The opinion
TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AT KNOXVILLE
BRIAN COX, Docket No. 2025-30-3946
Employee,
v. State File No. 26796-2021
LOWE’S INVESTMENT
CORPORATION, Judge Lisa A. Lowe
Employer.
EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER DENYING BENEFITS
In this accepted claim, Mr. Cox seeks a panel of psychiatrists for a mental
injury, back surgery, and temporary disability benefits. For the reasons below, the
Court holds Mr. Cox did not prove that he is likely to prevail on these benefits at a
hearing on the merits.
Claim History
On March 18, 2021, Mr. Cox was loading 100 bags of concrete. While lifting,
he felt a pop followed by back pain. Lowe’s authorized treatment with several
neurosurgeons, as the first two retired.
Only the second neurosurgeon recommended surgery to treat Mr. Cox’s back
and left leg pain. But Mr. Cox declined surgery. Later, when he decided to undergo
surgery, that neurosurgeon had retired and Dr. Jody Helms was treating Mr. Cox.
Dr. Helms thought surgery would be aggressive and would not guarantee any
significant improvement in Mr. Cox’s back or leg pain. Instead, he recommended
continued conservative management.
During treatment with Dr. Helms, Mr. Cox saw his primary care provider, Dr.
Douglas Davis, who observed Mr. Cox’s “increasing sadness from his inability to
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work and [that] he should see a psychiatrist.” Dr. Helms referenced Dr. Davis’s
psychiatrist referral and Mr. Cox’s depression about being fired. However, he did
not adopt the referral or relate it to the work injury.
On March 26, 2026, Dr. Helms assigned restrictions of no lifting more than
15 pounds, repetitive bending, stooping, or squatting, and the ability to change
positions on an as-needed basis.
After an evaluation, Dr. C.M. Salekin recommended back surgery and
psychiatric care for the work injury.
Mr. Cox testified that he could not perform his job at Lowe’s. He applied for
several positions but has not found employment within his restrictions. He also
testified that he suffers daily from back pain and depression.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
At an expedited hearing, Mr. Cox must show that he is likely to prevail at a
hearing on the merits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2025)1; McCord v.
Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9
(Mar. 27, 2015).
Mr. Cox requested a panel of psychiatrists. However, psychological or
psychiatric services “shall be limited to those ordered” by the authorized treating
physician. Id. § 50-6-204(h).
Here, Mr. Cox’s primary care physician referred him to psychiatric care.
Although Dr. Helms mentioned that referral, he did not adopt the referral or relate it
to the work injury. Similarly, while Dr. Salekin recommended a psychiatric
evaluation, he is not the authorized treating physician either.
Regardless, the circumstances of Mr. Cox’s mental injury do not meet the
statutory definition of a mental injury, which is defined in section 50-6-102(15) as
follows:
[A] loss of mental faculties or a mental or behavioral disorder, arising
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Mr. Cox argued the 2021 statutes should apply based on his date of injury. However, the 2021
statutes relating to mental injuries, § 50-6-102(17) and § 50-6-204(h), are identical to the 2025
statutes about mental injuries, § 50-6-102(15) and § 50-6-204(h).
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primarily out of a compensable physical injury or an identifiable work-related
event resulting in a sudden or unusual stimulus, and shall not include a
psychological or psychiatric response due to the loss of employment or
employment opportunities.” (Emphasis added).
Mr. Cox told Dr. Davis that he was depressed because he could not work, and
Dr. Helms referenced Mr. Cox’s depression about being fired because he could not
stand for long periods. Apparently, the root of Mr. Cox’s depression is his inability
to work, which is not covered under the statute.
Given that his authorized physician has not made a psychiatric referral and
the circumstances do not meet the statutory definition of a mental injury, Mr. Cox is
not likely to prevail at trial on a panel of psychiatrists.
Regarding the requested surgery, the authorized treating physician has not
ordered nor recommended surgery at this time. However, Dr. Salekin thinks Mr.
Cox would benefit from the surgery.
When medical testimony conflicts, “it is within the discretion of the trial judge
to conclude that the opinion of certain experts should be accepted over that of other
experts and that [the accepted opinion] contains the more probable explanation.”
Goodman v. Schwarz Paper Co., 2018 Tenn. LEXIS 8, at *8 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp.
Panel Jan. 18, 2018). Additionally, it seems reasonable that the physician having
greater contact with the employee would have the advantage and opportunity to
provide a more in-depth opinion, if not a more accurate one. Orman v. Williams
Sonoma, Inc., 803 S.W.2d 672, 677 (Tenn. 1991).
Here, Dr. Helms is the authorized treating neurosurgeon and has treated Mr.
Cox. Dr. Salekin did not; he was hired to perform an evaluation. The Court credits
Dr. Helms’s records over Dr. Salekin’s report. So, Mr. Cox is not likely to prevail
at trial on entitlement to back surgery.
Dr. Helms assigned Mr. Cox restrictions, so he might be entitled to temporary
partial disability benefits. To obtain those benefits, Mr. Cox must show that his
treating physician returned him to work with restrictions that Lowe’s either could
not or would not accommodate. Jones v. Crencor Leasing and Sales, 2015 TN Wrk.
Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7, 8 (Dec. 11, 2015). Mr. Cox testified that he could
not perform his regular job duties at Lowe’s. However, he did not testify that he
informed Lowe’s of his restrictions to see if they could or would offer
accommodated duty. Thus, Mr. Cox is not likely to prevail on temporary disability
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benefits at this time.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:
1. The Court denies Mr. Cox’s request for a panel of psychiatrists, back surgery,
and temporary benefits at this time.
2. The Court sets this matter for a Status/Scheduling Hearing on August 18,
2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The parties must call 855-383-0003 to
participate.
ENTERED April 21, 2026.
____________________________________
JUDGE LISA A. LOWE
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
APPENDIX
Exhibits:
1. Affidavit of Brian Cox
2. Panels of Physicians
3. Form C-32 of Dr. C.M. Salekin
4. Medical Records of Abercrombie Radiology
5. Medical Records of Blount Memorial Hospital
6. Medical Records of Campbell Clinic
7. Medical Records of Dr. Douglas Davis
8. Medical Records of Dr. Paul Johnson
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of this order was sent as shown on April 21, 2026.
Name Mail Email Service sent to:
David H. Dunaway, X dhdunaway@aol.com
Employee’s Attorney
Allison P. King, X apking@mijs.com
Employer’s Attorney
____________________________________
PENNY SHRUM, COURT CLERK
wc.courtclerk@tn.gov
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Right to Appeal:
If you disagree with the Court’s Order, you may appeal to the Workers’ Compensation
Appeals Board. To do so, you must:
1. Complete the enclosed form entitled “Notice of Appeal” and file it with the Clerk of the
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims before the expiration of the deadline.
¾ If the order being appealed is “expedited” (also called “interlocutory”), or if the
order does not dispose of the case in its entirety, the notice of appeal must be filed
within seven (7) business days of the date the order was filed.
¾ If the order being appealed is a “Compensation Order,” or if it resolves all issues
in the case, the notice of appeal must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days of
the date the Compensation Order was filed.
When filing the Notice of Appeal, you must serve a copy on the opposing party (or attorney,
if represented).
2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten calendar
days after filing the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person at any Bureau office
or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In the alternative, you may file an
Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the Bureau’s website or any Bureau office)
seeking a waiver of the filing fee. You must file the fully-completed Affidavit of Indigency
within ten calendar days of filing the Notice of Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing
fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency will result in dismissal of your appeal.
3. You are responsible for ensuring a complete record is presented on appeal. If no court
reporter was present at the hearing, you may request from the Court Clerk the audio
recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. If you choose to submit a transcript as part of your
appeal, which the Appeals Board has emphasized is important for a meaningful review of
the case, a licensed court reporter must prepare the transcript, and you must file it with the
Court Clerk. The Court Clerk will prepare the record for submission to the Appeals Board,
and you will receive notice once it has been submitted. For deadlines related to the filing of
transcripts, statements of the evidence, and briefs on appeal, see the applicable rules on the
Bureau’s website at https://www.tn.gov/wcappealsboard. (Click the “Read Rules” button.)
4. After the Workers’ Compensation Judge approves the record and the Court Clerk transmits
it to the Appeals Board, a docketing notice will be sent to the parties.
If neither party timely files an appeal with the Appeals Board, the Court Order
becomes enforceable. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(3) (expedited/interlocutory
orders) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7) (compensation orders).
For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
NOTICE OF APPEAL
Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/
wc.courtclerk@tn.gov | 1-800-332-2667
Docket No.: ________________________
State File No.: ______________________
Date of Injury: _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Employee
v.
___________________________________________________________________________
Employer
Notice is given that ____________________________________________________________________
[List name(s) of all appealing party(ies). Use separate sheet if necessary.]
appeals the following order(s) of the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims to the
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board;ĐŚĞĐŬŽŶĞŽƌŵŽƌĞĂƉƉůŝĐĂďůĞďŽdžĞƐĂŶĚŝŶĐůƵĚĞƚŚĞĚĂƚĞĨŝůĞͲ
ƐƚĂŵƉĞĚŽŶƚŚĞĨŝƌƐƚƉĂŐĞŽĨƚŚĞŽƌĚĞƌ;ƐͿďĞŝŶŐĂƉƉĞĂůĞĚͿ͗
ප Expedited Hearing Order filed on _______________ ප Motion Order filed on ___________________
ප Compensation Order filed on__________________ ප Other Order filed on_____________________
issued by Judge _________________________________________________________________________.
Statement of the Issues on Appeal
Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Parties
Appellant(s) (Requesting Party): _________________________________________ ܆Employer ܆Employee
Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________
Email: __________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: ______________________________________________ BPR#: _______________________
Attorney’s Email: ______________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellant *
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Employee Name: _______________________________________ Docket No.: _____________________ Date of Inj.: _______________
Appellee(s) (Opposing Party): ___________________________________________ ܆Employer ܆Employee
Appellee’s Address: ______________________________________________ Phone: ____________________
Email: _________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: _____________________________________________ BPR#: ________________________
Attorney’s Email: _____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellee *
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, _____________________________________________________________, certify that I have forwarded a
true and exact copy of this Notice of Appeal by First Class mail, postage prepaid, or in any manner as described
in Tennessee Compilation Rules & Regulations, Chapter 0800-02-21, to all parties and/or their attorneys in this
case on this the __________ day of ___________________________________, 20 ____.
______________________________________________
[Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]
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