DocketNumber: No. CA 10-44
Citation Numbers: 379 S.W.3d 670, 2010 Ark. App. 766
Judges: Abramson, Agree, Brown, Henry
Filed Date: 11/10/2010
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 10/2/2021
| jThis case returns to us after remand.
Flynn was working as a waitress for appellee Southwest Catering on December 16, 2006, when she tripped over a mat, caught herself with her arms to keep from falling, and felt acute pain in her foot. Initial medical records showed that Flynn complained of right-foot pain. There was nothing in the records to suggest that Flynn sustained neck and arm trauma. Flynn was assessed as having a right-foot sprain. Southwest Catering accepted the injury as compensable and provided reasonably necessary medical treatment in connection with Flynn’s compensable right-foot injury. Flynn subsequently filed a claim for benefits alleging that she suffered compensable injuries to her neck and arms. Southwest Catering controverted Flynn’s claim for benefits for her neck and arm injuries in its entirety.
At the hearing held on December 7, 2007, Flynn testified that she went home after her injury and that the next day she could not walk. Flynn stated that she sought medical attention at St. Joseph’s Business Health Clinic on December 18, 2006. She was seen by Dallas Pomeroy, nurse practitioner, and was diagnosed with a right-foot sprain. Flynn received a prescription for Naproxen and a foot brace, and was placed on restricted work duty. According to Flynn, her foot was hurting so bad on December 18, 2006, that she ls“didn’t even notice the arms all that bad.” She also stated that on the night of December 18, 2006, it felt as if something had hit her in the back of her head. She said that she “got a washcloth real hot, and ... put it right ... at the back of [her] ne[ck].” Flynn testified that the pain felt like a knife was cutting her. Flynn followed up at the clinic on December 27, 2006. She testified that she mentioned her arm pain to Pomeroy at that time.
On cross-examination Flynn stated that she was certain that she told Pomeroy about the problems with her shoulder, neck, and arms on December 27, 2006. According to Flynn, Pomeroy prescribed muscle relaxers for her pain. Flynn testified that she did not remember Pomeroy or Dr. Atta telling her that she could return to work on January 17, 2007. She further said, “I don’t think [Dr. Atta] was paying enough attention to what I was telling him about my arms.” Flynn stated that although she wanted to go back to her job, there was “no way that [she] could use [her] arms that much to return to that job now.”
On re-direct Flynn said that she was not physically able to return to her job at the time of the hearing. She specifically stated that she could not use her arms “that much.” She testified, “I used to be a fast little girl, or woman, or whatever. Used to have good reflexes and worked hard and fast. I see a job I wanted to get done and I got it done. I wasn’t slow with things.”
Flynn denied falling or being involved in a car accident after her December 16, 2006 injury. She stated that she is very careful not to get into “any more accidents.” Flynn said that she has problems with both of her arms.
|sFlynn’s medical records were also admitted into evidence at the hearing. The records submitted from St. Joseph’s Business Health Clinic indicated that Flynn was initially seen on December 18, 2006, and was diagnosed with a foot sprain. She was placed on restricted work duty, prescribed an AFO and Naproxen, and told to follow up the following week. At Flynn’s December 27, 2006 follow-up visit, she was sent to physical therapy, and was continued on restricted work duty. The notes for that date indicate that Flynn informed Pomeroy that there was no limited duty at her job, and that she had been off work since the date of her injury. Flynn followed up on January 9, 2007, and everything remained the same. Flynn was seen by Dr. Atta at her January 17, 2007 followup visit. Flynn’s restrictions remained the same, and she received a refill prescription for Naproxen. The record for this date indicated that Flynn had three more physical therapy sessions. On January 25, 2007, Dr. Atta’s clinic note stated that Flynn had a right-foot sprain with an obvious right-foot drop. Flynn was sent to physical, therapy for another week, and her work restrictions remained the same. Dr. Atta also indicated that Flynn should have a nerve-conduction velocity test to “further evaluate her current conditions.”
Flynn’s nerve-conductivity study was performed by Dr. Tucker on February 6, 2007. Dr. Tucker’s impression was that Flynn’s peroneal nerve was abnormal with delayed conduction. Flynn returned to Dr. Atta on February 12, 2007. Dr. Atta’s notes indicated that Flynn should see a neurologist to further “evaluate the probable cause of the [peroneal] nerve palsy to ascertain whether it is due or linked to her foot sprain in any way or not.” Flynn was seen by Dr. Tucker on April 2, 2007. He opined that Flynn’s right-foot drop had almost | (¡cleared up, and that she walked without any assistive device. Dr. Tucker’s note from his examination of Flynn indicated that she had a small lump on her left arm, which he associated with Flynn’s catching herself on December 16, 2006, when she almost fell. Dr. Tucker recommended an MRI of Flynn’s cervical spine and lumbar spine. He also indicated that some of the weakness Flynn was experiencing was atypical.
Flynn was seen by Dr. Atta on May 24, 2007. According to Dr. Atta’s notes, Flynn had gained strength in her ankle and was “no longer walking with a stepish gait.” However, he indicated that she complained of “severe pain in the lateral aspects of her arms.” Flynn told Dr. Atta that she had been experiencing pain in both of her arms since a week after her December 16, 2006 injury. Flynn was assessed with resolving right-foot sprain and bilateral arm pain.
Dr. Steven A. Kulik performed an independent medical exam of Flynn on May 80, 2007. He opined the Flynn could “go back to work from the standpoint of her foot.” He indicated in his report that Flynn had complaints of pain in her upper extremities; however, he did not fully evaluate her. Dr. Kulik agreed that Flynn should undergo an MRI of her neck.
An MRI of Flynn’s cervical spine was performed on August 7, 2007. The impression was mild bilateral neural forami-nal narrowing at C4-C5 and moderate bilateral neural 17foraminal narrowing at C5-C6,
Flynn also introduced the notes from her physical therapy. The therapy progress notes indicated that the therapist treated Flynn’s left shoulder on January 24, 2007, and February 2, 2007.
The administrative law judge (ALJ) found that Flynn proved compensable neck and arm injuries; that she was entitled to temporary-total-disability benefits from June 17, 2007, to a date to be determined; and that Flynn’s attorney was entitled to the maximum statutory fee. The Commission reversed the ALJ and found that Flynn failed to prove a compensable injury to her neck or arms. Flynn appealed, and we remanded this case back so that the Commission could make a determination of whether Flynn was entitled to temporary-total-disability (TTD) benefits for her foot injury beyond June 16, 2007.
In reviewing decisions from the Workers’ Compensation Commission, we view the evidence and all reasonable inferences deducible therefrom in the light most favorable to the Commission’s findings, and we affirm if the decision is supported by substantial evidence.
On appeal, Flynn argues that the Commission required her to prove the causation of her injury with objective evidence. However, a review of the record does not reveal such a requirement. In order to prove a compensable injury, Flynn had to prove that there was an objective medical finding of injury and that there was a causal relationship between her employment and the injury.
In this case, although Flynn was seen on a weekly basis following her December 16, 2006 injury, there was no document showing that Flynn complained of neck, arm, and/or shoulder problems to any of her treating physicians until April 2, 2007. This was nearly four months after Flynn’s work incident. The physical therapy notes show that Flynn received some type of treatment in therapy on her left shoulder on January 24 and February 2, but Flynn saw Dr. Atta on January 25 and February 12 for follow-ups, and the notes from those dates have no indication that she was experiencing any pain other than that associated with her right foot. Flynn testified that she did inform both Pomeroy and Dr. Atta about the pain in her upper extremities and her neck; however, the Commission was not required to believe this. It is the function of the Commission to determine the credibility of witnesses and the 110weight to be given their testimony.
Next Flynn argues that the Commission erred by arbitrarily disregarding the medical evidence of Dr. Tucker, a neurologist. We disagree. The Commission discussed Dr. Tucker’s medical opinion; however, it placed more weight on Dr. Atta’s finding of degenerative joint disease. When the Commission weighs medical evidence and the evidence is conflicting, its resolution is a question of fact for the Commission.
Finally, Flynn argues that the Commission erred by not articulating a reason for denying her TTD benefits for her foot beyond June 16, 2007.
Affirmed.
.See Flynn v. Southwest Catering Co., 2009 Ark. App. 641, 2009 WL 3153335.
. 58 Ark.App. 275, 950 S.W.2d 472 (1997).
. 262 Ark. 821, 561 S.W.2d 645 (1978).
. However, the progress note for that date makes no mention of any arm pain experienced by Flynn.
. A neurovascular examination of Flynn’s upper extremities was normal.
. The written findings of the MRI suggest it is at C6-C7.
. See Flynn, supra.
. Foster v. Express Personnel Servs., 93 Ark. App. 496, 222 S.W.3d 218 (2006).
. Jivan v. Economy Inn & Suites, 370 Ark. 414, 260 S.W.3d 281 (2007).
. Whitlach v. Southland Land & Dev., 84 Ark.App. 399, 141 S.W.3d 916 (2004).
. Stutzman v. Baxter Healthcare Corp., 99 Ark.App. 19, 256 S.W.3d 524 (2007).
. Long v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 98 Ark.App. 70, 250 S.W.3d 263 (2007).
. See Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. VanWagner, 337 Ark. 443, 990 S.W.2d 522 (1999) (citing Stephens Truck Lines v. Millican, 58 Ark.App. 275, 950 S.W.2d 472 (1997)).
. Hubley v. Best Western-Governor’s Inn, 52 Ark.App. 226, 916 S.W.2d 143 (1996).
. Millican, supra.
. Green Bay Packaging v. Bartlett, 67 Ark. App. 332, 999 S.W.2d 695 (1999).
. Hamilton v. Gregory Trucking, 90 Ark.App. 248, 205 S.W.3d 181 (2005).
. She also includes her neck and arm injuries in this argument; however, we do not address TTD for those injuries having already concluded that the Commission’s denial of benefits for those injuries is supported by substantial evidence.