DENISE M. KLEIN, Employee/Appellant,
v.
MINN. ASS’N OF TOWNSHIPS and SFM RISK SOLUTIONS, Employer-Insurer/Respondents,
and
MEDICA HEALTH PLANS, HEARTLAND ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS, and CTR. FOR DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING, Intervenors.
No. WC19-6243
Minnesota Workers Compensation
Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals
April 15, 2019
CAUSATION
– SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. Substantial evidence, including
an expert medical opinion with adequate foundation, supports
the compensation judge’s denial of the employee’s
claims.
Mark
J. Thalberg, Schneider & Madsen, P.C., Willmar,
Minnesota, for the Appellant.
Thomas
J. Christenson, Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A., St. Cloud,
Minnesota, for the Respondents.
Determined by: David A. Stofferahn, Judge, Deborah K.
Sundquist, Judge, Sean M. Quinn, Judge
Compensation Judge: Kathleen Behounek
Affirmed.
OPINION
DAVID
A. STOFFERAHN, JUDGE.
The
employee appeals from the compensation judge’s
determination that her right hip complaints are not related
to her work injury of December 30, 2016, and from the
compensation judge’s denial of her claim for benefits.
We affirm.
BACKGROUND
The
employee sustained an injury on December 30, 2016, in the
course of her employment as town clerk for Belle River
Township. She was walking from her house to the mailbox to
mail a township report when she slipped on the icy ground and
fell, landing on her right side. The employee sought
immediate medical care at the emergency room at Douglas
County Hospital, with complaints of right shoulder, back, and
right hip pain. X-ray studies did not show any fractures or
dislocations. She was given an injection for pain relief, her
right arm was placed in a sling, and she was discharged with
pain medication.
The
employee’s right shoulder pain was subsequently
diagnosed as being the result of a rotator cuff tear.
Surgical repair of the tear was done on February 7, 2017, by
Dr. Dennis Weigel at Douglas County Hospital. The employer
and insurer admitted liability for the...