Apostolovic v Workers' Compensation Board of Queensland [1997] ICQ 14 (1997) 155 QGIG 235

16 ?\fay. 1997 Qta-+>lSLAND GOVER~~1ENT INDt1STRTAL GAZETTE 235 JndusrriaI Re/at.ion< Au I 990 c,.; i 18( JI appe<il from decision ;__:,.f :nduq;i,tl magi~ tr:Jtc f'hc appd lam appc:1 h in _1\'~T1:ft ,;t' ,__:nmpen,;,mon .ICDCiMENl Tj·;,:_: Cr'.'£ dec:\::nn wa...; a icfusal to compen:-aate the :~ppc!Lrnt Fl rc:,,pcct (;,f a h)'.A,f'r lu7;·,bar disi..: pn)iap:-.c ;ilk.gcdly n::suhing frcnn a s.net'I.<::' en 15 JJ.im<.1r:, ( l/)) t ,uhick ~rnd unrdated tn the worl,.. en\<rnnrrh~nt The ;:;,ppdbnt COIHt.:ndcd be.Jore the tvh.gi:,,t;·Jtt.~ rhat the in/1ry then -~u::-Lu11cd ;1.ggra'/akd ztn ir:.iury \L• );i, i<.J\,:l'f' !"'<-1<..:k .1...uffer~~d ,_·::..u-Jic.:_:·, un ! /\Uf'..il't ! qq3_ )r; lht' c;-1ur~c of hi\ !..."i!ir:J,y..,:--ncm. Tb:, \L~gi:,,t:-:ik fcund, hr:\\ev~'L -::hut the pniLp:-t' un l ~ .LrntL.i: \ 11.y;_,s re'-:ultcd fn•n: ongoing (kgenc-rat}\'•, dJiH\:.?t..>: \vhich \'-_.L::rc lir:n•i;t 1 fl~ :o \-\\,Jk. J.nd 1htTt.'.fnn: rdUscd the cbini. The :·C;,.J/:H.1 dcci,ic•n \.Vlt> the :'vi<i,gi:;tr~ire's J('fu.-.._:Li tc• 1e,.,1pcn the daim in rc:;,,pcn of the injury 0f l AugtFi ! 99J. Th1,~ appelbnt "'O!ili:·nckd 1har that c~1riier i'.1_iniy had lwi:n :1g,~)<1\·~1tt.J by the rnjnry c,f 1,:; Janriary 199_::._ The ~ipp....---'.L...nt b:1J ~,uffcred th•; back inJUlY \El l Auz_!:l.L"-t 1993 ½hilt: working dt the ()Ed Hu,p1lill T'he ;\1agi:~rr:1k foun,l that t11-.: injmy (lfj \S };.-innary ! 1 ~n5, !)t:ing rht conscquexicc ;Jf degt·ner(lltoa df ;hr back. occurrt.:d indcp-;..·nd~·miy of the ir~j1.1ry on l /\ugn:-:t \ 9[)3 They \\\T(--, tu.: <....aH.L nut rdated in anv wa\/ r,nd zicccrdi;i/lY refused Z-.t,mperi,:.Hion in n:spet..t of the l A~;gu\l l\19:1, injury 1 ne :_tppn..>:1c.f: raken by the \·Iaglstra!e j:,.; app:irc.nti:, con:-;isier;: \\ d\ t'\h~u1,_c c-1\1..'f! t1\ ,,n c•i:h•n .... i:..:dic ... 1..i12tut l ir 1 ( h Thr.' ~lag:._-,t~atc mLL:,l [}(~ li.:ki:n :c1 liavc p:efr::rrcd :he \,icw.,.; o!' Dr Tott v,,·herc the:\~ ·1vJ_'- G)nfl1u. lit thlhc uf 1,thcr Jl"!L'.Jical 'Nitnc:<-.::c,, Dr,, Pentis :..nJ Quads ·rhc t.'.S.\tT,nal f.{lh.':-;t1un ··-;r; the Jppeal is whethct the f-.,fogisnate w~1s cn:!'i!i:::d to t:tkc 1hai :ipprc~xh ~ind rcjt0•c; the claim,. appt~il::rnt :1nd hl'< de (uc!u \VJ t's · v:hi1...h lhe \,L.1gi,tra!e nny b 1.', t:::kcn in have accer_,k:d - n·1;;t full en, inf 1hc i11ju!"y of l /\;_,gu~t t q9J_ ;h.:.: appdLmt :-·c-n_'·<Ci con:1:1;__::n1:-'. 1inghn;:; 1n h\ n~ht kg. :.:i.ibeit vatue by l'.Ont:ni..-:-.-i \\:1th the bttCb~~-hr.'.·. lt wa" after the snt:CZt' that :be appeL1nt t:-xpi..:rien1,.~ed detlr..i:c p:.iin int!:{· \;~,rne ;1rca, t.bv-.·n bi::: righi iC:;. The apr>!.:'thnt\ c:J:-;c ;.va, that bot..:cau,,;; ,,f th~H trn?ling :<:i::ti-c· t) pc p,nn af1u '. Aug:ust i 993, !! rn.ig·h~ n..'a.~nm1td_;1 Lf' infcfft..'d th;_~t he thtT! suffcr..:·d ;1 di:=;c in_jui~,-. :.1ggr:·1\ (\ted su!v;t.'cp1~ntiy on '. S j;u;lD!) l (;i)~, h) thl: '-.1v:1;.·1,t~ The fir::;~ prirt~cuhr '.~uhn1i.:-s1un of !\fr Hol;-oak, who uppean.:d fci; the ;_1pp,il.1J.nt. \\'~1:..; tfnt th,: ~-1agiqrnr..:'s rcjt:c:ion cf tb1..: dairn wa, inconsi'.tent \vith ,-_u": :1pparent finding by the :\·bgi:,lrJ.tc ti-'nt 1bc ~1pr,c!hn1\ iifling a! \\-od- bc1v,:ccn i9l13 :Jnd I995 accdec:itu.J \h•~' ucg0ncrati,,_1n of hi~ back Hi, :.irgumcnr ran !hat bccaibe the hfti;-i~ \.V.J.~ ~h:: unly idcnl.ifo:::d cnrH:·ihutin;?. factor, il must be c(;n~:.:Je_;T:d ":-:ignificant'· v,:ith1n the dcfini:ic1 n in ~.6(2~(h_l uf 1he \,VorA.er.,' Compr:nsoiinn Act }990. r-k rcft'rred to Tr('!u(U ,,\us11uh,rn Felt- cunim:,niUl'ii()f'!S Conunis"ion { '. 990) 2h FCR ? 16 on the Vihc!c -;,-,if th,~ t_:-viJencc add•Jccd anJ th-:.~ sbnd:J.:d cf pru<1.! ;,._•.quired i have ccncluded that mo\t probably the lif1ing <.li \vurk hy ths:' apph.:an1. did m1t c:mse the deg\:.'nennive ,:.:h:.ugc:s: rn hi.-.:: :::.pint'., il;1_hnugh it ;nay· have cont:ihufr:.d to :m ~1cu.::!erntion of that cnfcing proc..>,s Th prol:.1p~;c nf tht:' d1:-;c d1d not occw· bt:Lau.:..c of th1..' ::;.ne,~1 ..:, t'ul r:ithl.'.! hcc;:U\C d"thc ongoing dcgenerati .·t' cL..!np~--- um ..'btui rn the <.1r1p!i;..:ant'., 1.\'0rk p1 actiu.... :..;:. " \fr Hol'/f'-:tk drcv.. p;:trt;cuL:ir ::.1tkntE1!i te the i.\~1ro.-; ''ali_hou:::J: it rr;;1y ha-. c cuntribut.~d tP an KL.i:'icr<Hion o:· that ,:1ng-i1ing pn)c·~.•-..<' tv1r S;tp:-.f(1HL i.\hu :i.ppe~i:·ed for the rt~~pondent BuJrd. -,;,,_:brnined tlwt rhe I\,bgis;ratc ..;;hr_ 11.ild b<: taken to !uve u:,eJ the wofl: ';nw.y'' m the _;.cn5,e uf indicating a pos:-:ibili1y. ,.1,.-hich the !\-·1ari,..;trate then wen~ on to di~a.::ount in the fnilnwing scnk'.11<...T ~d,crc be ,,,hould !Jc r:i}':cn to ha\-'e rcKu.s;ed ('ln probcbdity. Dr Tnfl· g:n'e oral t:'\:'idence and \\.i.h £.:ro:,-;--exannncd .::,t kny:th f"he-'-,l: fol!C1v,:ing- passage5 sutfic:icnt!y explain -.vhy the fv1agistr.J.{l' t.~·tpr:.."':S~t:d hi:, conclus1()!1 in that f)rrr1.. ;_md :;upprn1 I\--1:' Sap~fon_l\ s;ubmi,:,jDn-~ what l\e heen .saying i~ that in In_\ ,.,Jew that inc1dt'nl (cf 1~)£(1·l scnle,..1 down and ibe disc v,:e:1t ha1.:k 10 ib - d iH(kcd there w;i\ an injLff)- t{I 1hc ctisc it \Yt.·nt back to 1ts you kn,.Y-.v. let\.; <ty, prc-111_1ury •,L.:fr..: ift~ir r.hc p:upo,:;c ufthl~ quc'-.tion yrn_J (L,;;,..;:umc th;t! ~~f:er rhe /\df_,:ns! 199"1, irh~idcnl then.~ V,/;_1_,;. sorne ongoing hack p;)ic· 1 ~- Ye;;, . And a!su Vt.'ry v~1gw..~Iy :-.nrne onL:oing tinglin,t;, V.'ould th~H !Hean tint t\Y 1')95 inciLL:nt 1s nmrc !jk(:)y t,-J br an cx;:i.ccrb;1:ion 1).f t.hc 1')":P in .. 1dent'?-- \Vell. 1f vou tell nw all rJ thc1 \t..' i_hings: ;ha\\ J po:-.~1hili1>· Thilllk ynu'' 1 v:as not ~'l\\.'J(C ,,r th;}l. ! kncv..: he bJd -...:11rn..'. intr~fliiillrn: r1nFnrng h:.k:k p:1ln 'Y,.>;. \.\\_:11, if I can deJ.l ,_J,:i1:-; i!1:.-1c In your T\:pnr~ y,)u 1c:r11-=irt l!·ur tliis !il.1.L had an a:-,ympton1;·i11c hi:-.!(H') iq::ardir.,t: k,-.,\·t.:r back pain pri,J w th···, ,:-\~1:c:_u~t 1'-fJ] inriJu1t"-'. Yes if so:nc:onc ha.'...: an asymptoniatic hi-;.;ti.xy ;..:·garding: th.cir luwe: ba~:k then suffer:.., an in_,ult :.c that lcrvver back a;1d th~.ri.:-,:,Eer ~uffrr:-; contir.umg :.;y1npion1:s i:--. li. :nor::'. likdy thdt. !ht: symptOHl\ fo!h-1\.\' fr,:ir:1. the u1-.;ult \vh1ch (:;Jw,ed the pair/'··- ·ye;,;. ! think tl1a)...;1.~ syrnp!nnr,: ;-·an be: dl:c tn that. "\'nv.-. as htT..,·c-'..'-'l ,ut1..;r..1l Jcgcnt~ratitit: be;r:g tht'. ;..:~n1•,,e t'f t~ic rc-;(i]t the sn('.~!.e on the one hand mid J.n in-:-~idt cau~in.g '.1..'lme \ag:Jc tingiing Ll ',Ori1e-:.me',.;, bJ-::k 1Jr, th,.__· (r;hcr. <1s b-...".t\.1..C1,,-·n thc::se !\VO ,.,+.;ch J:.:: the 11\0!t~ likely tr:, br: pr:.:duc. L'd.:'. i)i 1-be 1t:su!t <:.·cn,e.qur:'Et upr1 n lhc <ne1..~/"-" rn l tl\J')'·• - Sdrr;·. \'JI n;ive ru fCt ynu !_,) rq)(:at rh,_n I':p ;; little bit lo:-,;t llU'.l.. 0:1 one nJ.nd \'.-e h1\e the prc,p~)sitinn ih:1! nnu-1rJ.l defe11t.:L li\'t' d:;.J: 1 E;..', the ;n;m..:-h of \.he de-generative pruct.''' "{ t'~. · ·-- i:-; thz.· c·~.u~c (){ d1'.: \...'Un.,eq~..iC!1\.Y:-: vf the ."nec:te ;n ; 9~-'5, !h0.t '-'-" f'tkl ir:-t.'if. Rig-hr, that':~ prcp1y;ition t.in..:. !,,,rcip.:.Y-.irinn f\;,:r). 1>n the ~)dk:1 hand i_.; ~tut 1h;:~n='-·-' an insult 10 a back in tho;.-: 1...\.">rtext uf a wo:'k ilht~'") \.\h;,:rc -snrnt."".b.,Jdy\ lifring cau~ing :~;.:in1c h~;ck pJ.in and -:c,rq,: vag.1_;,: ;_ing~in.g do,sn i-hc ;-:g:·;t sick. i\.s i.1etv.:~eri tho~t· 1\\-U pruposi:inn" 1,\·hi: h !" nY.Jre liKcly rt, be :h.-:: c<:>nscx:p.idK(' son'/. the (au,1.~ ui the -- 1 of 2 -- 236 QUEENSLA,1\)D GOVERN,\1ENT INDUSTRfAL 6 May, 1997 c<mseq;Jences of rne snee/c in l 959 n1y thi~ is t)ngomg process. \\/ell, look, the Jn In tho:-.t· p;J,:;-;21ies of evirknce. doctor conceded :;_he possib1li1y !hat lifting !TLlY lnve aggrJvated the b.1ck, \)r cry.-;talh1ed S}mptr.Hn\, ;rnd thal cuntinu!ng tingling :·;ensation down the side suggest jnjury ro the di·•<: earlie.1 l 993. But thr docto1 would not then e.!ev~Hc possibilitie,, to the level of prc)bablc cxplzrn:--<.tion~ frH consequence uf the: sneez;;: l q95 re!Jt;:d rha! ro ruturai degent"rJ.tinn Sc· nnr £he critic.!! :h.1.t incident (of - if rndi:cd thcrt' an :-t:Hlcd i(; the knn\1.·, kt'~ :<(,' prc-irqury \LJ.te Un /-Janel ha\'c the prop(i:,iri,m that m1rural dc'gc:ier;,,ltivc chang.:t..:_ 1hc of !he dcgcnera1iv;..• Yes lwrni tlwt then:\ Jn in\ulr to ;_t back m tl:c· cuntexi a ,vork hisrory 1,.vhert.' som(;body\ lifting cau~ing ,,.onie tnck pain zmd vague tingling dc,v,:n the right Ai bet\1:1:,en tho\e t\vo prop1_v..;itit>n-, '>'.·h.id1 i:-,, more likc!y he cnn.\cquenct: of the ;,::aU\L' uf the con.\equence~ 111 ! he snct~ze in 1 rny ftw-, an ongo1ng proces_,;: " 'lrr1 Dr T:•ft wcrt con:rary in rnt'dic~d opinion in the the i\1agi'}!fa!e heard Dr Tnft tested com1·,rc:n,:11S1Vc·,v in cro,;;5,:-c.\t:nninauun. it 1::: fl"<1dily t:xpiit'~1b!c v,:hy the ;\.·t.1gistrarc ft:H more cnmforuh!e reJyinF hi:- \'JC'.\:-i, \Vh<..'n he-: came Id the staridani nf" pronf sarii.;fo_.,d J accept the subrni\sion \i..·i!h rcl~trion to that LghL are :,.c;f;n to ,.JerJ\.."t' suHic:1t:nL and :,.,ub:--,tari~iaL s:uppcin from the uf De Ton ;\,:·, g:n;und tws fy.:cn t'-'.'>t.:iblished inrerfe:·int2 with :,v1; Holyci:tk':-. '-CCO!id -;ulmJ.ic.,~:inn thar Jr: l 09,1- the appelhm injured. hul th;,, 1he c1.mtrihut:c)n from :he, cfti:,.-r Lit !iv.' Th,1! 1he _,;;;ncc/1.:~ ALD 61 I. Ht '}!l !!Ji..' e\'iJl:':'J:1:C(' ;if rb_• Operative Uak· NIA Judgrncnt Queensland ###Mi################/1############/i##################iHWJ.i# -- 2 of 2 --