Opinion
No. 1 CA-IC 765.
April 17, 1973.
Writ of certiorari to review decision of Industrial Commission, Claim No. 0/9-80-68, denying reopening of petitioner's award for additional medical and compensation benefits. The Court of Appeals, Ogg, J., held that evidence supported Industrial Commission's determination that disability of claimant, who was overcome by fumes from a welding torch, was no different nor more aggravated than at time of original award for unscheduled permanent partial disability and that, although testimony of psychiatrist that claimant suffered from hysterical neurosis which was precipitated by his industrial injury might be new evidence, it did not constitute a new, additional or previously undiscovered condition that justified reopening of claimant's prior award.
Affirmed.
Hal Howard, Tucson, for petitioner.
William C. Wahl, Jr., Chief Counsel, The Industrial Commission of Ariz., Phoenix, for respondent.
Robert K. Park, Chief Counsel, State Compensation Fund, by Dee-Dee Samet, Phoenix, for respondent employer respondent carrier.
This appeal by writ of certiorari questions the validity of medical evidence supporting the Commission's decision denying the reopening of Harry M. Martin's award for additional medical and compensation benefits.
The record shows that on October 18, 1965 the petitioner was overcome by fumes from a welding torch while employed by respondent Reliable Electric Company. After the accident petitioner was treated by numerous doctors and on July 30, 1969 the Industrial Commission made an award for an unscheduled permanent partial disability.
In 1970 the petitioner requested a reopening of this case to secure additional benefits; after a hearing and review the Commission denied the petition to reopen and petitioner now brings this appeal.
Petitioner relies upon the testimony of Dr. Philip D. Greenbaum to show that he had a new, additional and previously undiscovered disability referable to his industrial injury. Dr. Greenbaum, a psychiatrist, testified that petitioner suffered from hysterical neurosis (conversion type) which was precipitated by his industrial injury. The doctor further testified that this conversion hysteria is purely psychological and not organic.
Dr. Nathan S. Kolins testified that he had been treating the petitioner for twenty years; that petitioner was totally disabled and that the present disability was caused or contributed to by the industrial injury. Dr. Kolins further testified that petitioner's functional complaints had increased since the accident but laboratory tests and x-rays indicated little change in his condition.
Dr. Thomas M. Forman, a specialist in internal medicine and pulmonary disease, testified that his findings were the same as Dr. Kolins' over the last several years and that petitioner's condition had not changed since the date of the accident. Dr. Forman did not think there were any functional overlay or psychological factors in petitioner's symptoms since all his complaints had an objective basis.
Dr. William Browlee, a specialist in surgery and diseases of the chest, testified that he was unable to detect much change in petitioner's condition from the date of the first examination in May, 1969 through the date of the last examination in March, 1971. He did testify that the petitioner had reported an increase in the frequency of episodes of syncope (fainting).
It is well settled that where there is a conflict of medical testimony the Commission, as trier of fact, may decide which expert to rely upon or believe. Johnson v. Industrial Commission, 107 Ariz. 338, 487 P.2d 759 (1971); Ossendorf v. Industrial Commission, 15 Ariz. App. 445, 489 P.2d 292 (1971); Lawson v. Industrial Commission, 12 Ariz. App. 546, 473 P.2d 471 (1970); Condos v. Industrial Commission, 92 Ariz. 299, 376 P.2d 767 (1962).
The Commission found that petitioner's disability was now no different nor more aggravated than at the time of the original award and that, although the testimony of Dr. Greenbaum may be new evidence, it did not constitute a new, additional or previously undiscovered condition that justified the reopening of petitioner's prior award. Black v. Industrial Commission, 89 Ariz. 273, 361 P.2d 402 (q961); White v. Industrial Commission, 7 Ariz. App. 243, 437 P.2d 995 (1968).
We find there was a conflict in the medical testimony and that there was evidence to support the Commission's decision not to reopen.
The decision of the Commission to deny the reopening of petitioner's claim is affirmed.
DONOFRIO, P.J., and STEVENS, J., concur.