Opinion
Argued November 15, 1979
January 30, 1980.
Workmen's Compensation — Scope of appellate review — Capricious disregard of competent evidence — Causation — Disability — Medical evidence — Credibility — Act of 1959, December 8, P.L. 1718.
1. In an appeal from a denial of a claim for benefits in the nature of workmen's compensation under the Act of 1959, December 8, P.L. 1718, review by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is to determine whether the Department of Public Welfare capriciously disregarded competent evidence by wilfully or deliberately ignoring evidence which a reasonable person would consider important to a resolution of the case. [138]
2. The factfinder in a case involving a claim for disability benefits under the Act of 1959, December 8, P.L. 1718, must resolve questions of evidentiary weight and credibility, and a finding that the claimed disability was not proved to be causally related to the work-related incident will not be disturbed on appeal when made without a capricious disregard of competent medical evidence. [138]
Argued November 15, 1979, before Judges CRUMLISH, JR., DiSALLE and CRAIG, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 2426 C.D. 1978, from the Order of the Department of Public Welfare in case of Sophia A. Kania, dated September 13, 1978.
Application to the Department of Public Welfare for disability benefits. Application denied. Applicant appealed. Appeal denied by Hearing and Appeals Unit. Applicant appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Affirmed.
Submitted on briefs:
Timothy P. Creany, for petitioner.
James S. Marshall, Assistant Attorney General, for respondent.
Sophia A. Kania appeals a decision of the Department of Public Welfare denying her benefits in the nature of workmen's compensation for her failure to prove the causal relationship of her disability to a work incident. After consideration of her appeal, we affirm.
Section 1 of the Act of December 8, 1959, P.L. 1718, as amended, 61 P. S. § 951, provides disability benefits above the amount under workmen's compensation to certain state employees injured in high risk employment.
Kania, a Vocational Adjustment Aide II at Ebensburg Center, was assaulted by a resident. Following one month of recuperation, she returned to full time. One year later she contracted pneumonia and suffered a kidney disorder whereupon she left her job. She then sought benefits claiming recurrence of the original disability of January 17, 1975.
By analogy to our scope of review in workmen's compensation cases, the narrow issue is whether the Department capriciously disregarded competent evidence as to causation. Lewis v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, 43 Pa. Commw. 70, 401 A.2d 863 (1979). A capricious disregard amounts to a willful or deliberate ignoring of evidence which a reasonable person would consider important. DiCamillo v. City of Philadelphia, 16 Pa. Commw. 402, 328 A.2d 223 (1974).
Kania contends that her claim has been substantiated by unequivocal medical testimony. The hearing examiner, whose exclusive function it is to determine questions of evidentiary weight and matters of credibility, concluded that the evidence submitted was insufficient to establish the alleged causal connection.
Dr. Silenskey, in a letter to claimant submitted for support, stated:
It is my opinion that although the arthritis was present on the examination of February 5, 1975, that the pre-existing condition was aggravated by the injury to your back of January 17, 1975.
An injury could aggravate a pre-existing condition without consequent disability. This report, in itself, fails to causally relate the present disability to the traumatic incident.
Dr. Scanlon's reports for Kania related the disability to the work incident but the hearing examiner, in the proper exercise of his discretion, chose to base his decision on contrary evidence of record.
The hearing examiner adequately discussed the medical reports by Kania on this issue and his conclusions will not be disturbed by us if they are, as here, made without a capricious disregard of evidence.
Accordingly, we
ORDER
AND NOW, this 30th day of January, 1980, the order of the Department of Public Welfare is affirmed.
This decision was reached prior to the expiration of the term of office of Judge DiSALLE.