Workmen's compensation — Evidence — Credibility of witnesses — Expert testimony — Findings of fact — Province of board and of courts — Appeals.
1. In a workmen's compensation case, the credibility of the respective expert witnesses and the weight to be attached to the testimony of each are matters exclusively for the board, and where any conflicts appear in their theories or opinions it is for the board to decide which conclusion it will adopt.
2. Where findings of fact approved and adopted by the board are supported by competent medical testimony and are consistent with each other and with the conclusions of law and order of the board, neither the court below nor the appellate court can set them aside or substitute different findings.
3. The final action of the board is what counts, and it is not material that the board, on a first appeal from the action of the referee denying compensation, sent the case back to the referee with instructions to obtain the evidence of an impartial, expert medical witness.
4. The findings of fact by the board, if supported by substantial, competent evidence, are just as binding on the court of common pleas and the appellate court when they are adverse to the claimant as when they are in his favor.
Workmen's compensation — Evidence — Burden of proof — Elements of case.
5. The burden is on the claimant to prove that he suffered an accident in the course of his employment, that he is disabled, and that the disability was caused by or resulted from the accident.
Argued March 9, 1943.
PER CURIAM, April 13, 1943:
The claimant in this workmen's compensation case is admittedly totally disabled. The disability is due to a coronary occlusion. The main question before the compensation authorities was whether the coronary occlusion was brought about by the exertion of pushing a half-ton bread truck, half-filled with bread, in order to start it when the mechanical starter would not work, or was the natural result of a diseased condition of his heart and arteries. That was a pure question of fact, the decision of which rested on the final fact-finding body, the board. There was competent medical testimony both ways. It was for the board to decide which view it would adopt. "The credibility of the respective expert witnesses and the weight to be attached to the testimony of each were matters exclusively for the board, and where any conflicts appeared in their theories or opinions it was for the board to decide which conclusion it would adopt": Coder v. Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Co., 142 Pa. Super. 407, 411, 412, 16 A.2d 662.
The board adopted the findings and conclusions of the referee and found that "claimant's disability is the result of a natural progression of a long existing heart condition, which had no connection, either directly or indirectly, with the alleged accident," and accordingly refused to award compensation. There is ample competent medical testimony in the record to sustain the finding.
It is of no consequence that the board, on the first appeal from the action of the referee denying compensation, sent the case back to the referee with instructions to obtain the evidence of an impartial, expert medical witness. That signified nothing more than that the board was unable or unwilling to decide the question of fact growing out of the conflicting testimony of the medical witnesses called by the claimant and the defendant respectively, without further evidence on the subject. The final action of the board is what counts, and, on the second appeal from the decision of the referee refusing compensation, the board was convinced by the evidence of the impartial expert, Dr. Cowley — which supported the testimony of Dr. Ervin, defendant's expert medical witness — that there was no causal connection between the pushing of the automobile in order to start it and the coronary occlusion which caused claimant's disability.
As the findings of fact approved and adopted by the board are supported by competent medical testimony and are consistent with each other and with the conclusions of law and order of the board, (Walsh v. Penn Anthracite Mining Co., 147 Pa. Super. 328, 333, 334, 24 A.2d 51), neither the court below nor this court can set them aside or substitute different findings.
The findings of fact of the board, if supported by substantial, competent evidence, are just as binding on the court of common pleas and this court when they are adverse to the claimant as when they are in his favor.
Joebon v. Reitz Coal Co., 136 Pa. Super. 25, 7 A.2d 11; Magiocco v. U.S. Aluminum Co., 131 Pa. Super. 341, 343, 200 A. 117; Wise v. Air Sho Radio Corp., 151 Pa. Super. 110, 112, 30 A.2d 211; Walsh v. Penn Anthracite Mining Co., 147 Pa. Super. 328, 333, 334, 24 A.2d 51; Coder v. Pittsbugh DesMoines Steel Co., 142 Pa. Super. 407, 411, 412, 16 A.2d 662; Icenhour v. Freedom Oil Works, 145 Pa. Super. 168, 170, 20 A.2d 817; Massich v. Keystone C. C. Co., 137 Pa. Super. 541, 543-545, 10 A.2d 98.
Hoosca v. Lytle Coal Co., 129 Pa. Super. 434, 436, 196 A. 892; Swalm v. J.H. Brokhoff, Inc., 145 Pa. Super. 218, 223, 20 A.2d 797; Love v. Elizabeth Coal Co., 151 Pa. Super. 13, 14, 28 A.2d 726; Johnson v. Valvoline Oil Co., 131 Pa. Super. 266, 200 A. 224; Russell v. Scott Paper Co., 140 Pa. Super. 84, 13 A.2d 81; Williams v. Susquehanna Collieries Co., 148 Pa. Super. 540, 544, 25 A.2d 751; Tomshuck v. Wallin Concrete Corp., 146 Pa. Super. 390, 23 A.2d 74; Plaugher v. American Viscose Co., 151 Pa. Super. 401, 30 A.2d 376.
The burden was on the claimant to prove all the elements of his case to the satisfaction of the board. See Walsh v. Penn Anthracite Mining Co., supra, p. 333. The case turned on the weight to be given the conflicting medical testimony. It was for the board to decide between the conflicting opinions as to the cause of the coronary occlusion and find the facts in accordance therewith. We cannot disturb its finding.
(1) That the claimant suffered an accident in the course of his employment; (2) that he is disabled; (3) that the disability was caused by or resulted from the accident.
The case is distinguishable on its facts from Good v. Penna. Dept. of Property and Supplies, 150 Pa. Super. 187, 199, 28 A.2d 25, affirmed 346 Pa. 151, referred to in the opinion of the court below, in that in that case the deceased employee was engaged in his regular line of work and there was not sufficient proof of an accident within the rulings of our Supreme Court to justify an award.
Judgment affirmed.
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