York v. Burgess-Norton Manufacturing Co.

1990 OK 131, 803 P.2d 697, 61 O.B.A.J. 3354, 1990 Okla. LEXIS 149, 1990 WL 205524

• Court: Supreme Court of Oklahoma
• Decided: December 18, 1990
• Docket: 70766
• Status: Published

Opinions

SUMMERS, Justice.

This Workers’ Compensation case presents as its principal issue the non-compliance of a medical report with the Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (Guides), adopted and published by the American Medical Association. The employer's doctor disregarded inconsistent test results showing pulmonary impairment, and determined instead that the claimant had no such impairment. We find that the employer’s doctor could disregard the inconsistent results, but in so doing was required to perform an additional test before finding that the claimant was not impaired.

In a secondary issue we find, contrary to the holding of the trial judge, that the claimant’s medical testimony constituted competent evidence of impairment.

York filed a claim on June 4, 1987, alleging that he had sustained an employment-related injury to his lungs and upper respiratory system. The trial judge found that York did not sustain an accidental personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment. The trial judge also found that the claimant’s medical evidence was not competent to sustain any finding of occupational disease and thus claimant did not meet his burden of proof. The claimant appealed.

In an unpublished opinion the Court of Appeals found that the report of the employer’s doctor was erroneously admitted, and that the report of the claimant’s doctor was competent evidence of impairment. It remanded the cause with directions to enter an order awarding the claimant compensation on the basis of the only competent evidence, that is, the claimant’s. The employer petitioned for certiorari and the writ was previously granted. We vacate the opinion of the Court of Appeals, reverse the order of the compensation court, and remand for further proceedings.

I. Employer’s evidence.

Our standard of review in workers’ compensation cases is to determine whether the order of the compensation court is supported by any competent evidence. Parks v. Norman Municipal Hospital, 684 P.2d 548 (Okla.1984). The first issue involves the opinion of the employer’s doctor and his assertion that his opinion deviated from the Guides. The relevant¹ statute states in part:

Except as otherwise provided herein, any examining physician shall only evaluate impairment in accordance with the latest ‘Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment’ adopted and published by the American Medical Association. The examining physician shall not deviate from said guides except as may be specifically provided for in the guides. These officially adopted guides shall be the exclusive basis for testimony and conclusions with regard to permanent impairment with the exception of paragraph 3 of Section 22 of this title, relating to scheduled member injury or loss; and impairment, including pain or loss of strength, may be awarded with respect to those injuries or areas of the body not specifically covered by said guides.” 85 O.S.Supp.1986, § 3(11). (Emphasis added).

This statute states plainly that a physician must evaluate impairment according to the Guides.2 An impairment rating may deviate from the Guides if the exception is “specifically provided for in the guides”. In other words, to deviate from the Guides such deviation must be allowed by the Guides itself.3

We must initially determine which edition of the Guides applies. The examining physician must use the “latest” edition of the Guides. 85 O.S.Supp.1987, § 3(H).⁴ The first printing of the third edition of the Guides was in November of 1988. The claimant’s examinations by the employer’s doctor occurred in November of 1987 and February of 1988. Clearly, the second edition was the appropriate standard by which to determine York’s impairment.

A review of the findings made by the employer’s doctor is needed in discussing the doctor’s deviation from the Guides. The employer’s doctor, Dr. F., referred York to a hospital where he received spiro-metry tests in October of 1987. The tests indicated a severe obstructive and restrictive lung disease. In the first examination York’s forced vital capacity (FVC) was 44% of the predicted value, and this indicates a severe impairment.⁵ Dr. F. reported, however, that York appeared, walked, and acted “vigorously” and was of the opinion that York had no lung disease. He said, “In this respect, of course, I am taking exception to the AMA Guides, as I feel the Guides do not take into consideration hyperventilation syndromes and anxiety as causing false results on the pulmonary testing procedures. This man’s hyperventilation syndrome is not related to any job circumstance.”

Dr. F. requested further spirometry tests and an analysis of arterial blood gases. The spirometry tests were repeated in February of 1988. On the same day York’s FVC was first 42% and then 82% of the predicted normal value, and his FEV1 was first 53% and then 83% of the predicted normal value. York’s highest values for FVC and FEV1, 3.37 and 2.87 respectively, show a mild impairment i.e., a Class 2 impairment.⁶ Dr. F. reported:

“Finally, I will repeat my original statement as of my report of November 11, 1987 that this man has no lung disease and he has had no lung disease. His only problem is hyperventilation syndrome.

In other words, when the pulmonary studies are not reliable and not performed properly with inconsistent re-suits, it is my opinion that these results cannot be used at all and one must evaluate these people on the basis of their clinical status and objective findings which cannot be changed.

Again, due to the above reasons I again will take exception to the AMA Guides and rate this man as having zero. impairment due to his lungs.

This man is perfectly healthy and can continue doing his usual type of work without restrictions.

This report indicates that the spirometry test results cannot be used to determine impairment because they are inconsistent with each other. We first address the inconsistent results and then the rating of no impairment.

1. Inconsistent test results.

The second edition to the Guides states:

“The spirometric tests should be performed as described in the 1978 ATS Epidemiology Standardization Project. The equipment, methods of calibration, and techniques should meet the ATS criteria.” Guides at 88.

The Guides refer to an article: “Crapo RO, Morris AH: Reference Spirometric values using techniques and equipment that meet ATS recommendations. Am Rev Respir Dis 1981; 123:659-664.” Guides at 101. This article cites the standards published by the American Thoracic Society at: Gardner RM, et al. Snowbird workshop on standardization of spirometry: a statement by the American Thoracic Society published in the American Review of Respiratory Disease, 1979, 119:831-838. In these referenced materials the American Thoracic Society standards describe “acceptable” spiro-metry results as follows:

“A minimum of 3 acceptable FVC maneuvers will be performed. Acceptability will be determined by the technician’s observation that the subject understood the instructions and' performed the test with a smooth continous exhalation, with apparent maximal effort, with a good start, and without (1) coughing, (2) Val-salva maneuver (glottis closure). (3) Early termination of expiration ... (4) A leak. (5) An obstructed mouthpiece ... (6) An unsatisfactory start of expiration, characterized by excessive hesitation or false starts ... (7) An excessive variability among the three acceptable curves. The best of the 3 acceptable curves should not vary by more than ±5 per cent of reading or ±100ml, whichever is greater.” Am Rev Respir Dis 1979; 119 at 836. (Emphasis added).

The seventh factor set forth above indicates that spirometry maneuvers which are otherwise acceptable will not be acceptable for rating impairment if the best maneuver varies more than the stated amount.

York’s two best efforts for FVC were 3.37 liters and 2.19 liters. These two efforts vary by more than 5%, and Dr. F. treated the spirometry results as unacceptable for measuring impairment because of this variation.⁷ Thus, Dr. F.’s report did not deviate from the second edition of the Guides merely because he disregarded inconsistent spirometry results.

2. Evaluation of no impairment.

We now come to the next issue: does Dr. F.’s report deviate from the Guides in assessing York as in Class 1, i.e., with no impairment. Dr. F. utilized the spirometry tests required by the Guides to evaluate lung mechanics in his examination. They are (1) the FVC (for forced vital capacity), a volume measurement, (2) the FEV1, the volume of air moved in the first second of a forced expiration, a flow rate measurement, and (3) the ratio of the one to the other. He did not employ the estimated exercise capacity test, a test done on a treadmill or cycle ergometer to estimate oxygen consumption per minute, i.e., the V02. In disregarding the spirometry tests Dr. F. wrote

“This inconsistent result and obvious improvement on the same day, that is, before and after arterial blood gases were drawn from his arm show that this man’s results are certainly not reliable. They should be discarded entirely as this man was either not cooperating with this test or intentionally attempted to change the results to imitate lung disease.”

(This referred to Claimant’s FVC jumping from 42% to 82%, and his FEV1 from 53% to 83%, in the same day.)

The Guides set out the next step for a testing physician who doubts the cooperation of the claimant in the testing process— and it is the V02. They state:

“Estimated exercise capacity: [V02] Testing to measure exercise capacity should be done (1) when an individual’s spirometry and Deo measurement are not within the 95% confidence interval for his or her age and height, OR (2) his or her spirometry and Deo measurements do not indicate severe impairment as defined below; OR (3) the individual states that he or she is physically unable to meet the demands of a specific job because of breathlessness; OR (4) the individual has not performed maximally or correctly in the spirometry or Deo tests.” Guides at 97.

Clearly, under Dr. F.’s conclusions, category number four applies here: “the individual has not performed maximally or correctly in the spirometry or Deo tests”. Thus, Dr. F. was required to perform an estimated V02 determination, and his failure to do so shows an unauthorized departure from the Guides.⁸

York objected to the admission of Dr. F.’s report for non-compliance with the Guides, In reviewing this objection we note that the case was tried prior to the mandate in Gaines v. Sun Refinery and Marketing, 790 P.2d 1073 (Okla.1990), and thus the objection need not have had the specificity now required under that case. We find that Dr. F.’s report failed to comply with the Guides, and was thus insufficient to sustain the trial court’s order.

II. The claimant’s evidence.

The deposition of York’s doctor was submitted at trial. The trial court found that York did not sustain an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment with the respondent. The trial court further found that York's medical evidence was not competent, and that he had failed to meet his burden of proof as set forth at Section 3.4 of Title 85.

Generally, “[t]he burden of proof in workers compensation cases rests upon the claimant seeking benefits to establish all the essential elements of his claim”. Armco, Inc. v. Holcomb, 694 P.2d 937, 939 (Okla.1985). Our review of the claimant’s evidence shows that he met that burden.

The employer stipulated that York was an employee at the time of the alleged injury and York testified as to his employment conditions. York testified that during his employment he was exposed to carbon dust and asbestos and explained the manner in which he was exposed. York testified that he had never smoked cigarettes but was exposed to the cigarette smoke of other employees. York also testified that he was exposed to fumes from a solvent mixed with kerosene. He stated that the fumes irritated his throat and nose and that he started noticing “mucous buildup in my throat”. He sought medical attention from the company doctor and that doctor was of the opinion that the mucous was from an ulcer. York testified that there was a ventilation fan: "... but it never worked. We asked the supervisor to fix it. We never could get it fixed.”

York's doctor, Dr. C., said that York had partial permanent impairment of 25 percent impairment to the body as a whole secondary to Class 2 respiratory impairment and damage to his lungs and 10 percent partial permanent impairment secondary to obstruction in the upper airway respiratory system. Dr. C.’s opinion concerning York’s exposure to certain substances at Burgess Norton was summarized: “It's my medical opinion that these [substances] have caused some marked respiratory impairment to this gentleman”.

The doctor testified that York listed the substances he was exposed to at his employment and the amount of time he spent in the various positions of employment. Dr. C. explained the particular medical problems associated with exposure to kerosene and its fumes and that such problems were experienced by York. Dr. C. also explained that exposure to natural gas was consistent with the pulmonary edema experienced by York. Dr. C. testified that he did not find any evidence of pulmonary problems as would occur from exposure to particulate matter such as dust, carbide, or asbestos. He explained that his opinion was based upon York’s description of the substances he was exposed to at employment, his medical knowledge of the consequences to exposure to those substances York listed, and York's manifestation of symptoms consistent with exposure to those substances while working for his employer. We find this opinion to be in compliance with the Guides and consistent with our reasoning in Gaines v. Sun Refinery and Marketing, 790 P.2d 1073 (Okla.1990).

In Gaines we explained that a report on impairment due to exposure to toxic substances should be based upon information “regarding the period or extent of exposure ... [and an] estimate [of] the hazard posed by the toxic chemicals and fumes.” Id. 790 P.2d at 1078. Dr. C. explained that he had an estimate of the hazard posed by the substances York was exposed to at employment. Dr. C. also explained that York had informed him of the duration of his exposure to the substances.

Dr. C. testified that he did not need to know the exact amount of exposure in making his conclusions regarding the substances involved because “we know as physicians that the individuals have different responses to certain levels and length of exposure.” Dr. C. essentially testified that the extent of York’s exposure was of sufficient duration and had the temporal relationship to a type of impairment known to be caused by such exposure. The Guides provide that an assessment of impairment due to exposure to noxious gases, fumes, or particulate matter is based upon: 1. The year a claimant was first exposed to an agent [gas, fume or particulate matter]; 2. The extent of exposure 3. The total number of years of exposure 4. The claimant’s estimate of the hazard the agent posed and 5. The number of years since the exposure ceased. Guides at 86. We find that Dr. C.’s opinion was based upon these considerations and complies with the Guides.

We have said that the cause and extent of disability must be proved by the testimony of skilled professional people. Chromalloy-American, Okla. Div. v. Wright, 567 P.2d 71 (Okla.1977) Groendyke Transport, Inc. v. Willson, 527 P.2d 1364 (Okla.1974) and Independent School Dist. No. 1 of Tulsa County v. Albus, 572 P.2d 554 (Okla.1977). Dr. C’s deposition discloses the presence and extent of permanent impairment resulting from accidental injury sufficient to meet York’s burden of proof.

III. Conclusion.

York’s evidence was sufficient to make a prima facie showing of an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of employment. The claimant met his burden of proof. By failing to administer the Y02 test the employer’s medical witness imper-missibly deviated from the Guides, and his report was thus insufficient to support an order denying benefits. The opinion of the Court of Appeals is vacated. The order of the trial judge is reversed, and pursuant to our announcement in Gaines, supra at 1081, the case is remanded to the Workers’ Compensation Court for a new trial.

HARGRAVE, C.J., OPALA, V.C.J., and HODGES, LAVENDER and ALMA WILSON, JJ„ concur. KAUGER, J., concur specially. SIMMS, DOOLIN, JJ., dissent.

1 . We apply the statute in effect at the time of the injury. Knott v. Halliburton, 752 P.2d 812, 813 (Okla.1988); Lee Way Motor Freight v. Wilson, 609 P.2d 777, 779 (Okla.1980).

2 . This evaluation of impairment must be according to the Guides even when the conclusion is that the claimant has not sustained impairment to the respiratory system. Gaines v. Sun Refinery and Marketing, 790 P.2d 1073, 1076-1077 (Okla.1990). Language to the contrary in Case v. Mack Trucks, 773 P.2d 765, 766 (Okla.App.1989) is hereby disapproved.

3 . This has not always been true. 85 O.S.Supp. 1978, § 3(11) allowed for assessments deviating from the Guides when the deviation was explained by the examining physician. In 1985 § 3 was amended and no longer provides for deviation based on mere explanation. 85 O.S. Supp.1985, § 3(11).

4 . We note that injuries occurring on or after November 1, 1984, through December 31, 1988, are evaluated by the Second Edition of the AMA Guides under the new Rules of the Workers’ Compensation Court, Rule 21(D), 85 O.S.Supp. 1990 Ch. 4, App. (Effective November 1, 1990).

5 . Table l-"Classes of Respiratory Impairment” Guides at 86.

6 . The face of Dr. F.’s report shows a Class 2 impairment if the spirometry results are used. We explained the method for calculating per cent of predicted values in Whitener v. South Central Solid Waste Authority, 773 P.2d 1248, 1251-1252 (Okla.1989). From Dr. F.'s report: FVC predicted of 5.20-1.115 (confidence interval) = 4.09 (lower limit of normal). York's best effort for FVC was 3.37 and Dr. F. reported this amount as 82% of the predicted value. York's FVC was below the lower limit for normal as defined by the 95% confidence interval but above the 60% of predicted. Thus, the face of Dr. F.’s report shows a Class 2 impairment for York as explained in Table 1 of the Guides.

7 . Although such action was authorized by the 1978 standards, the third edition of the Guides treats such variability as requiring more spiro-metry testing rather with complete disregard. American Thoracic Society Committee on Proficiency Standards for Pulmonary Function Laboratories; Standardization of spirometry — 1987 update. Am Rev Respir Dis 1987; 136:1285—1298, at 1291. (Cited in the third edition of the Guides at 118).

8 . Another test sometimes used in pulmonary impairment assessment is the single breath Deo to determine diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide. A Deo test "should be performed when a patient has respiratory complaints that are of greater severity than the observed spirometry results would indicate." Guides at 97. We explained in Orrell v. B.F. Goodrich, 787 P.2d 848 (Okla.1990), that medical discretion is used in determining whether particular subjective complaints correlate with the spirometry results, and thus, this court would not second guess a medical decision which finds the Deo test to be unnecessary. Our analysis herein is consistent with Orrell. In the case before us the physician exercised his judgment and made a finding that the claimant was not performing the tests maximally or correctly. The Guides require further testing when such a finding is made. The analogous situation with the Deo test would occur when a physician makes a finding that a patient does indeed have respiratory complaints that are of a greater severity than the observed spirometry would indicate — and then after making such a finding fail to give the Deo test.