Brian Caldwell v. Newtown Energy ( 2014 )

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
FILED
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS June 10, 2014
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
BRIAN CALDWELL, OF WEST VIRGINIA
Claimant Below, Petitioner
vs.) No. 13-0015 (BOR Appeal No. 2047573)
(Claim No. 2011031489)
NEWTOWN ENERGY, INC.,
Employer Below, Respondent
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Petitioner Brian Caldwell, by William B. Gerwig III, his attorney, appeals the decision of
the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. Newtown Energy, Inc., by H. Dill
Battle III, its attorney, filed a timely response.
This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated December 11, 2012, in
which the Board affirmed an August 24, 2012, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of
Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s July 21, 2011,
decision granting Mr. Caldwell a 12% 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. Caldwell worked as an underground coal miner for Newtown Energy, Inc. On
August 3, 2010, he was struck by a falling rock. The claims administrator held the claim
compensable for a concussion with loss of consciousness, neck sprain, other and unspecified
injury to the head, and sprain of an unspecified site of the shoulder and left upper arm. Paul
Bachwitt, M.D., performed an independent medical evaluation of Mr. Caldwell and determined
that he had reached his maximum degree of medical improvement with respect to his orthopedic
injuries. Dr. Bachwitt determined that Mr. Caldwell had 10% whole person impairment for his
1
cervical injuries under the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of
Permanent Impairment (4th ed. 1993). He then adjusted this rating to 8% impairment to fit
within Cervical Category II of West Virginia Code § 85-20-E (2006). Dr. Bachwitt also found
that Mr. Caldwell had 4% whole person impairment for his shoulder injury under the American
Medical Association’s Guides, which he combined with Mr. Caldwell’s cervical impairment for
a 12% combined whole person impairment rating. On July 21, 2011, the claims administrator
granted Mr. Caldwell a 12% permanent partial disability award based on Dr. Bachwitt’s report.
On August 24, 2012, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s decision. The
Board of Review affirmed the Order of the Office of Judges on December 11, 2012, leading Mr.
Caldwell to appeal.
The Office of Judges concluded that Mr. Caldwell was entitled to an 8% permanent
partial disability award for his cervical spine pursuant to West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85­
20-E and a 4% permanent partial disability award for his left shoulder injury. It based this
determination on the independent medical evaluation of Dr. Bachwitt. The Office of Judges
noted that there was no dispute over Mr. Caldwell’s 4% permanent partial disability for his
shoulder injury. The Office of Judges found that Dr. Bachwitt’s adjustment of his cervical
impairment recommendation to fit within West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20-E was
proper. The Office of Judges determined that there was no evidence contrary to Dr. Bachwitt’s
impairment recommendation and no other impairment rating in the record. The Board of Review
adopted the findings of the Office of Judges and affirmed its Order.
On appeal, Mr. Caldwell argues that he is entitled to an additional 2% permanent partial
disability award for his cervical injury based exclusively on Dr. Bachwitt’s impairment
recommendation under the American Medical Association’s Guides. Mr. Caldwell argues that
West Virginia Code of State Rules §§ 85-20-64.1, 85-20-64.2, and 85-20-E (2006) are invalid
and in conflict with West Virginia Code § 23-4-6(i) (2005).
We agree with the conclusions of the Board of Review and the findings of the Office of
Judges. Mr. Caldwell had not shown that he is entitled to any greater than a 12% permanent
partial disability award for his cervical and shoulder injuries. Dr. Bachwitt provided the only
evidence of Mr. Caldwell’s whole person impairment, and his rating was consistent with the
American Medical Association’s Guides and West Virginia Code of State Rules §§ 85-20-64 and
85-20-E. Mr. Caldwell’s request for an additional permanent partial disability award is
inconsistent with this Court’s holding in Gore v. Insurance Commissioner of West Virginia, No.
11-0612, 2013 WL 1286071, at *5 (Mar. 28, 2013), and he has not demonstrated that Dr.
Bachwitt’s impairment rating was invalid.
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.
2
Affirmed.
ISSUED: June 10, 2014
CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Robin J. Davis
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II
3