The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board hears appeals of Orders issued by judges of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims. Three judges appointed by the Governor sit on the Appeals Board, and it operates separately from the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims.
The Appeals Board says its mission centres on fair, accurate, meaningful review for Tennessee employers and employees. It reviews cases with injury dates on or after July 1, 2014.
In Anderson, Bennie v. City of Knoxville Department of Recreation, the Appeals Board upheld a decision denying further medical treatment and temporary disability benefits to a public-sector worker who tied multiple conditions to a workplace fall.
The case stems from a June 2022 accident involving Bennie Anderson, a knuckle-boom truck driver for the City of Knoxville Department of Recreation. Anderson slipped while exiting his truck, landed on his feet, then hit the ground. The city accepted the injury as compensable and covered treatment and temporary disability connected to his neck, back, and shoulders, according to Anderson.
Authorised physicians pursued conservative care, including imaging and physical therapy, with no surgery. Diagnostic reviews pointed to degenerative findings rather than acute trauma.
One physician reported no surgical pathology. Another said Anderson’s pain complaints exceeded what imaging supported and declined to recommend surgery.
Doctors later placed Anderson at maximum medical improvement and cleared him to return to work. One physician assigned a 4% whole-person impairment rating tied to a cervical spine condition, and that conclusion triggered disagreement.
Anderson then sought what the ruling described as unauthorised medical care. He requested additional benefits for gastroparesis, hypertension, seizures, and a hernia, and he argued the conditions flowed from the workplace fall.
The city pushed back, denying responsibility and pointing to a lack of medical causation and Anderson’s MMI status.
The Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims held an expedited hearing and concluded Anderson looked unlikely to succeed at trial. The judge found he failed to produce expert medical testimony connecting the additional conditions to the original injury.
