€resulted€from€theÏwork€done€by€her€as€a€capper.Ìà àWe€conclude€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€findings€of€theÏtrial€court€that€the€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€suffered€by€the€plaintiff€was€caused€byÏher€work€for€the€defendant.€€Furthermore,€we€have€weighed€the€medical€evidenceÏregarding€the€injury€to€the€plaintiffððs€arms,€and€we€find€the€evidence€does€notÏpreponderate€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€judge€that€the€plaintiff€suffers€from€a€40Ïpercent€permanent€partial€disability€to€each€of€her€arms.ÌÓ  Óò òCONCLUSIONó óÌÓ  Óà àWe€do€not€find€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings€of€theÏtrial€judge€as€to€the€extent€of€the€injury€to€the€plaintiffððs€leg€or€to€the€cause€and€extentÏof€the€injury€to€her€arms,€and€we€affirm€the€judgment.Ìà àWe€further€find€the€trial€judge€did€not€err€in€ordering€the€defendant€to€pay€theÏmedical€bill€of€$707.00.€€The€defendant€asserts€that€it€should€not€be€responsible€forÏany€medical€bills€to€Dr.€Spruill€which€were€incurred€prior€to€informing€the€defendantÏthat€the€plaintiff€had€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.Ìà àAn€employer€is€liable€for€medical€treatments€which€are€found€to€be€workÏrelated€when€they€are€incurred€prior€to€the€time€an€employee€knows€she€has€a€workÍrelated€injury.€€òòBishop€v.€United€States€Steel€Corp.,óó€593€S.W.2d€920€(Tenn.€1980).€ÏThe€plaintiff€is€entitled€to€any€medical€costs€of€Dr.€Spruill€after€she€reported€theÏinjury€because€the€defendant€denied€that€the€plaintiffððs€claim€was€compensable€andÏdid€not€furnish€her€any€medical€care€for€her€arms.€€òòSee€Whitson€v.€Liberty€Mut.€Ins.ÏCo.,óó€556€S.W.2d€756€(Tenn.€1977).Ìà àThe€cost€of€this€appeal€is€taxed€to€the€defendant.€ÌÌÓÓÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌJanice€Holder,€JusticeÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€Judge€œÇÑ ` Ñà@ àÔ€0¼ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€JACKSONÔ€0XÔÌÌÌÓ#` p…XÈôÐ X#ÓJANET€WYNN,à àà àà à)à àHENRY€CIRCUITÌÓ&` p` ÈôLÐ X&Óà à)à àNO.€717€&€718ÌÓ ` p` ¸ Èx‘X Óà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à à)à àÌÓ#` p` ¸ ÈôÐ X#Óà àà à)à àHon.€Creed€McGinley,Ìvs.à àà à)à àJudgeÌà àà à)ÌTECUMSEH€PRODUCTS€COMPANY,à à)à àNO.€02S01„9709„CV„00081ÌßJ€46;+'b|±F` 81 `€@ÿJßà 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€3rd€day€of€March,€1998.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌ(Holder,€J.,€not€participating)ÌÌÌÌ›