Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
No. 05-1781
NEWPORT NEWS
COMPANY,
SHIPBUILDING
AND
DRY
DOCK
Petitioner,
versus
STEVEN YOUNG; DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS
COMPENSATION PROGRAMS,
Respondents.
Argued:
Decided:
September 8, 2006
In the
I.
A.
This case arises from Youngs employment as a welder with
Newport News, which began on June 19, 1977.
(J.A. at 90.)
On
February 25, 1988, Young injured his right wrist when a piece of
company equipment fell on him.
(J.A. at 211.)
Young went to
(J.A. at 98.)
(J.A. at 320.)
(J.A. at 104-05.)
(J.A. at 105.)
after the wrist injury but before the surgery, Young sustained a
left elbow contusion. (J.A. at 232.)
On July 20, 1988, while still working for Newport News, Dr. J.
Paul Muizalaar diagnosed Young with TOS, a nerve damage syndrome
that affected Young in both arms. (J.A. at 344.)
January
16,
1990,
Dr.
E.W.
Winfrey
performed
rib
(J.A. at
resection surgery for the TOS, this time on his left side.
at 111, 401-05.)
(J.A.
(J.A. at 418.)
(J.A. at 484-86.)
B.
Young filed claims for his right wrist and left elbow injury
in 1988, (J.A. at 210-13, 217-18.), for which Newport News agreed
to pay ten percent for permanent partial disability.
220.)
(J.A. at
(J.A. at 8-24.)
found that the TOS and herniated cervical disc were both workrelated. (J.A. at 19.)
(J.A. at 29.)
asserted that the TOS and herniated cervical disc were not workrelated injuries.
(J.A. at 30.)
argued that if the Board affirmed the ALJs finding that the
injuries were work-related, Newport News should be entitled to
section 8(f) (J.A. at 30.)
The Board modified the ALJs order to reflect that Young was
entitled to temporary total disability from January 18, 2000, to
July 27, 2000, vacated the ALJs holding on the issue of whether
Newport News had established availability of suitable alternate
employment prior to July 27, 2000, and remanded the issue for
further consideration by the ALJ. (J.A. at 36.) The Board affirmed
the ALJs holding on all other issues. (J.A. at 36.)
On remand, the ALJ held that Newport News had failed to
satisfy its burden of establishing suitable alternate employment
for Young between 1992 and 1998.
(J.A. at 45.)
2003, order, the Board remanded the case to the ALJ solely for a
determination of the suitability of certain positions for Young.
(J.A. at 56.)
respects.
(J.A. at 56.)
II.
In reviewing an issue decided by the Board, this Courts
consideration is limited to whether the correct legal standards
were properly applied in making the decision, whether the decision
was supported by substantial evidence, and whether the decision was
rational.
Cir. 1991).
Inspection Serv., 990 F.2d 140, 144 (4th Cir. 1993) (internal
quotation marks and citations omitted).
III.
7
found, and the Board affirmed, that the record clearly shows that
[Newport News], through the various physicians to whom it referred
[Young], subsumed under either of the 1988 claims all treatments
and
surgeries
condition.
related
to
(J.A. at 31.)
[Youngs]
TOS
and
cervical
spine
We agree.
Although the
The
and
of
confining
the
issues
to
be
tried
and
Id.
(J.A. at 229.)
(J.A. at 218.)
Viewed
already observed, the ALJ found that the diagnosis of Youngs TOS
and herniated cervical disc, which were diagnosed while Young was
being treated for the wrist and elbow injury, actually subsumed the
claims.
(J.A. at 31.)
(J.A. at 31.)
sought benefits for his pain, which merely originated with the
wrist
and
diagnosed
elbow
as
injuries
other
claimed
conditions.
and
Thus,
which
the
subsequently
[ALJ]
was
rationally
(J.A. at 32.)
injuries were covered under the paperwork of his wrist and elbow
injuries; and the claims before [the ALJ] encompassed all of
[Youngs] claims.
(J.A. at 31.)
10
is
supported
by
substantial
evidence,
and
that
the
IV.
Newport News next argues that the awarding of benefits based
on Youngs cervical disc condition was improper because there is no
evidence in the record that the injury was work-related.2
We are
unconvinced.
Section 920(a) provides in pertinent part, In any proceeding
for the enforcement of a claim for compensation under this chapter
it shall be presumed, in the absence of substantial evidence to the
contrary . . . [t]hat the claim comes within the provisions of this
chapter.
33 U.S.C. 920(a).
with substantial evidence that his TOS and cervical disc injuries
were work-related, and absent substantial evidence from Newport
News to the contrary, the presumption remains that Youngs claim
comes within the provisions of [the Act].
Universal Maritime
(J.A. at 19.)
V.
Newport
News
also
contends
that
Youngs
injuries
are
the Board in its March 18, 2002, decision, Youngs TOS and cervical
spine conditions are work-related and therefore compensable. (J.A.
at 33.)
schedule.
these points.
VI.
Finally, as an alternative argument, Newport News asserts that
if we determine that Young is entitled to the benefits detailed
above, then Newport News should be allowed to seek section 8(f)
relief.
We disagree.
partial
disability
is
materially
and
substantially
Id.
Id. at 185.
In essence, an employer
Id.
(J.A. at 35.)
Moreover, nowhere in
the record nor in the proceedings before the ALJ or the Board does
Newport News tangibly quantify Youngs injuries from which a basis
for pre-existing disability could be set.
is
legally
insufficient
to
satisfy
the
contribution
VII.
Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, the judgment below is
affirmed.
AFFIRMED
14
U.S.
Young
sought
benefits
for
TOS
and
cervical
spine
J.A.
15
LHWCA actions.
Id.
Id. (quoting 3
See id.
I must disagree.
Id.
16
17