(1) Workers' Compensation — Industrial Commission Awards Findings of Fact. — The factual findings of the Industrial Commission are binding on an appellate court when supported by credible evidence.
(2) Workers' Compensation — Costs of Treatment — Change of Physicians. — An employer is not responsible for the cost of treatment by a second physician selected by the claimant without authorization; a claimant is required to accept the attending physician unless otherwise ordered by the Industrial Commission.
SUMMARY
The Industrial Commission denied the claimant's application for a change of condition, finding that his work incapacity following a nonwork related accident was not attributable to an earlier work related accident. The Commission also ruled that the employer was not responsible for the cost of treatment by a physician selected without authority.
The Court of Appeals affirmed, holding that the Commission's factual finding that the incapacity was not related to the work related accident was supported by credible evidence. The Court also held that the employer was not responsible for the cost of treatment by a second physician selected by the claimant.
Affirmed.
OPINION
Per Curiam[fn1] [fn1] Panel decision rendered by Barrow, J., Coleman, J. and Duff, J.
This is an appeal of the Industrial Commission's decision affirming a deputy commissioner's denial of a claimant's application for a change of condition. Colston Jackson (claimant) questions the Commission's findings that his work incapacity following a non-work related accident was not attributable to an earlier work related accident. Claimant also disputes the Commission's conclusion that his employer is not responsible for the cost of treatment by a second physician selected without the employer's authority.
The claimant, injured first on November 14, 1983, received compensation until he returned to work on January 13, 1984. He re-injured his back on February 28, 1984, while lifting furniture at his apartment. Claimant was treated by his attending physician until it was determined that he was employable on April 17, 1984. Then, without authority from the employer, claimant sought and received treatment from a second physician who determined that he could not return to work until August 20, 1984.
(1) The Commission found that the claimant did not establish by a preponderance of the evidence that his incapacity from the non-work related accident was related to the work related accident. This factual finding was based on credible evidence and is binding on this court. Code Sec. 65.1-98.
The Commission also noted that under Rule 13 of the Commission Rules, compensation may not be paid for a period more than 50 days prior to the filing of an application for change of condition. Since the application was filed on June 14, 1984, compensation could not have been awarded prior to April 26, 1984, at which time the treating physician had already found the claimant able to return to work.
(2) In addition, the Commission was correct in concluding that the employer was not responsible for the cost of treatment by the second physician since the claimant changed physicians without authority and without justification. A claimant is required to "accept the attending physician, unless otherwise ordered by the Industrial Commission. . ." Code Sec. 65.1-88. Furthermore, an "unjustified refusal to accept such medical service . . ." bars an employee from further compensation until such refusal ceases. Code Sec. 65.1-88.
There being no error in the award appealed from, the award will be affirmed.
Affirmed.