COOPER and COMCARE

[2010] AATA 625

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

DECISION AND REASONS FOR DECISION [2010] AATA 625

ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS TRIBUNAL      )

)          Nos   2008/3460,

GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE  DIVISION		)                  2009/2968,                    2009/2969
Re		SOLOMON BRUCE COOPER

Applicant

And COMCARE

Respondent

DECISION

Tribunal Ms A F Cunningham (Senior Member)
Dr R J Walters RFD (Part-Time Member)

Date20 August 2010

PlaceHobart

Decision

The orders of the Tribunal are as follows:

 1.       THAT the decision under review dated 30 May 2008 rejecting the claim for neck and thoracic sprain be affirmed.

2.        THAT the decision under review dated 28 May 2009 rejecting the claim for carpal tunnel syndrome be affirmed. 

3.        THAT the decision under review dated 28 May 2009 rejecting the claim for cervical radiculopathy be set aside and substituted with a decision :

(i)       THAT  the  respondent  is  liable  to pay compensation    for an aggravation of the condition of cervical radiculopathy from 12 January 2006.

(ii)      THAT   the   matter   be   remitted   to   the   respondent    for reconsideration in accordance with this decision.

(iii)     THAT there is liberty to apply within 14 days in relation to the costs of the proceedings. 

(iv)     THAT in the absence of any such application, the respondent is to pay the applicant's costs of and incidental to the proceedings of appeal number 2009/2968.

[Sgd Ms A F Cunningham]

Senior Member

CATCHWORDS

WORKERS COMPENSATION - cervical radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome - underlying degenerative condition of the cervical spine - original claim for cervical and thoracic spinal dysfunction - second claim for  cervical radiculopathy, not a new and distinct condition - cervical radiculopathy aggravated by applicant's computer related work duties - respondent liable to pay compensation - decision under review set aside -  carpal tunnel syndrome not contributed to in a material degree by ATO employment -  carpal tunnel syndrome did not result in incapacity for work - decision with respect to carpal tunnel syndrome affirmed.

Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, ss 4, 5A, 14(1)

Abrahams v Comcare (2006) 93 ALD 147

Comcare v Canute [2005] FCAFC 262

Comcare v Sahu-Kahn [2007] FCA 15

Commonwealth v Beattie (1981) 31 ALR 369

Tippett v Australian Postal Corporation [1998] FCA 335

Asioty v Canberra Abattoir Pty Ltd [1989] HCA 40; (1989) 167 CLR 533

Australian Postal Corporation v Bessey [2001] FCA 266

Bessey v Australian Postal Corporation [2003] AATA 127

McKinnon v Australian Postal Corporation [2001] AATA 297 

Caldipp Pty Ltd v Delov [2002] FCAFC 352

Federal Broom Co Pty Ltd v Semlitch [1964] HCA 34; (1964) 110 CLR 626

The Darling Island Stevedoring and Lighterage Co Limited v Hankinson [1967] HCA 10; (1967) 117 CLR 19

Commonwealth Banking Corporation v Percival (1988) FCA 240

Caldipp Pty Limited t/as Slaven Motors v Delov [2002] FCAFC 352

REASONS FOR DECISION

20 August 2010 Ms A F Cunningham (Senior Member)
Dr R J Walters RFD (Part-Time Member)          

1.      The applicant, Solomon Cooper seeks a review of three determinations made by Comcare with respect to conditions that he attributes to computer related work duties with the…