Thomas Dawson v. Jaflo, Inc. ( 2016 )

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
THOMAS DAWSON, November 29, 2016
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
Claimant Below, Petitioner SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
OF WEST VIRGINIA
vs.) No. 16-0063 (BOR Appeal No. 2050686)
(Claim No. 2012001051)
JAFLO, INC.,
Employer Below, Respondent
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Petitioner Thomas Dawson, by Lawrence E. Sherman Jr., his attorney, appeals the
decision of the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. Jaflo, Inc., by Daniel
G. Murdock, its attorney, filed a timely response.
This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated December 21, 2015, in
which the Board affirmed a July 9, 2015, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of Judges.
In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s February 24, 2014, decision
granting no psychiatric permanent partial disability award. The Court has carefully reviewed the
records, written arguments, and appendices contained in the briefs, and the case is mature for
consideration.
This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.
Mr. Dawson, a tree trimmer, was injured in the course of his employment on July 7,
2011, when a tree limb fell and struck him. The claim was held compensable for concussion,
cervical sprain, cervical spondylosis, right shoulder sprain and contusion, and post-concussion
syndrome. In an independent medical evaluation on August 22, 2013, Ghazala Kazi, M.D.,
assessed 18% impairment for shoulder and neck conditions caused by the compensable injury
and noted that Mr. Dawson should be referred to a neuropsychologist for rating for his memory
loss and mood disorder.
1
Bobby Miller, M.D., performed a forensic psychiatric evaluation of Mr. Dawson on
December 2, 2013, in which he diagnosed undifferentiated somatoform disorder, personality
disorder, and post-concussive headaches. He also found evidence of malingering and symptom
magnification. Dr. Miller found Mr. Dawson to be at maximum medical improvement. He noted
that the somatoform disorder was not compensable, and the personality disorder was pre-existing
and therefore also not compensable. He concluded that Mr. Dawson could return to work at any
time and did not offer an impairment rating. The claims administrator granted no psychiatric
permanent partial disability award on February 24, 2014.
On June 18, 2014, Edward Jones, M.A., performed a psychological evaluation in which
he noted that Mr. Dawson displayed mildly impaired immediate memory, moderately impaired
attention, and moderately impaired concentration. Mr. Jones found that he was in the below
average intellectual functioning range. There was no suggestion of the presence of a learning
disorder. Mr. Dawson’s self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression were severe. On June
23, 2014, Ahmed Faheem, M.D., authored a report based on Mr. Jones’s findings. He diagnosed
depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and cognitive disorder related to post-concussion
syndrome. Mr. Dawson’s global assessment of functioning score was assessed at forty-five. Dr.
Faheem opined that Mr. Dawson’s cognitive, depressive, and anxiety disorders were directly
related to the compensable injury. He found no pre-existing psychiatric problems. Dr. Faheem
noted that while there were indications of symptom magnification, Dr. Miller was the only
physician of record to diagnose malingering. Dr. Faheem asserted that he found no evidence of
malingering or symptom magnification during his evaluation. He assessed 20% whole person
impairment and apportioned 5% for any pre-existing condition that may have existed, though he
found none.
On November 3, 2014, Mark Casdorph, D.O., performed a psychiatric evaluation in
which he diagnosed somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain, mild neurocognitive
disorder, and alcohol use disorder. He noted that somatic pain disorder was excluded as
compensable by West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20 (2006) and the presence of the
condition signified pre-existing psychological impairment that is not compensable. Dr. Casdorph
concluded that there was a causal relationship between Mr. Dawson’s initial neurocognitive
complaints and the injury. However, the symptoms resolved by the time of the evaluation. He
suggested that Mr. Dawson’s extended recovery time may have been due in part to his history of
alcohol consumption.
The Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s decision on July 9, 2015. It
found that Dr. Faheem disagreed with Dr. Miller’s conclusions and diagnoses of somatoform
disorder and malingering. Dr. Casdorph noted that somatic pain disorder was excluded as
compensable by West Virginia Code of State Rules §85-20. He opined that the presence of the
condition signified pre-existing psychological impairment that is not compensable. Though Dr.
Casdorph found that there was a causal relationship between Mr. Dawson’s initial
neurocognitive complaints and the compensable injury, the neurocognitive complaints had
resolved by the evaluation. The Office of Judges determined that a preponderance of the
evidence, as concluded by Dr. Casdorph, shows that the psychiatric effects of the compensable
2
injury were no longer impairing Mr. Dawson. His current complaints were found to be the result
of non-compensable factors. The Office of Judges noted that he had been evaluated by numerous
mental health practitioners. In October of 2011, a psychological evaluation included the
diagnoses of pseudodementia, depression, and alcohol amnestic syndrome. In December of 2011,
a neuropsychological evaluation found that Mr. Dawson’s cognition was consistent with learning
difficulties and he suffered from cognitive weakness, depression, post-concussive syndrome, and
alcohol use. In February of 2011, an evaluation found dementia secondary to alcohol
consumption, depression, and anxiety. An evaluation in December of 2013 found significant
symptom magnification and malingering. On the other hand, the Office of Judges noted that Dr.
Faheem’s report found no evidence of malingering or symptom exaggeration.
The Office of Judges noted that Dr. Casdorph found Mr. Dawson to be exaggerating his
psychological symptoms and memory loss. His evaluation performances varied to a degree that
would not be expected in a patient with permanent brain damage as a result of the instant injury.
Further, Dr. Casdorph found he could care for his basic needs and was involved in activities and
relationships. He suggested that Dr. Faheem was not aware of Mr. Dawson’s extensive history of
alcohol consumption and preinjury cognitive limitations. The Office of Judges found that Dr.
Faheem rated Mr. Dawson’s global assessment of functioning at forty-five. This low of a score
would indicate significant impairment levels which would require direct supervision. The score
would also indicate a need for intensive outpatient and frequent inpatient treatment. Mr. Dawson
does not exhibit impairment near this level. Lastly, the Office of Judges found that Dr. Faheem’s
report indicated Mr. Dawson had no pre-existing problems. However, Dr. Faheem apportioned
5% for non-compensable factors. In doing so, he provided no justification for his decision and
did not describe the non-compensable factors. The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact
and conclusions of law of the Office of Judges and affirmed its Order on December 21, 2015.
On appeal, Mr. Dawson argues that he developed depression, anxiety, concussion, and
post-concussive syndrome as a result of the compensable injury and the reports of Mr. Jones and
Dr. Faheem establish that he has 15% permanent partial disability due to his psychiatric
conditions. Jaflo, Inc., asserts that Dr. Faheem’s recommendation of 20% psychiatric permanent
partial disabiliaty greatly exceeds the impairment guidelines found in West Virginia Code of
State Rules § 85-20-Exhibit B (2006). It argues that high of impairment would put Mr. Dawson
at the severe level and there is no indication that he requires direct supervision or suffers from
serious impairment in social or occupational functioning.
After review, we agree with the reasoning of the Office of Judges and conclusions of the
Board of Review. A preponderance of the reliable evidence indicates Mr. Dawson suffers from
non-compensable psychological issues. Dr. Faheem’s report finding 15% psychological
impairment as a result of the compensable injury is unreliable. Dr. Faheem’s findings are
excessive and not supported by the remainder of the evidentiary record.
For the foregoing reasons, we find that the decision of the Board of Review is not in clear
violation of any constitutional or statutory provision, nor is it clearly the result of erroneous
conclusions of law, nor is it based upon a material misstatement or mischaracterization of the
evidentiary record. Therefore, the decision of the Board of Review is affirmed.
3
Affirmed.
ISSUED: November 29, 2016
CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Robin J. Davis
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Allen H. Loughry II
4