State News : West Virginia

West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals

Statute of Limitations for filing Occupational Pneumoconiosis claim

Argus Energy, LLC v. Marenko, 887 S.E.2d 223, 225–31 (W.Va., 05/01/2023)

http://www.courtswv.gov/supreme-court/docs/spring2023/21-0209-hutchison-p.pdf

In Argus Energy, LLC v. Marenko, 887 S.E.2d 223, 225–31 (W.Va., 2023), the Court affirmed the Board of Review’s finding that Marenko timely filed his application for occupational pneumoconiosis benefits under W. Va. Code § 23-4-15(b) because it was filed within three years from and after a diagnosed impairment due to occupational pneumoconiosis was made known to the claimant by a physician. Relying on the Supreme Court's ruling in Pennington v. West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner, 241 W.Va. 180, 820 S.E.2d 626 (2018), the Court affirmed the Board of Review’s order that specifically found, “'[o]n the Physician's Report of Occupational Pneumoconiosis, the medical provider said [Mr. Marenko's] capacity for work has been impaired by occupational pneumoconiosis.’” Even though the signature on the Physician's Report of Occupational Pneumoconiosis is not legible, the Court found it “undisputed that the Report was signed by someone and the report form was itself entitled ‘Physician's Report of Occupational Pneumoconiosis[.]’ (emphasis added). Since the form in question was a Physician's Report of Occupational Pneumoconiosis, and since Argus submitted no evidence in rebuttal, we do not believe that the [Board of Review] clearly erred in finding that the pertinent requirements of Pennington were satisfied—that Mr. Marenko filed his Occupational Pneumoconiosis claim within three years from and after a diagnosed impairment due to occupational pneumoconiosis was made known to him by a physician.”

Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Compensability of Preexisting Conditions

Blackhawk Mining, LLC v. Argabright, ___ S.E.2d ___, 2023 WL 3167476, (W.Va. App., 05/01/2023)

http://www.courtswv.gov/intermediate-court/docs/Spring2023/22-ICA-262-greear.pdf

The ICA continues to wrestle with the questions of the compensability of preexisting conditions and the impact on more recent workplace injury. The ICA analyzed the Supreme Court decisions in Gill v. City of Charleston, 236 W. Va. 737, 783 S.E.2d 857 (2016) and Moore v. ICG Tygart Valley, LLC, 247 W. Va. 292, 879 S.E.2d 779 (2022). When those two cases are read in unison, they do not render preexisting injuries compensable. According to the ICA in Blackhawk Mining, LLC v. Argabright, compensability of preexisting injuries is limited only to discrete new injuries and disabilities that manifest following the compensable injury.

Harris Argabright, an electrician for Blackhawk Mining, was injured at work on February 26, 2021, when he tightened a strap on a speed reducer and felt something pull in his lower back/pelvis. Mr. Argabright sought medical treatment that day and was diagnosed with a lumbar sprain. X-rays revealed no acute abnormality, mild L3-L4 disc space narrowing, mild L5-S1 disc space narrowing, and bilateral facet arthropathy.

Lumbar spine MRI performed several weeks after the injury showed degenerative disc desiccation and suggestion of mild disc bulge at T11-T12, and minimal to mild disc bulges from L2-L3 through L5-S1. Claimant’s treating physician recommended a referral to a pain specialist, Dr. Patel, due to unresolved pain, and noting an increase of pain, a decrease in range of motion, and a worsening symptoms. In an IME performed on May 11, 2021, Dr. Mukkamala diagnosed lumbar sprain superimposed upon preexisting noncompensable degenerative spondyloarthropathy, and found that Mr. Argabright had reached maximum medical improvement. Dr. Mukkamala recommended an 8% whole person impairment and apportioned 5% to preexisting conditions. Dr. Mukkamala also found there was no indication to refer Mr. Argabright for surgery or any other treatment, as there was no objective evidence of radiculopathy and no spinal instability. Based on this report, the claim administrator issued an order dated May 17, 2021, which denied the request for a referral to Dr. Patel.

On June 21, 2021, Dr. Muscari submitted a diagnosis update requesting that “disc bulge L2, L3, L5, S1” be added as compensable conditions in the claim on the basis that the MRI showed multiple disc bulges. The claim administrator denied this request. Evidence submitted by Mr. Argabright included Dr. Muscari’s explanation that the referral to Dr. Patel was necessary because of Mr. Argabright's continuing symptoms and disability. Dr. Muscari also explained Mr. Argabright was able to work his entire adult life as a coal miner prior to this work-related injury and had no previous lumbar pain.

On January 15, 2022, Michael Brooks, M.D., issued an age of injury analysis upon review of the March 9, 2021, MRI. Dr. Brooks opined that the findings on the MRI were consistent with chronic, degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthrosis.

On May 19, 2022, the Office of Judges reversed the claim administrator's orders, found the disc bulges at L2-L3 through L5-S1 to be compensable, and ordered a referral to Dr. Patel. The OOJ reasoned that Mr. Argabright's preexisting disease or condition was asymptomatic prior to the compensable injury, but after that injury, his symptoms appeared and were continuously manifested. The OOJ found that based on the preponderance of the evidence, Mr. Argabright had shown that the disc bulges at L2-3 through L5-S1 should be held compensable, and that the referral to Dr. Patel was medically related and reasonably required. The Board of Review affirmed the OOJ's decision in its October 21, 2022, order. Blackhawk appealed the BOR’s order but Blackhawk's appeal was limited solely to the issue of compensability of the disc bulges; it did not appeal the referral to Dr. Patel.

On appeal, Blackhawk asserted the BOR committed clear legal error determining that Mr. Argabright's disc bulges at L2-L3 through L5-S1 were compensable. Blackhawk argues that the preponderance of the evidence establishes these conditions were chronic and preexisting and, while aggravated or exacerbated, were not discrete new injuries, and thus, not compensable. Mr. Argabright response argument was twofold. First, he argues that there was a lack of evidence in the record to show the bulging discs existed prior to his compensable injury. Second, he argues compensability under Moore v. ICG Tygart Valley, LLC, 247 W. Va. 292, 879 S.E.2d 779 (2022) based on the manifestation of his symptoms after the compensable injury.

The ICA first addressed the sufficiency of the evidence to support a determination that Mr. Argabright's disc bulges were caused by the compensable injury. The March 9, 2021, MRI report revealed degenerative disc desiccation, as well as minimal to mild disc bulges, and the report does not indicate that the injuries were of a traumatic nature. Dr. Mukkamala, after completing an IME of Mr. Argabright and reviewing relevant records, diagnosed Mr. Argabright with lumbar sprain superimposed upon preexisting degenerative spondyloarthropathy. Dr. Mukkamala found that while the lumbar sprain was caused by the compensable injury, the degenerative condition was preexisting. Dr. Brooks authored an age of injury analysis and determined that Mr. Argabright suffered from chronic degenerative disc disease and chronic facet joint arthrosis from L2-3 through L5-S1. The ICA found that the MRI and the reports of Drs. Mukkamala and Brooks support a conclusion that the disc bulges were preexisting.

In contrast, the ICA found minimal justification to support Dr. Muscari’s request that the disc bulges be made compensable as caused by the compensable injury. The ICA found that to the extent that the Board of Review's order finds that the disc bulges were caused by the compensable injury, that finding is clearly wrong.

Next, Mr. Argabright argued that because his preexisting condition was asymptomatic until the compensable injury, his preexisting disc bulges should be found compensable under the rebuttable presumption announced in Moore. The ICA disagreed and found Mr. Agrabright's argument failed  to consider the Moore presumption in unison with the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia's (“SCAWV”) ruling in Gill v. City of Charleston, 236 W. Va. 737, 783 S.E.2d 857 (2016), which Moore explicitly reaffirmed:

“[a] noncompensable preexisting injury may not be added as a compensable component of a claim for workers’ compensation medical benefits merely because it may have been aggravated by a compensable injury. To the extent that the aggravation of a noncompensable preexisting injury results in a [discrete] new injury, that new injury may be found compensable.” Syl. Pt. 3, Gill v. City of Charleston, 236 W. Va. 737, 783 S.E.2d 857 (2016).

Syl. Pt. 4, Moore, 247 W. Va. 292, 879 S.E.2d 779 (2022). The Moore Court then expanded on Gill, holding:

A claimant's disability will be presumed to have resulted from the compensable injury if: (1) before the injury, the claimant's preexisting disease or condition was asymptomatic, and (2) following the injury, the symptoms of the disabling disease or condition appeared and continuously manifested themselves afterwards. There still must be sufficient medical evidence to show a causal relationship between the compensable injury and the disability, or the nature of the accident, combined with other facts of the case, raises a natural inference of causation. This presumption is not conclusive; it may be rebutted by the employer.

Syl. Pt. 5, 247 W. Va. 292, 879 S.E. 2d 779 (2022).

The ICA found that Gill unambiguously held that a discrete new injury may be compensable when it arises from an aggravation of a preexisting injury. The preexisting condition itself does not become compensable, only the discrete new injury. Moore reaffirmed and expanded on the holding in Gill and therefore the holdings in both cases must be considered together. When read in unison, Gill and Moore do not render preexisting injuries compensable. Compensability is limited only to discrete new injuries and disabilities that manifest following the compensable injury.

In the case before it, the ICA found that the Board of Review only addressed syllabus point five of Moore and determined the compensability of Mr. Argabright's preexisting disc bulges based on the manifestation of his symptoms following the compensable injury. Because the Board of Review did not consider Moore and Gill together, the ICA reversed the Board of Review's order, in part, and found that it erred in summarily concluding that Mr. Argabright's preexisting disc bulges were compensable.

Even though the disc bulges are not compensable under this analysis, the treatment of the newly symptomatic disability is appropriate, according to the ICA. In Moore, the SCAWV found cervical radiculopathy as a compensable condition, not the preexisting cervical degenerative disc disease that was asymptomatic prior to the compensable injury. It reasoned that the evidence showed the compensable injury caused Mr. Moore to develop cervical radiculopathy, a new distinct injury. In the case before it, the ICA found that Mr. Argabright's preexisting discs and degenerative disc desiccation were asymptomatic prior to the compensable injury. Following the compensable injury, Mr. Argabright developed pain in the areas affected by the preexisting conditions. The ICA found that the treatment of that pain is presumed to flow from the compensable injury, not the preexisting condition. In this matter, Blackhawk did not rebut the presumption, nor did it contest the order for referral to Dr. Patel on appeal. Accordingly, the ICA affirmed the Board of Review's order, in part, with respect to the referral to Dr. Patel at the pain clinic. The ICA reversed, in part, and affirmed, in part, the Board of Review's October 21, 2022, order.

Compensability – Injury Not Resulting From Employment

Kittle v. ACNR Resources, Inc., No. 22-ICA-204, 2023 WL 3167482 (W.Va. App. 05/01/2023)

http://www.courtswv.gov/intermediate-court/docs/Spring2023/22-ICA-204-greear.pdf

Mr. Kittle was injured on September 29, 2021, while employed by ACNR Resources, Inc., (“ACNR”). Mr. Kittle was relocating fans in ACNR's shower house when he felt a popping sensation in his foot followed by immediate foot pain and difficulty walking. Mr. Kittle did not actually have a fan in his hand at the time of injury. Mr. Kittle does not allege that there were any defects in the floor of ACNR's shower house. Mr. Kittle promptly reported his injury to ACNR's safety personnel and was advised to seek medical treatment at the emergency room. However, Mr. Kittle attempted to continue to work despite his injury. On September 30, 2021, Mr. Kittle sought medical treatment at MedExpress. MedExpress ordered non-weight bearing x-rays, which showed no fracture in Mr. Kittle's foot but did show degenerative changes. Mr. Kittle was diagnosed with a left foot sprain. On October 7, 2021, the claim administrator denied Mr. Kittle's claim on the basis that the injury did not result from his employment with ACNR. Mr. Kittle protested this order.

On appeal, Mr. Kittle asserted that the BOR committed clear legal error in its determination that his foot injury was not a result of his employment. Mr. Kittle argues that he was moving large fans from one part of the ACNR shower house to another, a duty of his employment, when his injury occurred, and that walking is a necessary required function of his duties.  ACNR argues in response that the BOR did not err in finding that Mr. Kittle was not injured in a manner “resulting from this employment” as Mr. Kittle was “simply walking.”

On October 19, 2021, Mr. Kittle was examined by Daniel Fijalkowski, M.D., a podiatrist. Dr. Fijalkowski ordered weightbearing x-rays, which showed a fracture of the fourth metatarsal of Mr. Kittle's left foot. Dr. Fijalkowski diagnosed Mr. Kittle with a fracture, fitted him with a boot to immobilize his foot, and opined that he was unable to work until he could be medically cleared.

On April 1, 2022, the Office of Judges affirmed the claim administrator's order rejecting Mr. Kittle's claim, reasoning that Mr. Kittle's injury was not a result of employment. On September 27, 2022, the Board of Review affirmed the OOJ's order, and Mr. Kittle filed an appeal.

The ICA held that in order to satisfy the direct causal connection required in workers’ compensation claims, a claimant has the burden of establishing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the injury complained of was caused by or contributed to some condition or aspect of employment that created an increased risk of injury. Failure to establish an employment specific element that increased the risk of injury will bar recovery. 

The ICA found that it is undisputed that Mr. Kittle did not have a fan in his hand at the time of injury and did not allege any defects in the floor of the shower house. Had Mr. Kittle been carrying an industrial fan at the time of his injury, then he may have been able to meet his burden. Similarly, if Mr. Kittle had been walking down a steep incline or on an uneven surface, a different result may have been compelled. Mr. Kittle's injury clearly occurred during an activity (walking) that did not present an increased risk of injury. Thus, the injury in question was received “in the course of” Mr. Kittle's employment, but was not “resulting from” that employment.

Compensability – Injury Resulted After Deviation from Employment

West Virginia Heating & Plumbing Company v. Carroll, No. 22-ICA-167, 2023 WL 3579092 (W.Va. App. 05/22/2023)

http://www.courtswv.gov/intermediate-court/docs/Spring2023/22-ICA-167_so.pdf

Claimant Tyler J. Carroll was a passenger in a company van driven by his supervisor Mr. Bragg. They were employees of West Virginia Heating and Plumbing Company (“WVHP”), and were returning to Charleston from a job assignment in Pittsburgh. The van stopped at the scene of an accident on Interstate 79. Mr. Carroll suffered serious injuries after exiting the van in an attempt to render aid to the driver of a truck that had just been involved in the accident. WVHP appealed the decision of the Office of Judges which reversed the claim administrator's order rejecting Mr. Carroll's application for benefits. The OOJ decision held Mr. Carroll's claim compensable, stating that his injuries were sustained in the course of and as a result of his employment. WVHP argued on appeal that the OOJ's decision was clearly wrong because the evidence shows Mr. Carroll's injury did not occur as a result of his employment. Specifically, WVHP argued Mr. Carroll was not injured as a result of his employment because prior to his injury, he left and deviated from his duties of employment when he exited the company van and crossed I-79 to render aid to a driver of a truck that had just crashed. WVHP argues that Mr. Carroll was injured as a result of this deviation from his employment, and therefore, Mr. Carroll was not injured as a result of his employment.

              On appeal, the ICA analyzed WHCP’s assignments of error with respect to the OOJ’s findings on the legal principles of the “Going and Coming Rule”, Erin’s Law, and the Good Samaritan and positional risk doctrines. The ICA reversed and remanded the OOJ’s decision to the Board of Review for a proper analysis under the applicable West Virginia law in accordance with the ICA’s opinion.

After a lengthy discussion of the “well established” jurisprudence of the “going and coming rule” in West Virginia, the ICA acknowledged the parties conceded Mr. Carroll was in the course of employment at the time of his injury. The ICA found the issues of the “going and coming rule” not dispositive of the ultimate issue in the case whether Mr. Carroll was injured as a result of his employment, and therefore the ICA did not further address the rule.

The ICA examined the OOJ’s interpretation of West Virginia Code §§ 17C-4-1(a) and 17C-4-3(b), known as Erin’s Law. The OOJ found that Mr. Carroll was legally obligated to stop and render aid under the statute. Erin’s Law requires individuals who are “involved in a crash” to stay at the scene, provide information, and render “reasonable assistance” to an injured person “if physically able to do so.” §§ 17C-4-1(a), 17C-4-3(b). In regard to Erin's Law, the ICA found that Carroll’s need to take evasive action to avoid the out of control truck did not make him “involved in a crash” such that he had a statutory duty to remain at the scene and render aid placing his rescue within the scope of employment. The ICA found Carroll not to be involved in the accident since he was able to avoid involvement in the accident, and there is no evidence that he caused the accident. The ICA found the OOJ erred in finding that Carroll had a statutory duty under W. Va. Code § 17C-4-1(a) and §17C-4-3(b) to undertake rescue.

The ICA noted that applying the Good Samaritan, rescue, and the positional risk doctrines in the workers’ compensation context is a matter of first impression in West Virginia. The ICA’s opinion relied on Professor Larson’s discussion of these topics and noted:

Each legal doctrine is understood as a separate concept in Larson's treatise on workers’ compensation. See 3 Arthur Larson & Lex K. Larson, Larson's Workers’ Compensation Law § 27.02[2][a], § 28.01[1] (2022).

West Virginia Heating & Plumbing Company v. Carroll, 2023 WL 3579092, at *6 (W.Va.App., 2023).

With respect to the Good Samaritan doctrine, the ICA noted “Larson discusses the Good Samaritan doctrine in the context of employees performing small favors and generating goodwill among the public; however, the act must still confer a benefit of some kind to the employer. [Larson's Workers’ Compensation Law] § 27.02[2][a].” (Footnote omitted.) The ICA disagreed with the OOJ that WVHP benefitted by Carroll’s actions in rescuing the truck driver because he had a statutory duty to stop and render aid. Because Erin’s Law does not apply, Carroll’s actions did not benefit the employer according to the ICA. Also, the benefit of Carroll returning WVHP’s tools in the company van to Charleston has no connection with leaving the work van to render aid on a public road. Therefore, the ICA found the OOJ erred in concluding Claimant was injured in the course of and resulting from his employment.

In its analysis of the positional risk doctrine, the ICA noted it is an extension of the traditional rescue doctrine but does not require that an employee’s act confer a benefit to the employer, citing Larson § 28.02[3]. In the case before the ICA, the ICA found that the requirements and performance of Carroll’s employment thrust him into contact with an emergency situation. His employment brought him to a place where it was probable that he and his co-worker and driver of the van would have a natural reaction to help the injured truck driver. However, in the absence of any West Virginia legislation or controlling authority by the West Virginia Supreme Court providing for the adoption of the positional risk doctrine in a workers’ compensation setting, the OOJ erred in applying it to this case. The ICA was not prepared on its own to adopt the positional risk doctrine in workers’ compensation law. The ICA found that based on the applicable law in West Virginia, the OOJ committed error applying a doctrine not yet recognized in West Virginia workers’ compensation jurisprudence:

Although Mr. Carroll's acts are clearly a laudable, selfless response, this Court is not prepared on its own to adopt the positional risk doctrine in workers’ compensation law. Based on the applicable law before the OOJ, it was error to apply a doctrine not yet recognized in West Virginia's workers’ compensation jurisprudence.

West Virginia Heating & Plumbing Company v. Carroll, 2023 WL 3579092, at *7 (W.Va.App., 2023).

The ICA concluded that the Legislature or the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals must recognize the positional risk doctrine. Thus, absent such law, Carroll’s injuries are not compensable because they did not occur as a result of his employment under the doctrines discussed in the ICA’s opinion. The ICA found that a question remains as to why Carroll temporarily stepped outside his employment when he exited the company van on the interstate to render aid to a driver injured in an accident in which he was not involved, whether any company policies or procedures caused him to do so, or whether he reacted to the statements and/or actions of his supervisor, which amount to express or implied authorization to engage in such conduct. The ICA remanded the case for consideration by the Board of Review of evidence related to these issues.

Payment of Permanent Partial Disability Benefits

Thompson v. Western Construction, Inc., ___ W. Va. ___, 889 S.E.2d 300 (W.Va. App. 6/15/2023)

http://www.courtswv.gov/intermediate-court/docs/Spring2023/23-ICA-26%20Signed%20Opinion.pdf

In Thompson v. Western Construction, Inc., ___ W. Va. ___, 889 S.E.2d 300 (W.Va. App. 6/15/2023), the ICA addressed the question of whether a claimant was entitled to compensation under West Virginia Code § 23-4-6(e)(2) (2005) at the rate of six weeks for each percent of disability because he was not employed by Western Construction when he was released to return to work. The claim administrator granted Mr. Thompson a 7% permanent partial disability award, and the 7% permanent partial disability award was paid out at a benefit rate of four weeks for each percent of disability pursuant to West Virginia Code § 23-4-6(e)(1). The claim administrator based its decision Mr. Thompson was entitled to compensation at the rate of four weeks for each percent of disability because he was terminated from his job in January of 2020, and was not a current employee at the time the award was paid because Mr. Thompson was not released to return to work until September 14, 2021. The Board of Review affirmed the decision and Mr. Thompson appealed. The Court of Appeals held that Mr. Thompson did not have to be a current employee to recover six weeks of compensation for each percent of disability.

West Virginia Code § 23-4-6 states that:

Where compensation is due an employee under the provisions of this chapter for personal injury, the compensation shall be as provided in the following schedule:

. . . .

(e)(1) For all awards made on or after the effective date of the amendment and reenactment of this section during the year two thousand three, if the injury causes permanent disability less than permanent total disability, the percentage of disability to total disability shall be determined and the award computed on the basis of four weeks' compensation for each percent of disability. . . .

(2) If a claimant is released by his or her treating physician to return to work at the job he or she held before the occupational injury occurred and if the claimant's preinjury employer does not offer the preinjury job or a comparable job to the employee when a position is available to be offered, the award for the percentage of partial disability shall be computed on the basis of six weeks of compensation for each percent of disability.

West Virginia Code § 23-4-6(e)(1) requires a four-week benefit rate for each percent of disability. Under West Virginia Code § 23-4-6(e)(2), the benefit rate increases to six weeks when the employer fails to reinstate the employee in his or her preinjury job or offer a similar position. Mr. Thompson claimed the 7% permanent partial disability should have been paid at a benefit rate of six weeks, as opposed to four weeks, because Western Construction did not offer a preinjury position or a comparable position.

The ICA found that the definition of “employees” under § 23-4-6(e)(2) is not limited to current employees, and Mr. Thompson’s permanent partial disability award was to be paid at the six-week benefit rate rather than the four-week benefit rate.

W. Va. Code § 23-4-6 uses the word “employee,” but it is not limited to claimants who are currently employed based on the language of the statute. The word “shall” in § 23-4-6(e)(2) is used to afford a mandatory connotation that the claimant must be paid at the six week rate if the employer did not offer a preinjury job or a similar position. Additionally, the statute does not state that the claimant must be a current employee to be entitled to the six-week benefit rate – the relevant factor is that the claimant was an employee at the time of the injury. W. Va. Code § 23-4-6(e)(2) only requires (1) a claimant; (2) be released by a physician to return to work at the job he held before the occupational injury occurred, and (3) that the employer does not reinstate the preinjury job or a comparable position. All conditions were met in this case.

The ICA found that a claimant does not have to be a current employee under W. Va. Code § 23-4-6(e)(2) because the statute does not expressly state this requirement. The ICA reversed the Board of Review’s order and instructed Mr. Thompson to be paid his permanent partial disability award at the six-week benefit rate.

Article prepared by:

H. Dill Battle III, Esquire

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

300 Kanawha Blvd, East

Charleston, West Virginia 25301

304-340-3800

hdbattle@spilmanlaw.com