Smith, Willie v. Memphis National Parts Warehouse/Daimler Trucks , 2021 TN WC 207 ( 2021 )

FILED
Jul 30, 2021
07:15 AM(CT)
TENNESSEE COURT OF
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
CLAIMS
TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AT MEMPHIS
WILLIE SMITH, ) Docket No. 2019-08-0221
Employee, )
v. )
MEMPHIS NATIONAL PARTS ) State File No. 52354-2018
WAREHOUSE/DAIMLER TRUCKS, )
Employer, )
And )
NEW HAMPSHIRE INSURANCE ) Judge Deana Seymour
CO., )
Carrier. )
EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER
This case came before the Court on June 30, 2021, for an Expedited Hearing. The
issue is whether Mr. Smith is entitled to the back surgery recommended by his authorized
treating physician. 1 For the reasons below, the Court holds he is not entitled to the
surgery.
History of Claim
Mr. Smith injured his back while lifting a box at work on July 12, 2018. Daimler
provided authorized treatment with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Samuel Murrell. Mr. Smith
saw Dr. Murrell on July 25 for low-back pain and numbness in his left toes. 2 Dr. Murrell
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The Dispute Certification Notice identified the issues as medical and temporary disability benefits.
However, Mr. Smith did not pursue temporary disability at this hearing. Daimler attempted to challenge
compensability at the hearing, but since that issue was not listed on the Dispute Certification Notice, the
Court did not consider it.
2
Mr. Smith reported a history of “bad disks” since 2011 and told Dr. Murrell he had been doing well with
conservative treatment until the July 12 injury. He testified his primary physician prescribed medication
for low-back and groin pain extending into his left leg for many years. He also suffered a work injury to
his low back in 2016 that resulted in an MRI and epidural injection but no surgery. He last saw his
primary physician due to low-back and left-leg pain four months before the July 2018 injury.
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diagnosed acute low-back pain with associated left sciatica. He prescribed medication
and physical therapy.
Physical therapy did not help, so Dr. Murrell ordered a lumbar MRI. The MRI
showed degenerative changes and a left paracentral disc protrusion at L5-S1 that could
contact the left nerve root. Dr. Murrell ordered an epidural steroid injection and requested
the 2016 lumbar MRI from a past work injury “to see if there has been a progression of
the disease at that L5-S1 level or whether the foraminal narrowing is due as I suspect to
more chronic changes.”
Mr. Smith’s symptoms improved, but he continued to have numbness in his left
leg. Dr. Murrell recommended additional physical therapy. In January 2019, Mr. Smith
returned to Dr. Murrell, advising that the physical therapy worsened his symptoms, and
the steroid injection was no longer effective. Dr. Murrell discussed possibly proceeding
with surgery. Mr. Smith wanted to consider his options before deciding.
Two months later, Mr. Smith returned to Dr. Murrell, who had received the 2016
MRI. He noted Mr. Smith’s “disc abnormality at L5-S1 has shown a structural change
and is larger . . . [W]here it showed no evidence of significant neural impingement on the
7/20/2016 it does show impingement on the 9/21/2018 study.” Dr. Murrell related this
structural change to the 2018 work injury because he did not know of any other injury or
event that would have caused it. He discussed his findings with Mr. Smith, who decided
to proceed with surgery. 3
Before surgery, Daimler requested a second opinion from neurosurgeon Dr. John
Brophy. He reviewed Mr. Smith’s medical records and evaluated him on June 4. Dr.
Brophy recorded that ninety percent of Mr. Smith’s pain was in his low back with some
left-leg pain and paresthesia in the left great toe.
Dr. Brophy determined that Mr. Smith had “chronic back pain associated with
lumbar spondylosis without clinical evidence of significant lumbar radiculopathy or
definite radiographic evidence of nerve root compression.” He did not think the lumbar
surgery that Dr. Murrell suggested would improve Mr. Smith’s back pain. He explained
that “the reason to perform the surgery is to take pressure off the nerve, and if he doesn’t
have pain related to pressure on the nerve and the MRI doesn’t demonstrate pressure on
the nerve, those patients aren’t better in my experience.” He suggested Mr. Smith attempt
a home endurance exercise program and continue conservative treatment.
Later in June, Mr. Smith returned to Dr. Murrell, stating that Dr. Brophy did not
3 Daimler filed a Notice of Denial on January 29, 2019, claiming Mr. Smith’s condition was due to an
idiopathic condition or physical infirmity unrelated to his employment. However, it continued to provide
authorized treatment. A month later, Mr. Smith filed a Petition for Benefit Determination for medical
benefits.
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think he needed surgery. Dr. Murrell wrote that “on my review I thought that there might
be some irritation or impingement of the S1 nerve root.” (Emphasis added).
Dr. Murrell then ordered a myelogram and post myelogram CT study. He
explained that if the study showed “poor filling or significant compression or deviation of
that nerve root then surgery would be appropriate . . . [S]hould this show no significant
abnormality then there would be little more that I would have to recommend.”
After the tests, Mr. Smith returned to Dr. Murrell, who noted a disc extrusion
extending at L5-S1 effacing the thecal sac and left S1 nerve. Since Mr. Smith appeared to
“be failing nonoperative conservative care,” Dr. Murrell recommended surgery, which
Daimler denied.
Dr. Murrell testified by deposition in June 2020. He confirmed that, as of August
12, 2019, he believed the recommended surgery was the next reasonable and necessary
step in Mr. Smith’s treatment. However, he needed to re-evaluate him. He agreed that he
never limited Mr. Smith’s ability to work full duty.
Mr. Smith returned to Dr. Murrell in December 2020 for evaluation and requested
a discharge. Since so much time had passed, Dr. Murrell ordered an MRI to determine the
status of the L5-S1 disc. He noted that the MRI showed degenerative changes at L4-5 and
L5-S1 with a broad-based disc bulge at L5-S1, and a superimposed left-sided disc
protrusion resulting in significant foraminal stenosis. Dr. Murrell wrote that Mr. Smith
had a negative straight leg raise and normal range of motion with mild lumbar spine
discomfort.
Based on this evaluation, Dr. Murrell again recommended surgery; however, he
cautioned Mr. Smith that the surgery would not alleviate his chronic underlying
degenerative changes that were not related to his work injury.
Daimler sent the recommendation through utilization review. Based on the
Official Disability Guidelines, UR reviewer Dr. Steven Arsht determined the surgery was
not medically necessary. Mr. Smith appealed the UR decision to the Bureau, and Dr.
James Talmage, Assistant Medical Director, and Dr. Robert Snyder, Medical Director,
upheld the UR denial, stating:
It is suggested that the patient be re-examined for sensory, motor, and
reflex deficits, with Dr. Murrell having access to the images (not just the
reports) from the 9/21/2018 MRI, the 7/19/2019 CT Myelogram, and the
12/5/2020 MRI, and then that the case be resubmitted to the adjuster. Since
surgery cannot decompress a nerve root that in fact is not compressed, Dr.
Murrell should comment on progression of stenosis affecting the left L5 and
left S1 nerve roots.
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(Emphasis added.)
After this decision, Daimler returned Mr. Smith to Dr. Brophy in May 2021 for
reevaluation. Dr. Brophy reviewed the recent radiographic studies and noted that Mr.
Smith reported low-back pain and pain radiating from this left buttock to the calf.
Dr. Brophy testified by deposition that the radiographic studies did not confirm
nerve root compression. He stated, “[T]he key thing on the myelogram part is looking at
the symmetry of the filling of the contrast of the nerve ̶ S1 nerve root on both sides, and
in fact it was symmetric.” The radiology report confirmed “normal opacification of the
nerve root sleeves . . . [T]herefore, there is no objective evidence of nerve root
compression by definition, and that is the gold standard.”
Dr. Brophy addressed the December MRI scan that showed a L5-S1 herniation
touching the left S1 nerve root. He stated that, although the herniation existed, he
observed epidural fat in back of the left S-1 root, which is usually not present “if there is
actual pressure on the nerve.”
Dr. Brophy concluded that he saw no evidence of S1 nerve root compression that
would warrant surgery. In his opinion, surgery “will not solve the problem and [is],
therefore, not medically necessary.”
At the hearing, Mr. Smith also testified about his current condition. He said that he
had worked for Daimler for fifteen years. Since July 12, 2018, his pain has been constant,
keeping him awake at night and restricting his activities. Mr. Smith conceded that he has
continued to work without restrictions for forty to forty-eight hours per week but stated
his co-workers help him with lifting.
On cross-examination, Mr. Smith recounted his back problems since 2011. He
agreed that he suffered a low-back injury in 2016, and his primary care physician has
prescribed medication for his low-back pain for many years.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
At an Expedited Hearing, Mr. Smith must show that he is likely to prevail at a
hearing on the merits. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2020); McCord v.
Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9
(Mar. 27, 2015). Here, the issue is whether Mr. Smith presented sufficient evidence to
prove the recommended surgery is medically necessary. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-
204(a)(1)(A). The Court holds that he did not.
In Morgan v. Macy’s, 2016 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 39, at *17 (Aug. 31,
4
2016), the Appeals Board held that “it is evident that a trial court can apply one of two
potential provisions to the issue of medical necessity in any given case. The Court first
recognized that Tennessee courts have long acknowledged that treatment recommended
by the authorized treating physician is presumed reasonable and medically necessary and
considered this presumption rebuttable by a preponderance of the evidence. See Walker v.
G.UB.MK Constructors, No. E2015-00346-SC-R3-WC, 2016 Tenn. LEXIS 313, at *12
(Tenn. Workers’ Comp. Panel May 2, 2016). Second, where the employee shows by
expert medical evidence that the recommended treatment “explicitly follows the treatment
guidelines” or “is reasonably derived therefrom, including allowances for specific
adjustments to treatment,” the burden shifts to the employer to rebut the presumption of
medical necessity by clear and convincing evidence. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-124(h),
204(a)(3)(I); Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-25-.03(2) (February, 2018) (Emphasis
added).
The Court finds Mr. Smith did not prove that the recommended surgery “explicitly
follows the treatment guidelines” or “is reasonably derived therefrom.” Thus, Daimler
must overcome the presumption in favor of medical necessity of the recommended
surgery by a preponderance of the evidence.
The Court is presented with different opinions as to what constitutes reasonable
and necessary treatment for Mr. Smith’s complaints, and the Court has discretion to
determine which opinion to accept. Patterson v. Huff & Puff Trucking, 2018 TN Wrk.
Comp. App. Bd., LEXIS 33 at *9 (July 6, 2018). When deciding, the Court may consider,
among other things, “the qualifications of the experts, the circumstances of their
examination, the information available to them, and the evaluation of the importance of
that information by other experts.” Bass v. The Home Depot U.S.A, Inc., 2017 TN Wrk.
Comp. App. Bd., LEXIS 36 at *9 (May 26, 2017.)
Here, Dr. Murrell recommended surgery to relieve pressure on a nerve root he
believed was causing Mr. Smith’s symptoms. Daimler requested a second opinion from
neurosurgeon Dr. John Brophy, who disagreed with the surgery recommendation.
When Mr. Smith returned to Dr. Murrell and told him that Dr. Brophy did not
think he needed surgery, Dr. Murrell wrote “on my review I thought there might be some
irritation or impingement of the S1 nerve root.” He ordered a myelogram and post
myelogram CT study, explaining if the study shows “poor filling or significant
compression or deviation of the nerve root then surgery would be appropriate . . . .
[S]hould this show no significant abnormality then there would be little more that I would
have to recommend.”
Dr. Murrell reviewed those studies, noted the disc extrusion extending at L5-S1
effacing the thecal sac and left S1 nerve and requested surgery with “no guarantees
given.” He ordered another MRI, which again showed the disc protrusion. Dr. Murrell
5
noted that Mr. Smith had a negative straight leg raise and normal range of motion with
mild discomfort of his lumbar spine. He agreed to the surgery but cautioned Mr. Smith
that the recommended surgery would not alleviate his chronic underlying degenerative
changes.
Daimler sent the recommended surgery through utilization review, where
orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arsht determined the surgery was not medically necessary. Mr.
Smith appealed the decision to the Bureau’s Medical Directors, who upheld Dr. Arsht’s
denial.
After this decision, Mr. Smith returned to Dr. Brophy to review the diagnostic
studies since he last saw him. After that visit, Dr. Brophy described further findings to
support his opinion that the recommended surgery was not medically necessary. Dr.
Brophy concluded that surgery “will not solve the problem and [is], therefore, not
medically necessary.”
In sum, Dr. Murrell stands alone in his opinion, while three other duly qualified
orthopedic surgeons and a neurosurgeon reached different conclusions. Further, Dr.
Brophy gave detailed and convincing reasoning to support his opinion, and he never
altered that opinion despite cross-examination.
The Court holds that based on the foregoing, Daimler overcame the statutory
presumption of medical necessity by a preponderance of the evidence. Therefore, Mr.
Smith is unlikely to prove at a hearing on the merits that the recommended back surgery
is medically necessary. 4
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:
1. Mr. Smith’s request for the surgery recommended by Dr. Samuel Murrell is denied at
this time.
2. This case is set for a Scheduling Hearing on September 27, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. You
must call 866-943-0014 to participate in the Hearing. Failure to call may result in a
determination of the issues without your participation.
ENTERED July 30, 2021.
____________________________________
JUDGE DEANA C. SEYMOUR
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
4
Based on this ruling, Mr. Smith’s request for attorney’s fees for wrongful denial is moot.
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APPENDIX
Exhibits:
1. Deposition Transcript of Dr. Samuel Murrell
2. Medical Records, filed March 23, 2021
3. Deposition Transcript of Dr. John Brophy
4. Panel of Physicians
5. C-23 Denial, filed January 9, 2019 (2 pages)
6. Utilization Review Denial, dated February 3, 2021
7. Myelogram Report, dated July 19, 2019
8. Semmes Murphy Record, dated September 13, 2012
Technical Record:
1. Petition for Benefit Determination
2. Dispute Certification
3. Request for Expedited Hearing, with Mr. Smith’s affidavit
4. Employee’s Notice of Filing Deposition Transcript of Dr. Samuel Murrell
5. Order on Status Hearing
6. Employee’s Expedited Hearing Brief
7. Employer’s Response to Employee’s Request for Expedited Hearing and Pre-
Hearing Brief
8. Employer’s Notice of Filing Deposition Transcript of John D. Brophy, MD
9. Employer’s Supplemental Response to Employee’s Request for Expedited Hearing
and Prehearing Brief
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of this order was sent as indicated on July 30, 2021.
Name Certified U.S. Email Service sent to:
Mail Mail
Monica Rejaei, X mrejaei@nstlaw.com
Employee’s attorney
Donald Babineaux, X dbabineaiu@gwtclaw.com
Employer’s attorney
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_____________________________________
Penny Shrum, Court Clerk
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov
8
NOTICE OF APPEAL
Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/
wc.courtclerk@tn.gov | 1-800-332-2667
Docket No.: ________________________
State File No.: ______________________
Date of Injury: _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Employee
v.
___________________________________________________________________________
Employer
Notice is given that ____________________________________________________________________
[List name(s) of all appealing party(ies). Use separate sheet if necessary.]
appeals the following order(s) of the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims to the
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issued by Judge _________________________________________________________________________.
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Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
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LB-1099 rev. 01/20 Page 1 of 2 RDA 11082
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* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellee *
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I, _____________________________________________________________, certify that I have forwarded a
true and exact copy of this Notice of Appeal by First Class mail, postage prepaid, or in any manner as described
in Tennessee Compilation Rules & Regulations, Chapter 0800-02-21, to all parties and/or their attorneys in this
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[Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]
LB-1099 rev. 01/20 Page 2 of 2 RDA 11082