Ace House Movers, Inc., et al.v Michael N. Jackson
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COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA Present: Judges Bray, Frank and Senior Judge Hodges Argued at Chesapeake, Virginia ACE HOUSE MOVERS, INC. AND COMMERCIAL UNION INSURANCE COMPANY v. MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY JUDGE ROBERT P. FRANK MAY 9, 2000 Record No. 1494-99-1 MICHAEL N. JACKSON FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION Susan Moloney Smith (Midkiff & Hiner, P.C., on brief), for appellants. David A. Buzard (Carlton F. Bennett; Bennett and Zydron, P.C., on brief), for appellee. Ace House Movers, Inc. and Commercial Union Insurance Company (appellants) appeal the decision of the Workers' Compensation Commission (commission) awarding benefits to Michael N. Jackson (claimant). On appeal, they contend the commission erred in finding claimant presented sufficient evidence that the medical treatment he received after March 1, 1997 was causally related to the January 27, 1996 industrial accident in which he was injured. We disagree and affirm the commission's decision. * Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, recodifying Code § 17-116.010, this opinion is not designated for publication. I. ANALYSIS "The actual determination of causation is a factual finding that will not be disturbed on appeal if there is credible Ingersoll-Rand Co. v. Musick, evidence to support the finding." 7 Va. App. 684, 688, 376 S.E.2d 814, 817 (1989) (citing Code § 65.1-98, now Code § 65.2-706). "In determining whether credible evidence exists, the appellate court does not retry the facts, reweigh the preponderance of the evidence, or make its own determination of the credibility of the witnesses." Wagner Enterprises, Inc. v. Brooks, 12 Va. App. 890, 894, 407 S.E.2d 32, 35 (1991) (citing Jules Hairstylists, Inc. v. Galanes, 1 Va. App. 64, 69, 334 S.E.2d 592, 595 (1985)). On appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party below. See R.G. Moore Bldg. Corp. v. Mullins, 10 Va. App. 211, 212, 390 S.E.2d 788, 788 (1990) (citing Crisp v. Brown's Tysons Corner Dodge, Inc., 1 Va. App. 503, 504, 339 S.E.2d 916, 916 (1986)). In its opinion, the commission held: The sole issue on review is whether the claimant's treatment after March 1, 1997, is causally related to the January 27, 1996, compensable accident. After careful review of the record, we find the subsequent treatment is related to the compensable accident. In reaching this conclusion, we note that the claimant's testimony concerning a March 1, 1997, slip at work was that it did not cause him any additional problems. In fact, the claimant did not end up actually falling. Dr. Meade, in his December 1, 1997, letter, stated that this - 2 - was not a new injury, but rather the result of the claimant's pre-existing ACL injury and his torn lateral meniscus. His ongoing reports reflect a previous peripheral tear of the medial meniscus that was still causing the claimant residual pain. The treatment the claimant received since March 1, 1997, appears to be the same ongoing treatment with the same symptoms experienced subsequent to the January 1996 accident. While there may have been a pre-existing ACL condition, there is no evidence that this condition was symptomatic prior to the January accident. While the claimant had other injuries to different body parts, there is no evidence of any injury to his right knee which caused the necessity for the ongoing treatment received since the January 1996 accident. In reviewing the record, we find there is credible evidence to support the commission's finding of causation. For the reasons stated in the commission's opinion, we affirm. Affirmed. - 3 -
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