RAY, HEATHER v. CAMPBELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

• Court: Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims
• Decided: June 4, 2026
• Docket: 026-30-1015
• Status: Published

Opinion

FILED Jun 04, 2026 02:40 PM(ET) TENNESSEE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION IN THE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS AT KNOXVILLE

HEATHER RAY, Docket No. 2026-30-1015 Employee, v. State File No. 20127-2025 CAMPBELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, Judge Lisa A. Lowe Employer.

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER DENYING BENEFITS Decision on the Record

Ms. Ray sustained a right-shoulder injury. Campbell County accepted the claim and authorized treatment with Dr. Kyle Achors. She now seeks an orthopedic evaluation for her neck, which Campbell County denied. For the reasons below, the Court denies Ms. Ray's request.

Claim History

Ms. Ray suffered a shoulder injury in March 2025. She received authorized treatment with Dr. Achors, who performed surgery. Ms. Ray did not initially report an injury to her neck, but in January 2026, she relayed an onset of neck pain to Dr. Achors.

In March, Dr. Achors wrote that he was unsure why Ms. Ray had not progressed, as her MRI demonstrated an intact rotator cuff repair. He noted sending her for a functional capacity evaluation and anticipated placing her at maximum medical improvement at her next appointment.

Then, Ms. Ray sent a letter to Dr. Achors asking him to check "yes" or "no" to the question, "I would recommend that Ms. Ray be seen by an orthopedic physician to assess injuries to her neck." Dr. Achors checked "yes."

1 Right to Appeal: If you disagree with the Court’s Order, you may appeal to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. To do so, you must: 1. Complete the enclosed form entitled “Notice of Appeal” and file it with the Clerk of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims before the expiration of the deadline.  If the order being appealed is “expedited” (also called “interlocutory”), or if the order does not dispose of the case in its entirety, the notice of appeal must be filed within seven (7) business days of the date the order was filed.  If the order being appealed is a “Compensation Order,” or if it resolves all issues in the case, the notice of appeal must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days of the date the Compensation Order was filed. When filing the Notice of Appeal, you must serve a copy on the opposing party (or attorney, if represented).

2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten calendar days after filing the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person at any Bureau office or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In the alternative, you may file an Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the Bureau’s website or any Bureau office) seeking a waiver of the filing fee. You must file the fully-completed Affidavit of Indigency within ten calendar days of filing the Notice of Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency will result in dismissal of your appeal.

3. You are responsible for ensuring a complete record is presented on appeal. If no court reporter was present at the hearing, you may request from the Court Clerk the audio recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. If you choose to submit a transcript as part of your appeal, which the Appeals Board has emphasized is important for a meaningful review of the case, a licensed court reporter must prepare the transcript, and you must file it with the Court Clerk. The Court Clerk will prepare the record for submission to the Appeals Board, and you will receive notice once it has been submitted. For deadlines related to the filing of transcripts, statements of the evidence, and briefs on appeal, see the applicable rules on the Bureau’s website at https://www.tn.gov/wcappealsboard. (Click the “Read Rules” button.)

4. After the Workers’ Compensation Judge approves the record and the Court Clerk transmits it to the Appeals Board, a docketing notice will be sent to the parties. If neither party timely files an appeal with the Appeals Board, the Court Order becomes enforceable. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(3) (expedited/interlocutory orders) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7) (compensation orders).

For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.