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Papco Oil Co. v. Farr11/18/1997
d May 16, 1995 through May 24, 1995, for treatment of claimant's DVT and pulmonary emboli. Dr. Brooks stated that in February 1995 claimant had to be hospitalized for DVT and pulmonary emboli as a result of inactivity secondary to his multiple lumbar surgeries and residual low back and leg pain. The May 1995 treatment was necessitated by a recurrence of the DVT and pulmonary embolism, which flowed from the compensable injury. Therefore, because the DVT and pulmonary emboli followed as natural consequences of the compensable back injury, the commission did not err in holding employer responsible for medical expenses related to treatment of those problems. See Morris v. Badger Powhatan/Figgie Int'l, Inc., 3 Va. App. 276, 283, 348 S.E.2d 876, 879 (1986).
Even if claimant's prednisone therapy also contributed to cause his DVT and pulmonary embolism, employer is still responsible for the cost of medical treatment related to those conditions under the "two causes rule." That rule provides that a condition which has two causes, one related to a work injury , and one not, is compensable and the treatment of that condition will be the responsibility of the employer. See Shelton v. Ennis Bus. Forms, Inc., 1 Va. App. 53, 55, 334 S.E.2d 297, 299 (1985).
Coumadin Therapy
The medical records established that Dr. Brooks prescribed the coumadin therapy to prevent pulmonary emboli, which might be caused by claimant's left lower extremity DVT. Because the DVT flowed as a natural consequence of the compensable back injury , employer is responsible for any necessary medical treatment related to the DVT. Accordingly, the commission did not err in holding employer responsible for the cost of the coumadin therapy.
For these reasons, we affirm the commission's decision.
Affirmed.
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