Emily Mills v. Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee, Inc.

This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The trial court found the plaintiff had sustained a 1 percent vocational impairment to her left lower extremity as a result of an injury to her knee on September 25, 1991. The trial court further found the plaintiff reached maximum medical improvement on March 3, 1993. Additionally, the trial court found the defendant was not liable for medical bills incurred by the plaintiff after March 3, 1993. The plaintiff appeals and claims the trial court erred in limiting the recovery to ten percent, that the period of temporary total disability should have extended until April 15, 1995, and that the trial court erred in holding the defendant was not liable for medical bills after March 3, 1993. The defendant raises as an issue the claim that the plaintiff has failed to show she sustained any disability as a result of her injury. We find the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed in all things except for the award of ten percent permanent vocational disability to the lower extremity. We find from the record the plaintiff is entitled to recover at the rate of 25 percent for the injury to her left lower extremity. The plaintiff was age 51 at the time of the trial; she had a high school diploma and was a certified nursing assistant. On September 25, 1991, she fell while working for the defendant. The medical evidence in this case was given by Dr. William M. Hovis, an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Hovis found the plaintiff had a pre-existing arthritic condition in both knees. Dr. Hovis testified this can be exacerbated or accelerated by trauma. Dr. Hovis treated the plaintiff for the injury to her knee by various means. He testified she had reached maximum medical recovery on March 3, 1993. Dr. Hovis was of the opinion the plaintiff had a 15 percent impairment to her left leg, with five percent of this caused by the fall and the remainder by the arthritic condition. W hether Dr. Hovis placed restrictions on the plaintiff because of her injury when she returned to work is less than clear. He testified she should refrain from climbing, squatting and kneeling. Dr. Hovis testified the restrictions were based on her overall condition. 2