June B. Henson v. Culpeper Health Care, etc. ( 1996 )

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Baker, Elder and Fitzpatrick
JUNE B. HENSON
v. Record No. 2027-96-4 MEMORANDUM OPINION *
PER CURIAM
CULPEPER HEALTH CARE CENTER/ DECEMBER 17, 1996
MEDICAL FACILITIES OF AMERICA
AND
PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS'
ASSOCIATION INSURANCE COMPANY
FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION
(June B. Henson, pro se, on briefs).
(John K. Coleman; Colleen M. Gentile;
Slenker, Brandt, Jennings & Johnston, on
brief), for appellees.
June B. Henson (claimant) contends that the Workers'
Compensation Commission (commission) erred in finding that her
psychological condition did not qualify as a compensable
occupational disease. Pursuant to Rule 5A:21(b), employer raises
the additional question of whether the commission erred in
finding that claimant's depression/anxiety disorder constituted
an occupational "disease" under the Workers' Compensation Act.
Upon reviewing the record and the briefs of the parties, we
conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we
summarily affirm the commission's decision. Rule 5A:27.
In holding claimant's depression/anxiety disorder did not
qualify as a compensable occupational disease, the commission
*
Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not
designated for publication.
found as follows:
The medical evidence and testimony indicate
that her condition was precipitated by the
hiring of a new administrator at the facility
where she was employed. The claimant
expressed concerns about salary cuts, an
inability to schedule staff members for
overtime hours, and a general feeling that
the morale of her coworkers and the quality
of patient care were steadily declining.
These findings are supported by credible evidence, including
claimant's testimony and the medical records. Therefore, they
are conclusive on appeal. The commission correctly relied upon
our holding in Teasley v. Montgomery Ward & Co., 14 Va. App. 45,
415 S.E.2d 596 (1992), to find that claimant's psychological
condition was not compensable. In Teasley, we recognized that
"purely psychological disability resulting from disagreements
over managerial decisions and conflicts with supervisory
personnel that cause stressful consequences which result in
purely psychological disability ordinarily are not compensable."
Id. at 49, 415 S.E.2d at 598.
Because our holding on this issue disposes of this appeal,
we will not address the question raised by employer in its brief.
For the reasons stated, we affirm the commission's decision.
Affirmed.
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