Opinion
No. 043883-01.
November 16, 2005
REVIEWING BOARD DECISION
(Judges Fabricant, McCarthy and Horan)
APPEARANCES
Walter J. Avis, Esq., for the employee
John A. Morrissey, Esq., for the insurer
The insurer appeals from a decision in which an administrative judge awarded the employee workers' compensation benefits for an injury that, arguably, was subject to the heightened causation provisions of § 1(7A) for industrial injuries that combine with pre-existing, non-compensable medical conditions. Because the judge failed to adequately address the many elements of the fourth sentence of § 1(7A), we recommit the case.
General Laws c. 152, § 1(7A), provides, in relevant part:
If a compensable injury or disease combines with a pre-existing condition, which resulted from an injury or disease not compensable under this chapter, to cause or prolong disability or a need for treatment, the resultant condition shall be compensable only to the extent such compensable injury or disease remains a major but not necessarily predominant cause of disability or need for treatment.
The employee suffered an industrial accident on July 23, 2001, when she injured her back moving a bed. At the time of this injury, the employee had pre-existing conditions of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as back problems due to a slip and fall at work on February 17, 2000. (Dec. 5, 7.) The insurer raised § 1(7A) at hearing. (Tr. I at 7.) See Saulnier v. New England Window and Door, 17 Mass. Workers' Comp. Rep. 453, 459-460 (2003). Although benefits were awarded for the July 23, 2001 injury, the administrative judge did not make any findings as to whether the § 1(7A) standard of "a major" cause applied and, if so, whether it was met. (Dec. 7-8.)
The absence of findings addressing the various elements of § 1(7A) requires us to recommit the case for the judge to perform that task. In Viera v. D'Agostino Assocs., 19 Mass. Workers' Comp. Rep. 50 (2005), we set out a detailed map of the analysis needed to address the heightened § 1(7A) standard of "a major cause." In a nutshell, that analysis requires findings as to:
[W]hether the employee's [fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and back problems] are 1) "pre-existing condition[s], which resulted from an injury or disease not compensable under the chapter," which 2) "combine with" the [July 23, 2001] work injury ("a compensable injury or disease")" to cause or prolong disability or a need for treatment;" and, if so, 3) whether that "compensable injury or disease remains a major but not necessarily predominant cause of disability or need for treatment." § 1(7A).
Viera, supra at 52-53. Each stage of the analysis includes its own set of pitfalls which we previously alluded to inViera, and the cases cited therein. See id. at 53.
Because the administrative judge failed to adequately address § 1(7A), we recommit the case for further findings consistent withViera. We summarily affirm the decision with regard to the other issues argued by the insurer on appeal.
So ordered.
_______________________________ Bernard W. Fabricant Administrative Law Judge
______________________________ William A. McCarthy Administrative Law Judge
______________________________ Mark D. Horan Administrative Law Judge