Court of Appeals Affirms Commissioner's Decision Finding that Claimant's Mental Health Issues Arose Out of Employment
In Menard, Inc. v. Schneberger , No. 14-0682 (Iowa App. Feb. 11, 2015), the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the commissioner concluding that claimant's mental health problems arose out of and in the course of his employment. At the commissioner level, the employer stipulated to a physical injury to the shoulder, but denied that claimant's panic attacks and depression were related to the work injury. Dr. Seamands, claimant's doctor for her psychological problems, noted that claimant had not had any history of depression other than situational depression under acute stressors. Claimant met with Dr. Donald Gammel for an evaluation requested by the employer. Dr. Gammel was an occupational health doctor and he opined that the psychological difficulties were not related to the work injury. He stated that the depression was a normal and expected manifestation of a preexisting disorder. Dr. Seamands indicated that claimant did not have a preexisting con...