Iowa Workers' Compensation

In Wal-Mart Stores v. Johnson , No. 10-0358 (Iowa App. Jan. 20, 2011), the Court of Appeals affirmed the award of permanency benefits awarded by the commissioner.  Claimant's treating physician, Dr. Hlavin, had concluded that claimant's neck, shoulder and arm problems were due to her work activities.  The employer denied benefits, and sought to have claimant attend a defense medical examination with Dr. Boulden.  Claimant refused to attend, arguing that there was no right to an 85.39 examination in a denied claim.  The employer filed a motion to compel  attendance, and in the meantime, Dr. Boulden denied causation in a records review evaluation. The deputy denied defendants' request for an 85.39 exam, and a motion to reconsider on the same subject was denied.  At hearing, the deputy made an oral ruling that the employer was not entitled to the 85.39 exam.  The deputy found a 40% industrial loss.  In the written decision, the 85.39 issue was not ...

In Hennigar v. Second Injury Fund , No 09-0343 (Iowa App. Jan. 20, 2011), the court concluded that claimant had failed to establish a first injury, and had also failed to demonstrate a second injury, leading to a denial of Second Injury Fund benefits.  The commissioner had earlier denied Fund benefits. Claimant had an eye condition which she alleged as a first injury.  Three doctors had concluded that there was no permanent impairment as a result of the eye injury, and a fourth doctor, who had originally concluded that there was a 1% impairment, recanted this opinion when deposed.  Claimant presented the testimony of herself and her daughter, both of whom testified that claimant had watering in her eye, and her vision had deteriorated.  Testimony was also presented that claimant had difficulty driving. The commissioner concluded that claimant's eye condition did not result in a permanent disability and loss of use to either eye.  Because there was no loss of...

In Broadlawns Medical Center v. Sanders , 792 NW2d 302 (Iowa 2010), Justice Marsha Ternus entered her last workers' compensation decision, reversing the Court of Appeals and concluding that the decision of the commissioner awarding permanent partial disability benefits was supported by substantial evidence.  Claimant worked at a group home for the mentally ill, where she was required to clean a room in which a client had committed suicide.  As a result of this experience, she began having nightmares, flashbacks and hallucinations, resulting in a diagnosis of PTSD. One of the physicians permanently restricted claimant from working at the group home where she had formerly worked.  She was assigned to work at a different group home, which she was able to do.  She earned less in terms of overtime after the reassignment.  Because of the work restrictions, the employer indicated it intended to terminate the employment of the claimant.  The doctor who had provid...

In Waldinger Corporation v. Mettler , No. 0-647 (Iowa App. Nov. 24, 2010), the court addressed issues of apportionment in scheduled member cases, healing period issues, and issues involving the Second Injury Fund.  Of particular interest is the court's approach to healing period, which appears to deny the possibility of intermittent healing periods. Claimant was in the military and suffered a number of injuries prior to returning to his work as a plumber at Waldinger.  Before starting that employment, claimant was provided a 20% impairment rating from VA for leg injuries, and 10% for right knee injuries.  Considering impairments to his spine, as well as tinnitus, claimant was found to have a 70% total impairment, which entitled him to $1100 per month from the VA. Claimant was able to perform his work with Waldinger when he began working.  Over time, he developed more problems with his right ankle, for which he had four surgeries.  This injury forced him out ...

In Verizon Business Network Services, Inc. v. McKenzie , No. 0-685 (Iowa App. Nov. 24, 2010), the Iowa Court of Appeals wrestled with issues involving review-reopening proceedings that had been addressed in Kohlhaas v. Hog Slat , 777 N.W.2d 387 (Iowa 2009).  The question raised in the case was whether the commissioner had used the correct standard in determining whether the claimant was entitled to an increase in benefits. Claimant suffered a back injury, and was awarded 25% industrial disability benefits at the initial arbitration hearing.  Following the hearing, claimant continued to have difficulties with her back, although she had gastric bypass surgery to reduce her weight in the interim.  She filed a review-reopening petition, and at the arbitration and appeal levels was found to be permanently and totally disabled.  There was a great deal of emphasis in these decisions on whether claimant's continuing problems had been anticipated at the time of the original...