Z.F. Beristain v. Broadcom Inc. (WCAB)

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Zeus Fuentes Beristain, :
Petitioner :
:
v. : No. 46 C.D. 2021
: SUBMITTED: September 3, 2021
Broadcom Inc. (Workers’ :
Compensation Appeal Board), :
Respondent :
BEFORE: HONORABLE P. KEVIN BROBSON, President Judge
HONORABLE PATRICIA A. McCULLOUGH, Judge
HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge
OPINION NOT REPORTED
MEMORANDUM OPINION
BY JUDGE CEISLER FILED: November 15, 2021
Zeus Fuentes Beristain (Claimant) petitions this Court for review of the
December 23, 2020 order of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Board),
which affirmed the decision of a workers’ compensation judge (WCJ) denying
Claimant benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act (Act).1 The issue on appeal
is whether the WCJ failed to issue a reasoned decision under Section 422(a) of the
Act.2 After review, we affirm.
I. Background
Claimant worked as a fabrication support operator for Broadcom, Inc.
(Employer). Certified Record (C.R.), Item No. 2. On May 14, 2018, Claimant
1
Act of June 2, 1915, P.L. 736, as amended, 77 P.S. §§ 1-1041.4, 2501-2710.
2
Section 422(a) of the Act provides, in pertinent part, that “[a]ll parties to an adjudicatory
proceeding are entitled to a reasoned decision containing findings of fact and conclusions of law
based upon the evidence as a whole which clearly and concisely states and explains the rationale
for the decisions so that all can determine why and how a particular result was reached.” 77 P.S.
§ 834.
notified his supervisor that he suffered a work injury to his lower back. Id.
Employer denied liability for the alleged work injury in a Notice of Workers’
Compensation Denial issued on September 14, 2018. C.R., Item No. 23. Thereafter,
Claimant filed a claim petition on October 8, 2018, alleging that he suffered a work
injury on May 14, 2018, which consisted of lumbar disc protrusions caused by the
repetitive nature of his job. Id., Item No. 2. As a result of the alleged work injury,
Claimant sought partial disability benefits for the period of May 14, 2018, through
September 16, 2018, and total disability benefits from September 17, 2018, and
ongoing. Id. Employer denied the allegations. Id., Item No. 4.
A. Claimant’s Evidence
Claimant testified at a hearing before the WCJ on January 31, 2019. He
worked for Employer for approximately two years, beginning in 2016 until his last
day of work on September 17, 2018. C.R., Item No. 12, Notes of Transcript (N.T.)
at 8. Claimant’s job duties, performed in 12-hour shifts, consisted of polishing and
grinding lightweight silicon wafers, which largely required that Claimant stand and
lean forward while rotating his upper body. Id. at 10-12. At other times, Claimant
sat while recording product measurements on spreadsheets. Id. at 10.
In March 2018, Claimant began to experience pain in his lower back, which
eventually spread to his lower legs. Id. at 15-16. Claimant asserted that he reported
the onset of these pain symptoms to his supervisor and continued to work his regular
duties. Id. at 16, 18. Claimant eventually sought treatment from Jason Ly, D.O.,
who prescribed physical therapy and recommended that Claimant stand on an anti-
fatigue mat while working. Id. at 20. Employer initially provided Claimant with
modified-duty work, which allowed him to avoid repetitious work that involved
leaning, flexing, or rotating his upper body. Id. at 22. During a September 17, 2018
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meeting, however, Employer notified Claimant that it could not guarantee him a
position with those work restrictions. Id. at 24. Claimant worked half his shift and
left. Id. He has not worked since September 17, 2018. Id.
Claimant testified that he did not have any physical restrictions prior to
working for Employer, nor did he have any problems with his neck or back. Id. at
12-13. While Claimant’s symptoms have improved with treatment, he does not feel
capable of returning to his pre-injury job. Id. at 27-28. During cross-examination,
Claimant acknowledged that the onset of pain in his lower back was gradual and not
the result of a specific event. Id. at 32. Claimant agreed that he continues to
experience pain, although it has improved since he stopped working. Id. at 33. He
further agreed that performing chores, such as cleaning and shopping, elicited the
same pain he experienced while working. Id. at 36.
Samuel Grodofsky, one of Claimant’s treatment providers, testified at an
April 8, 2019 deposition that he first examined Claimant on December 6, 2018.
C.R., Item No. 16, N.T., 4/8/19, at 8. Claimant related to Dr. Grodofsky that he
performed his job in a hunched-over position for long periods of time under poor
ergonomic conditions. Id. The pain in Claimant’s lower back began “on or around”
May 14, 2018. Id. Claimant asserted that he had not experienced this type of pain
prior to May 2018. Id. at 9.
During the examination, Claimant sat in a “tripod position,” which Dr.
Grodofsky stated is common with patients trying to relieve pain and pressure on their
lower back. Id. at 10. Dr. Grodofsky noted a positive straight leg test on both sides.
Id. at 11. A September 28, 2018 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study of
Claimant’s lumbar spine revealed a disc protrusion at the L5-S1 level, which Dr.
Grodofsky attributed to repetitive trauma Claimant experienced as a result of his
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poor ergonomic working conditions. Id. at 13-14. Dr. Grodofsky has not released
Claimant to work, as he felt Claimant made progress with treatment, but he could
experience setbacks with a return to work. Id. at 17.
Dr. Grodofsky disagreed with the results of an independent medical
examination (IME) performed by Roger Componovo, M.D., who opined that
Claimant’s symptoms were out of proportion to his objective findings and they did
not correlate to the findings in the September 28, 2018 MRI. Id. at 22-23. Dr.
Grodofsky also disagreed with Dr. Componovo’s opinion that Claimant’s lower
back condition was not related to his work environment. Id. at 24.
On cross-examination, Dr. Grodofsky conceded that Claimant’s medical
records from his regular treatment provider, Allen Smith,3 documented that Claimant
suffered from lower back pain in March 2016; however, Dr. Grodofsky did not feel
that this “isolated diagnosis” indicated Claimant “truly suffer[ed] from function-
limiting chronic back low back pain since 2016.” Id. at 30-31. While he agreed that
Dr. Ly’s records indicated that Claimant expressed pain while driving and “walking
around not doing anything[,]” and that his symptoms continued despite not working,
Dr. Grodofsky maintained that Claimant’s symptoms were related to a
“traumatically-induced disc protrusion” caused by his working conditions. Id. at 33,
40, 52.
Claimant also presented the July 8, 2019 deposition transcript of Smith, who
began treating Claimant on March 10, 2016. C.R., Item No. 17, N.T., 7/8/19, at 21,
Ex. C-3. Smith clarified that he began treating Claimant for chronic lower back pain
on August 24, 2018. Id. at 25. He described a chronic condition as one that lasts for
more than six months. Id. Smith acknowledged that Claimant’s medical records
3
Smith is a certified registered nurse practitioner.
4
reflected two entries for chronic back pain; however, he advised that the second entry
was a duplicate of the first. Id. at 33, 35. It did not indicate a diagnosis of chronic
back pain prior to August 24, 2018. Id. at 33, 35.
B. Employer’s Evidence
Employer presented the February 1, 2019 IME report and May 7, 2019
deposition testimony of Dr. Componovo. C.R., Item Nos. 20-21. Dr. Componovo
performed a physical examination and reviewed Claimant’s medical records,
including the September 28, 2018 MRI. C.R., Item No. 21, N.T., 5/7/19, at 7. Dr.
Componovo stated that Claimant sat comfortably throughout the IME. Id. at 13. His
movements were slow and methodical, but normal, and Claimant walked easily on
his heels and toes. Id. Dr. Componovo did not detect any spasm or tenderness in
Claimant’s spine. Id. He detected decreased sensation in Claimant’s lower left
extremity, but the straight leg test results were normal. Id. at 14.
Dr. Componovo agreed that the September 28, 2018 MRI documented a disc
protrusion at the L5-S1 level. Id. at 17. As the MRI did not evidence any root
compression, however, Dr. Componovo did not believe the disc protrusion was
responsible for Claimant’s symptoms. Id. Dr. Componovo considered the MRI
findings “extremely mild,” and he could not correlate them with Claimant’s
subjective complaints of pain. Id. at 19. While Claimant “clearly” had a
degenerating disc at the L5-S1 level, Dr. Componovo was not aware of any
mechanism of injury or work exposure that would have caused Claimant’s
symptoms, and he felt that Claimant’s symptoms were “more likely than not”
unrelated to his job. Id. at 21.
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C. WCJ Decision
The WCJ circulated his decision on January 23, 2020. C.R., Item No. 7, WCJ
Decision. He rejected Claimant’s testimony as not credible based on his personal
observation of Claimant while testifying. Id. at 3. Dr. Grodofsky’s testimony was
also deemed not credible to establish a connection between Claimant’s work duties
and the poor condition of his lumbar spine. Id. at 4. The WCJ reasoned that Dr.
Grodofsky’s knowledge of Claimant’s work duties came exclusively from Claimant,
whose testimony was discredited. Id. As a result, the WCJ found that Dr. Grodofsky
lacked sufficient knowledge of Claimant’s work duties to support his opinion that
their repetitive nature caused the alleged work injury. Id. The WCJ found that
Smith’s testimony was not relevant or persuasive, as it was presented for the purpose
of establishing the onset of Claimant’s lower back pain. Id.
Because Claimant failed to offer any credible, relevant testimony establishing
the contested elements in his claim petition, the WCJ deemed it unnecessary to
further address Dr. Componovo’s testimony. Id. at 4-5. Accordingly, in the absence
of evidence proving that Claimant sustained a work injury, the WCJ denied his claim
petition. Id. at 5, 7. Claimant appealed to the Board, which affirmed. C.R., Item
No. 10.
II. Issue
Claimant argues on appeal4 that the WCJ failed to issue a reasoned decision
under Section 422(a) of the Act because the WCJ did not articulate his reasons for
4
Our review is limited to determining whether the WCJ’s findings of fact were supported
by substantial evidence, whether an error of law was committed, or whether constitutional rights
were violated. Grimm v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd. (Fed. Express Corp.), 176 A.3d 1045, 1051
n.4 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018). Substantial evidence is relevant evidence that a reasonable mind would
(Footnote continued on next page…)
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finding Claimant’s testimony not credible, and he did not make any credibility
determinations with regard to the testimony of Employer’s expert, Dr. Componovo.
III. Discussion
The burden of proof in an original claim petition rests on the claimant to prove
all the elements necessary to support an award of benefits under the Act. Inglis
House v. Workmen’s Comp. Appeal Bd. (Reedy), 634 A.2d 592, 595 (Pa. 1993).
The claimant’s burden to prove disability never shifts to the employer. Morrison v.
Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd. (Rothman Inst.), 15 A.3d 93, 98 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010).
In a case where the employer has acknowledged an injury but disputed disability
through issuance of a notice of compensation denial, the claimant maintains the
burden to prove he is entitled to benefits. Id.Section 422(a) of the Act requires the WCJ to issue a decision that allows for
adequate review by the appellate courts. Daniels v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd.
(Tristate Transp.), 828 A.2d 1043, 1052 (Pa. 2003). When the WCJ has the
advantage of seeing the witnesses testify and assessing their demeanor, a mere
conclusion as to which witness was deemed credible is sufficient to render the
decision adequately reasoned under Section 422(a). Id. at 1053. Where a medical
expert testifies solely by deposition, however, the WCJ must support his credibility
determinations with something more than a mere announcement that one expert is
more credible than another. Id. In that circumstance, the WCJ must offer “some
articulation of the actual objective basis for the credibility determination.” Id.Section 422(a) does not permit a party to challenge or second-guess the WCJ’s
reasons for credibility determinations. Dorsey v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd.
deem adequate to support a conclusion. Iacono v. Worker’s Comp. Appeal Bd. (Chester Housing
Auth.), 624 A.2d 814, 817 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1993).
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(Crossing Constr. Co.), 893 A.2d 191, 195 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2006). Unless made
arbitrarily or capriciously, a WCJ’s credibility determinations will be upheld on
appeal. Green v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd. (US Airways), 28 A.3d 936, 940 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2011).
Claimant argues that the WCJ erred when he failed to address Dr.
Componovo’s testimony, which Claimant asserts corroborates his evidence that he
suffered a compensable work injury. Claimant contends, therefore, that the WCJ
had a duty to provide additional findings of fact explaining his rationale for
discrediting Claimant’s testimony.
It is important to note that Claimant has not challenged the WCJ’s reasons for
rejecting Dr. Grodofsky’s testimony. Rather, Claimant argues, without citation to
relevant legal authority, that the WCJ’s rejection of Claimant’s live testimony
necessitated additional fact finding beyond the standard articulated in Daniels.
Claimant’s argument is without merit, as Claimant testified in person and Daniels is
satisfied by the WCJ’s conclusion that Claimant was not credible. This sufficiently
fulfills the reasoned decision requirement in Section 422(a), and the WCJ was not
required to provide any further basis for his rejection of Claimant’s testimony.
Moreover, we cannot agree that the WCJ erred when he failed to render a
credibility determination with regard to Dr. Componovo. Although Section 422(a)
required that the WCJ make “findings of fact and conclusions of law based upon the
evidence as a whole,” he was not required to address all the evidence presented.
Montgomery Tank Lines v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd. (Humphries), 792 A.2d 6(Pa. Cmwlth. 2002). Rather, he only had to make the findings necessary to resolve
the issues raised by the evidence and relevant to the decision. Id. The WCJ has
complete authority over questions of credibility, conflicting medical evidence, and
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evidentiary weight, and he is free to accept, in whole or in part, the testimony of any
witness, including medical witnesses. Ingrassia v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd.
(Universal Health Servs., Inc.), 126 A.3d 394, 399 n.5 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015).
The issue to be resolved by the WCJ was whether Claimant suffered a work
injury. The WCJ acknowledged Dr. Componovo’s testimony but declined to discuss
it at length because Claimant failed to carry his burden of proving the existence of a
work injury. Our review of Dr. Componovo’s testimony suggests that an in-depth
analysis, had the WCJ engaged in one, would not have served Claimant’s cause. Dr.
Componovo acknowledged that Claimant received treatment for pain in his lower
back and he agreed that the September 28, 2018 MRI revealed the presence of a disc
protrusion at the L5-S1 level. As to the cause of Claimant’s lower back pain and the
condition of his lumbar spine, however, Dr. Componovo maintained throughout his
testimony, and in his written IME report, that “no significant mechanism of injury
or work[-]related exposure” was responsible for Claimant’s current symptoms.
C.R., Item No. 21, N.T., 5/7/19, at 19, 21, Ex. D-2 at 3. It cannot be said, therefore,
that Dr. Componovo’s testimony was necessary and relevant to resolving the issue
before the WCJ.
As Claimant failed to meet his burden of proof on the claim petition, the Board
properly upheld the WCJ’s denial of same. Accordingly, we affirm the Board.
__________________________________
ELLEN CEISLER, Judge
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IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
Zeus Fuentes Beristain, :
Petitioner :
:
v. : No. 46 C.D. 2021
:
Broadcom Inc. (Workers’ :
Compensation Appeal Board), :
Respondent :
ORDER
AND NOW, this 15th day of November, 2021, the December 23, 2020 order
of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board is hereby AFFIRMED.
__________________________________
ELLEN CEISLER, Judge