In Tonnette Collier v. The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Fl and Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc. the Claimant suffered a compensable injury when she fell and hit her chest. She was diagnosed with pleural effusion (fluid on hr lungs) which was drained in the hospital. There was a conflict in medical opinions regarding MCC and an EMA was appointed at the request of the E/C. The EMA appointed favorably to claimant on the issue of MCC and the JCC afforded those opinions the presumption of correctness. However, the EMA opined the cause of the need for continued medical care was no longer the work accident, but rather due to ovarian cancer. Accordingly, the JCC GRANTED compensability of claimant’s thoracic condition and the past cardiac workup, as well as past TT/TP benefits. Evaluation and treatment for restrictive lung disease was DENIED.
