# West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation v. Mike Tencer

> West Virginia Supreme Court · January 22, 2025

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10786325

## Case

- **Court:** West Virginia Supreme Court
- **Decided:** January 22, 2025
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Nature of suit:** Workers Compensation
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

FILED
January 22, 2025
C. CASEY FORBES, CLERK
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA

West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation,
Employer Below, Petitioner

v.) No. 24-238 (JCN: 2019012901)
(ICA No. 23-ICA-493)

Mike Tencer,
Claimant Below, Respondent

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Petitioner West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“WVDCR”) appeals
the February 27, 2024, memorandum decision of the Intermediate Court of Appeals of West
Virginia (“ICA”). See West Virginia Department of Corrections1 v. Tencer, No. 23-ICA-493, 2024
WL 1588836 (W. Va. Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2024) (memorandum decision). Respondent Mike Tencer
filed a response.2 The issue on appeal is whether the ICA erred in affirming the October 11, 2023,
decision of the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review, which reversed the claim
administrator’s order granting respondent a 12% permanent partial disability (“PPD”) award and,
instead, granted him a 22% PPD award. Upon our review, we determine that oral argument is
unnecessary and that this case satisfies the “limited circumstances” requirement of Rule 21(d) of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure and is appropriate for vacation in a memorandum decision rather
than an opinion. See W. Va. R. App. P. 21.

On December 11, 2018, Mr. Tencer sustained a compensable injury when he fell from a
ladder and landed on his back and head. A CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis demonstrated
nondisplaced left L2, L4, and L5 transverse process fractures and a left iliac crest hematoma with
active bleeding. A CT scan of the cervical spine indicated mild generalized degenerative changes
with no acute findings. On December 27, 2018, the claim administrator held the claim
compensable for a laceration to the back of the head; left shoulder contusion; contusion to bilateral
elbows; transverse fractures of the L2, L4, and L5; and a hematoma to the left hip/buttocks.

1
The West Virginia Department of Corrections is now known as the West Virginia
Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
2
The petitioner is represented by counsel Steven K. Wellman and James W. Heslep, and
the respondent is represented by counsel Christopher J. Wallace.
1
On May 17, 2019, Mr. Tencer underwent an MRI which revealed significant multilevel
disc disease causing spinal and neural foraminal stenosis, moderate bilateral neural foraminal
stenosis at C6-C7 mild to moderate spinal stenosis; moderate right neural foraminal stenosis at C5-
C6; moderate spinal stenosis and moderate right neural foraminal stenosis at C4-C5; moderate left-
sided spinal stenosis, severe left-sided neural foraminal stenosis, and moderate right sided neural
foraminal stenosis at C3-C4. Subsequently, on June 18, 2019, the claim administrator issued a
Notice of Secondary Conditions adding various conditions to the claim, including cervical
radiculopathy with right C6 and bilateral C7 poly radiculopathy. Mr. Tencer underwent several
surgeries that were authorized by the claim administrator. First, “hemilaminectomies with keyhole
foraminotomies at the right C5-C6 level and bilaterally at the C6-C7 level,” were performed on
January 1, 2020. On July 1, 2020, Mr. Tencer underwent a second surgery, which consisted of an
anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at the C5-C6 and C6-C7 levels.

Jennifer L. Lultschik, M.D., performed an independent medical evaluation of Mr. Tencer
on March 10, 2021. Using the American Medical Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of
Permanent Impairment (4th ed. 1993) (“AMA Guides”) and West Virginia Code of State Rules §
85-20 (2006), Dr. Lultschik assessed 0% whole person impairment (“WPI”) for the laceration of
the head; 0% WPI for the unspecified head injury; 0% WPI for the left elbow contusion; 0% WPI
for cervical radiculopathy; and 15% WPI for transverse fractures of L2, L4, and L5, unspecified
fracture of the lumbar vertebra, and contusion of the low back and pelvis. By order dated March
25, 2021, the claim administrator granted Mr. Tencer a 15% PPD award based on Dr. Lultschik’s
report.

After undergoing a posterior cervical decompression at C3, C4, and C5, as well as partial
C6, and posterior cervical fusion surgery at C3-T1, Mr. Tencer was seen by Dr. Lultschik for a
second IME on July 18, 2022. Using the AMA Guides, Dr. Lultschik assessed the same amount
of WPI as it pertained to Mr. Tencer’s laceration of the head; unspecified head injury; left elbow
contusion; transverse fractures of L2, L4, and L5; unspecified fracture of the lumbar vertebra; and
contusion of the low back and pelvis as she had in her 2021 evaluation, Dr. Lultschik provided a
new impairment rating for the cervical radiculopathy diagnosis. Specifically, Dr. Lultschik found
that Mr. Tencer was entitled to 17% WPI for the decompressive surgery and two fusion surgeries
and five levels of operative intervention per Table 75 of the AMA Guides. Dr. Lultschik also found
that Mr. Tencer had 12% WPI related to range of motion deficits in the cervical spine. Combining
the two impairments resulted in 27% WPI for the diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy. Dr. Lultschik
then applied West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20 and found that Mr. Tencer qualified for
Cervical Category IV, allowing for 25-28% WPI, requiring no further adjustment.

Regarding apportionment, Dr. Lultschik noted Mr. Tencer’s preexisting history of
multilevel degenerative disc disease causing spinal and neural foraminal stenosis at multiple levels
and the lack of evidence of any acute injury to the cervical spine on the date of injury. Dr. Lultschik
opined that Mr. Tencer’s reported symptoms were difficult to explain and were more likely than
not related to his significant preexisting paresthesia and peripheral polyneuropathy. Accordingly,
Dr. Lultschik apportioned 13% to Mr. Tencer’s preexisting polyneuropathy and chronic
degenerative cervical changes and attributed 14% to the compensable injury. Dr. Lultschik
acknowledged that her present findings differed from her findings in the 2021 IME but noted that
2
Mr. Tencer had exhibited reduced range of motion in the cervical spine as compared to the prior
IME, which was directly attributable to the authorized multilevel posterior fusion.

Using the Combined Values Chart of the AMA Guides, Dr. Lultschik combined all of the
impairments for the accepted diagnoses and reached a total of 27% WPI. Dr. Lultschik subtracted
the 15% PPD award Mr. Tencer had previously received and recommended that he be granted an
additional 14% PPD award. However, Dr. Lultschik issued an addendum in which she noted an
error in her prior calculation and stated that Mr. Tencer would be entitled to an additional 12%
PPD award, not a 14% PPD award. The claim administrator issued a corrected order dated
September 13, 2022, in which it granted Mr. Tencer a 12% PPD award rather than the 14%
previously granted based on Dr. Lultschik’s report. Mr. Tencer protested the claim administrator’s
decision.

On November 3, 2022, Mr. Tencer underwent an independent medical evaluation
performed by Bruce Guberman, M.D. Dr. Guberman noted that he was asked to evaluate the
cervical spine only and, using the AMA Guides, assessed 17% WPI related to Mr. Tencer’s
surgeries per Table 75, 11% WPI for range of motion abnormalities, and 1% WPI for sensory
deficits. Using the Combined Values Chart, Dr. Guberman reached a total of 27% WPI. Dr.
Guberman then applied W. Va. C.S.R. § 85-20 and found that Mr. Tencer qualified for Cervical
Category IV, allowing for 25-28% WPI, requiring no further adjustment. Dr. Guberman noted Mr.
Tencer’s history of a radiculopathy diagnosis, but attributed it to the compensable injury. Dr.
Guberman opined that nothing should be apportioned for Mr. Tencer’s peripheral neuropathy, and
he opined that degenerative changes alone on imaging studies of the cervical spine “would not
entitle [Mr. Tencer] to an impairment rating based on either the range-of-motion model nor Table
85-0-E.” However, because Mr. Tencer had a history of neck pain in the past, Dr. Guberman
apportioned 5% WPI to preexisting conditions and attributed 22% impairment to the injury, which
was his final recommendation. Dr. Guberman did not address Mr. Tencer’s prior lumbar spine
award.

By order dated October 11, 2023, the Board of Review reversed the claim administrator’s
September 13, 2022, order and granted Mr. Tencer an additional 22% PPD award in accordance
with Dr. Guberman’s report. The Board of Review found that the evidence indicated that
apportionment should occur in this case because the records established preexisting cervical spine
conditions. The main difference between the reports of Dr. Lultschik and Dr. Guberman was how
much to apportion due to preexisting conditions. Ultimately, the Board of Review concluded that
Dr. Lultschik’s report was not reliable or supported by the evidence of record. Specifically, it was
noted that Dr. Lultschik acknowledged that cervical radiculopathy is a compensable condition in
the claim, that Dr. Lultschik opined that 17% WPI was warranted based on Mr. Tencer having
undergone three surgeries alone, and that Dr. Lultschik determined that Mr. Tencer’s range of
motion deficits were attributable to the surgeries. Based on these findings, the Board of Review
determined that Dr. Lultschik’s opinion that half, or roughly 13%, was attributable to preexisting
conditions was not supported by the record. In contrast, the Board of Review found Dr.
Guberman’s recommendation that 5% WPI should be attributed to preexisting degenerative
changes to be reliable and supported by the evidence. As such, the Board of Review reversed the

3
claim administrator’s order and granted Mr. Tencer a 22% PPD award based upon Dr. Guberman’s
recommendation.

In a memorandum decision dated February 27, 2024, the ICA affirmed the Board of
Review’s October 11, 2023, decision granting Mr. Tencer a 22% PPD award. The ICA reasoned
that Dr. Guberman’s values combined to 27% and needed no further adjustment when applying
West Virginia Code of State Rules § 85-20, with 5% apportioned to preexisting conditions. The
ICA also noted that the Board of Review determined that Dr. Guberman’s apportionment was more
persuasive than Dr. Lultschik’s decision to apportion 13% WPI, approximately half of her total
recommendation, to preexisting conditions. The ICA concluded that the Board of Review was not
clearly wrong to rely on Dr. Guberman’s report, especially considering that cervical radiculopathy
is a compensable condition in the claim, the related surgeries were authorized in the claim, and
that, while Mr. Tencer had a documented history of preexisting conditions, he was able to maintain
employment and had no significant loss of activities of daily living before the underlying injury.

In considering arguments about the Combined Values Chart, the ICA found no merit in
WVDCR’s assertion that the Board of Review erred in relying on Dr. Guberman’s report when he
did not combine the impairments for Mr. Tencer’s lumbar and cervical spine. The ICA concluded
that Mr. Tencer failed to meet its burden, and stated, “While the Combined Values Chart must be
applied when rating multiple regions of the body at the same time, none of the authority cited by
WVDCR requires application of the Combined Values Chart when subsequently rating another
region.” The ICA noted that Mr. Tencer had already been granted a PPD award for his lumbar
spine. When the time came to evaluate Mr. Tencer for his cervical spine impairment following his
surgery, Dr. Guberman noted that he was asked to rate only Mr. Tencer’s cervical spine. The ICA
ultimately concluded that Dr. Guberman did not err in the manner in which he assessed Mr. Tencer
and, consequently, found that the Board of Review did not err in relying on Dr. Guberman’s report.
Finding no error in the Board of Review’s decision, the ICA affirmed July 17, 2023, order.

This Court reviews questions of law de novo, while we accord deference to the Board of
Review’s findings of fact unless the findings are clearly wrong. See Syl. Pt. 3, Duff v. Kanawha
Cnty. Comm’n, 250 W. Va. 510, 905 S.E.2d 528 (2024). West Virginia Code § 23-4-9b provides
that, unless there is a permanent total disability, a preexisting disease or injury “shall not be taken
into consideration in fixing the amount of compensation allowed by reason of the subsequent
injury.” In Syllabus Point 6 of Duff, we held that

[u]nder West Virginia Code § 23-4-9b (2003), the employer has the burden
of proving apportionment is warranted in a workers’ compensation case. This
requires the employer to prove the claimant “has a definitely ascertainable
impairment resulting from” a preexisting condition(s). This requires that employer
prove that the preexisting condition(s) contributed to the claimant’s overall
impairment after the compensable injury and prove the degree of impairment
attributable to the claimant’s preexisting condition(s).

250 W. Va. at 512, 905 S.E.2d at 530.

4
On appeal to this Court, WVDCR argues that the Board of Review’s decision was clearly
wrong and contrary to the preponderance of the evidence because the degree of whole person
impairment is to be calculated upon principles of the AMA Guides, including the Combined
Values Chart. As such, the adoption of Dr. Guberman’s impairment rating for the cervical spine,
without application of the Combined Values Chart, is wrong on its face. In addition, WVDCR
contends that the ICA improperly dismissed its argument regarding apportionment for preexisting
impairment on the grounds that cervical radiculopathy is a compensable diagnosis, which
disregards the fact that any given diagnosis may be both preexisting and compensable. Finally,
WVDCR asserts that a clear preponderance of the evidence supports that cervical radiculopathy is
a preexisting condition, which may or may not have been aggravated or worsened by the
compensable injury, and there is sufficient evidence upon which the preexisting impairment could
be definitely ascertained. Mr. Tencer counters by arguing that the Board of Review and ICA were
well within their discretion to honor Dr. Guberman’s 5% apportionment for preexisting
impairment. Mr. Tencer also contends that the reductions made by Dr. Lultschik are not well
supported, and therefore not as reliable as the rating of Dr. Guberman. In regard to the use of the
Combined Values Chart, Mr. Tencer asserts that nothing prevents the claims administrator from
combining the 22% for the cervical spine with the earlier 15% awarded for the low back, to reach
an impairment of 34%.

Following this Court’s decision in Duff, a new method for apportioning definitely
ascertained impairments to multiple body parts under West Virginia Code § 23-4-9b was
established. See Syl. Pt. 2, Logan-Mingo Area Mental Health, Inc. v. Lester, 250 W. Va. 219, 902
S.E.2d 768 (2024). In Lester, we held:

When a claimant has preexisting, definitely ascertained impairments to
multiple body parts and then sustains new compensable injuries that affect the
previously impaired body parts, the proper method for apportioning the preexisting
impairments is to first determine the claimant’s total, unapportioned whole-person
impairment using the Combined Values Chart of the American Medical
Association’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (4th ed. 1993).
Then, the total amount of the claimant’s preexisting impairment that has been
definitely ascertained must be deducted from the total, unapportioned whole-person
impairment to calculate the amount of the claimant’s Permanent Partial Disability
award.

250 W. Va. at ---, 902 S.E. 2d at 769, Syl. Pt. 2.

In the case at hand, the evidence provides that Mr. Tencer has an undisputed history of
preexisting medical conditions which contributed to his overall impairment. Dr. Lultschik and Dr.
Guberman both found 27% whole person impairment for the cervical spine, before apportionment.
However, there remains a question as to whether the preexisting conditions contributed to Mr.
Tencer’s overall impairment after the compensable injury, and the amount of impairment
attributable to those preexisting conditions. Because the ICA’s decision was issued prior to this
Court’s holding in Duff, we vacate the decisions of both the ICA and the Board of Review and

5
remand the case to the Board of Review for further development of the evidentiary record and
analysis under Duff and Lester.

Vacated and remanded with directions.

ISSUED: January 22, 2025

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice William R. Wooton
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice C. Haley Bunn
Justice Charles S. Trump IV

DISSENTING:

Justice Tim Armstead

ARMSTEAD, Justice, dissenting:
The majority determines that under the Court’s holding in Duff v. Kanawha Cnty. Comm’n,
250 W. Va. 510, 905 S.E.2d 528 (2024), the February 27, 2024, memorandum decision of the
Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia1 must be vacated and the case must be remanded
for further evidentiary development. See Syl. Pt. 6, Duff (“Under West Virginia Code § 23-4-9b
(2003), the employer has the burden of proving apportionment is warranted in a workers’
compensation case. This requires the employer to prove the claimant ‘has a definitely ascertainable
impairment resulting from’ a preexisting condition(s). This requires that employer prove that the
preexisting condition(s) contributed to the claimant’s overall impairment after the compensable
injury and prove the degree of impairment attributable to the claimant’s preexisting condition(s).”).
While I agree that applying our ruling in Duff leads to this result, I dissent because I disagree with
the Court’s holding in Duff. As I explained in my separate opinion in that case:
the majority’s interpretation of West Virginia Code § 23-4-9b is not
supported by the plain language of the statute or by our long-
standing recognition that a workers compensation claimant has the
burden of proof, [therefore] I disagree with the majority’s ruling that
the employer bears the burden to prove (1) that the claimant has a
definitely ascertainable impairment resulting from a preexisting
condition; (2) that the preexisting condition contributed to the
claimant's overall impairment after the compensable injury; and (3)

1
See West Virginia Department of Corrections v. Tencer, No. 23-ICA-493, 2024
WL 1588836 (W. Va. Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2024) (memorandum decision).
6
the precise degree of impairment that is attributable to the
preexisting condition.
By shifting the burden to the employer, the majority is
treating apportionment as an affirmative defense. West Virginia
Code § 23-4-9b does not contain any language providing that
apportionment should be treated as an affirmative defense that the
employer is responsible for asserting.
Duff, 250 W. Va. at ____, 905 S.E.2d at 542-43 (Armstead, C.J., concurring, in part, and
dissenting, in part).
By applying our ruling in Duff to the present case, I believe that this Court continues to
misapply the plain language of West Virginia Code § 23-4-9b. Therefore, I dissent.

7

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10786325. Public record. Not legal advice.