The Commission heard the above styled cause on March 5, 2001, in the offices of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission, Jackson, Mississippi on the Employer/Carrier's "Petition for Review" and Claimant's "Cross Petition" by the Full Commission.

Having heard the arguments offered on behalf of the parties and having thoroughly studied the record and the applicable law, the Commission affirms the "Order of Administrative Judge" dated October 11, 2000.

SO ORDERED, this the 6th day of March, 2001.

MISSISSIPPI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION
BY: BARRETT SMITH
BARNEY SCHOBY
COMMISSIONERS

ATTEST:
Jo Ann McDonald, Secretary
___________________________
 

MWCC NOS. 96 15910-G-4567-E-21
                         98 05899-G-4671-E-21

EARNESTINE DIXON                                                                                                                      CLAIMANT

vs.

ALLEN CANNING COMPANY                                                                                                       EMPLOYER
SELF-INSURED

APPEARING FOR CLAIMANT:
Ellis Turnage, Esquire, Cleveland, Mississippi

APPEARING FOR EMPLOYER:
Stephen J. Carmody, Esquire, Jackson, Mississippi.
 

On January 7, 1999, the claimant, Earnestine Dixon, filed a petition to controvert alleging that on June 25, 1996, she received a work-related injury to her left and right shoulders and right hand. On January 21, 1999, the claimant filed a second petition to controvert alleging that on July 14, 1997, she received a work-related injury to her right shoulder. The employer admitted the compensability of the injuries; provided all medical services and supplies; and paid temporary total disability benefits in the approximate total amount of $8,310.57 and permanent partial disability benefits in the approximate total amount of $4,695.36. A dispute arose, however, regarding the extent of disability resulting from the work injury, and a hearing was held in the Leflore County Courthouse in Greenwood, Mississippi, on September 21, 2000.
 

The parties stipulated as follows:

1. Ms. Dixon's average weekly wage can be figured from a wage statement submitted into evidence in this matter by the employer,

2. To the date of the hearing, the employer has provided all medical services and supplies required by the claimant's injury and the process of her recovery therefrom.
 

The primary issue to be resolved by the Administrative Judge is the extent of occupational disability or industrial loss of use resulting from the work injuries.
 

Earnestine Lee Dixon is forty-six years old and a resident of Moorhead, Sunflower County, Mississippi, She was born in Washington County and grew up in Sunflower County. She is divorced and has three children. She is right-handed.

Ms. Dixon lives about a mile from the Allen Canning Company in Moorhead. She lives about 7 miles from Indianola and about 25 miles from Greenwood.

Ms. Dixon completed the eighth grade in 1970. She received some subsequent training for a year in a job training program in 1972. She repaired books in a library while also doing janitorial work.

For about three months in 1979, Ms. Dixon was employed at Three Lions, a sewing factory in Ruleville, Mississippi. She sewed zippers in pants. For two seasons in 1989 and 1990, she chopped cotton. She had no other work outside the home before her employment at Allen Canning Company.

In 1990 or 1991, Ms. Dixon began her job at Allen Canning Company in Moorhead. She initially worked part-time, assigned to the potato line to sort good potatoes from bad, for three months. Then she became a full-time employee on the tray pack line. She worked from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at first, then changed to night shift, working from 4:00 p.m. until midnight or 1:00 a.m. She worked from five to seven days a week. She worked some overtime in the summer, but the work slacked off in the winter.

At the time of her injury in 1996, Ms. Dixon was working on a line operating a Pakmaster machine packing number 10 cans, that is, gallon-sized cans, in boxes. The machine would pack six number 10 cans in a box which would go to an elevator and on to a place to be stacked. She had to stand and watch the Pakmaster and put boxes on the machine. Sometimes she would have to stop the line and make sure everything was lined up correctly, lifting the cans. She thought cans of pinto beans or pork and beans weighed about nine pounds each. Sometimes she would have to lift up the boxes of cans which could weight fifty or sixty pounds.

On June 25,1996, Ms. Dixon was on the Pakmaster line. A case had jammed the line, and she had to stop the line and raise several cases up. She injured her left arm, reported the injury, but finished her shift and returned to work the next day.

After a week or so, Ms. Dixon saw Dr. Edgar Donahoe, her family physician in Indianola, and he referred her to Dr. Larry Field at the Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic; Center in Jackson. Dr. Field prescribed physical therapy then did arthroscopic surgery on her left shoulder in October 1996 at River Oaks Hospital in Jackson. Ms. Dixon had more physical therapy after the surgery.

In early 1997, Ms. Dixon returned to Allen Canning Company. Dr. Field had recommended work restrictions. She still operated the Pakmaster machine, although someone else put the boxes on the machine to help her with lifting tasks.

Dr. Field took Ms. Dixon off work again in April 1997 because she was having difficulty with her left arm. Some of the tasks at the Pakmaster machine required use of both arms, and when there was no one to help her at the machine she had to put the boxes on the machine herself

In July 1997, Ms. Dixon began to have swelling in her right shoulder. She consulted Dr. Field. He recommended physical therapy and surgery which the employer did not approve for nearly a year. Ms. Dixon testified that she was terminated for a while, then rehired in November 1997. She said workers' comp sent her for a second opinion and then she was fired by Steve Oswalt, the plant manager. Ms. Dixon was off work about a month then returned in November 1997 to work on the tray pack line. Her duties included putting cans on the line and filling in for other employees while they took breaks.

Dr. Field took her off work again in February 1998. He had in the meantime also diagnosed right carpal tunnel syndrome. Ms. Dixon had surgery on her right shoulder and a right carpal tunnel release in May 1998.

Dr. Field released Ms. Dixon on August 15,1998, and she returned to work on August 17, 1998. She was assigned to another line, at the Pakmaster on the tray pack line casing number 300 cans, the typical size of can one sees on the grocery shelves. There were two boxes in each case, and each box held twelve cans. Sometimes the cans jumped out of the boxes, the boxes would flip or come unglued, and she would have to lift cases and put them on the floor. The boxes weighed about eleven pounds. She had to do repetitive work with her shoulders and also stooping and bending.

Ms. Dixon testified that she could not pull the cans with her arms all night, and she left her employment on August 21, 1998. That evening, Curtis Boyd, her supervisor, told her to rip labels off 300-size cans, and she thought she could not do that. Ripping the labels off cans would require her to lift the cans out of the box. She thought that job would be more strenuous than what she did at the Pakmaster machine. She went up front to find Steve Oswalt but he was not there, and she just left her badge at the office and left the plant. She did not return.

Since August 1998, Ms. Dixon has not looked for gainful employment and has not returned to Allen Canning Company. She has been receiving Social Security disability benefits since September 1999, after approval in June 1999. Social Security pays her two checks a month, in the amounts of $500.00 and $466.00.

Ms. Dixon said she still has problems with pain in her right hand and in both her shoulders. She has trouble lifting anything, and she has problems doing many things at home. Ms. Dixon said when she gets up it takes her two or three hours just to shower and get dressed. She cannot comb her own hair or cook, she cannot raise her arms, and she has difficulty shopping and driving. Her arms "give out" even while she is eating. She cannot sweep or mop, although she is able to wash dishes. She takes Ibuprofen prescribed by Dr. Donahoe.

According to Ms. Dixon, she had no problems with either her right or left shoulders before the work injuries of June 25, 1996, and July 14, 1997. She had no workers' compensation claims in the past or automobile injuries before 1997. In 1997, Ms. Dixon was involved in a car wreck. She hurt her head and neck but was not hospitalized for the injuries.

In 1999, Dr. Field referred Ms. Dixon to Dr. Jeffrey Summers, pain management specialist in Jackson. She saw Dr. Summers five times, then he referred her to Dr. David Colipp, specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation in Jackson, whom she saw once. Dr. Colipp referred her for EMG testing, but the employer refused to pay for that testing. Then he referred her for a functional capacities evaluation. She testified that she gave her best efforts on the functional capacities test.

In August 2000, Ms. Dixon returned to see Dr. Field, complaining of burning pains in her arm and shoulder. She had not seen him since April 1999. She used her Medicaid card to see Dr. Field at the August visit. She has also seen Dr. Donahoe, her family doctor in Indianola.

Steve Oswalt testified for the employer that he has lived at Moorhead, Mississippi, for fifty-seven years, and he was mayor of Moorhead from 1973 until 1993. He is plant manager of Allen Canning Company, a position he has held since 1981 or 1982, and he is responsible for overall operation of the plant. The plant has about 180 or 190 employees, a number which varies somewhat seasonally.

Allen Canning Company cans fresh Southern vegetables. The vegetables go through high-pressure washing, peeling, and blanching and then are cooked inside the can. The cans are stacked in warehouses, then when orders are received the cans are labeled and sent out to the customers. 

Mr. Oswalt testified that Ms. Dixon ran the Pakmaster machine, an automatic boxing machine, on the number 10 line. The boxes weigh four to five ounces each. The machine imprints the box, drops the cans onto the box, then forms the box around the cans. Most of the cans weigh four to five pounds each. The machine runs about twenty boxes a minute. Sometimes cans fall to the floor, and the operator must lift them back up to the line.

After Ms. Dixon was injured, the company put a person with her who was to be responsible for picking up the cans or boxes. Ms. Dixon was only to operate the keyboard on the computer and the switches on the machine. She had to do no lifting. She did not complain to the plant that she was asked to do things her doctor had restricted her from doing.

Mr. Oswalt said Ms. Dixon and he met regarding an offer of settlement from the workers' compensation claim person. She misunderstood the meaning of the meeting and thought she was being fired. The company called her back and she returned to work after a short while.

After surgery, Ms. Dixon was moved to the tray pack line boxing number 300 size cans, twelve cans to the case. A can that was not labeled would have to be pulled out and replaced with a labeled can. The 300 cans are the small cans that one sees on the shelves at the grocery store. The machine could jam up occasionally, throwing the cans out, and the operator would have to put the cans back up on the line.

Stripping (or ripping) cans requires the employee to pick up a 15-ounce can and rip the label off with a nail. The unlabeled can is then put back in the box. On August 21, 1998, Ms. Dixon's supervisor told her she was assigned to stripping cans. According to the supervisor, Ms. Dixon turned and walked away and would not stop when the supervisor tried to talk with her further. She turned in her badge and left, quitting.

Since August 1998, the company has had several other places to put Ms. Dixon, such as line inspector or a can watcher, a sitting job watching cans coming from the cooker. Neither jobs require lifting or overhead reaching. The line inspector picks bad vegetables off the line which is at waist or table height. Both these jobs are lighter than what she was doing when she left the company. Ms. Dixon has not asked the company for work since August 1998. If she applied now, the company would put her back to work within her restrictions.

Ms. Dixon had not complained to Mr. Oswalt that she could not do the jobs to which she had been assigned. Although the plant covers 8-1/2 acres, Mr. Oswalt said he is in the plant every day and visits with every employee every morning. Mr. Oswalt said Ms. Dixon had every opportunity to talk with him about her job duties. There are also seven supervisors.

Ms. Dixon testified in rebuttal that Mr. Oswalt did not come by her work station every day. She worked on the evening shift, and Mr. Oswalt would come by perhaps once or twice a month. She knew where his office was and how to get in touch with him, however. Ms. Dixon said that when she had a problem she was supposed to complain to Bobby Boyd, her supervisor, or to the mechanic, the supervisor's supervisor. The mechanic was her fiancé, and she talked to him and he talked to the supervisor.

Ms. Dixon said she was not told about a line inspector or a can watcher job. When she was working on light duty and had a person helping her, the person assigned to help her would not always be on the job.

Ms. Dixon's medical records from the Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Jackson, Mississippi, were received into evidence, and Dr. Larry Field, her treating orthopaedic surgeon, testified by deposition dated December 13, 1999. Ms. Dixon first presented to Dr. Field on September 3, 1996, at the recommendation of Dr. Donahoe, for complaints of pain and popping in her left shoulder. Dr. Field examined Ms. Dixon, reviewed x-rays, and diagnosed rotator cuff tendonitis and symptomatic acromioclavicular joint with the possibility of subtle anterior labral tear or injury causing a popping. He injected the shoulder and advised exercises. He restricted her to light duty work with no overhead work with her left arm.

Ms. Dixon returned to see Dr. Field on October 15, 1996, complaining of persistent and moderate to severe left shoulder pain. She said the injection only helped briefly. Dr. Field thought her a reasonable candidate for diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy. On November 7, 1996, Ms. Dixon returned to see Dr. Field, and he noted she was one week status post arthroscopic anterior labral stabilization, acromioplasty and distal clavicle excision. He prescribed physical therapy and an arm sling.

On November 19, 1996, Ms. Dixon saw Dr. Field, stating that her physical therapist was concerned about some swelling in her arm. Dr. Field could not see the swelling and encouraged her to continue the therapy. Dr. Field kept her off work until she could be rechecked. On December 5, 1996, Dr. Field noted Ms. Dixon had improved, and he encouraged her to continue therapy. He kept her off work for six weeks until rechecked.

On January 21, 1997, Dr. Field stated Ms. Dixon had done extremely well and had almost a normal range of motion. He advised another month of physical therapy and a return to light duty with no overhead motion of the left arm and no lifting of more than one pound with the left arm. On February 18, 1997, Ms. Dixon returned to Dr. Field complaining of some tightness. He continued her physical therapy and light-duty work with no overhead work and no lifting more than two pounds for the next six weeks.

On April 1, 1997, Dr. Field reported Ms. Dixon had some mild weakness and trouble with stamina. She expressed concern about returning to the factory, and he suggested work conditioning. He injected the trapezius area and kept her off work until he could recheck her.

On April 29, 1997, Dr. Field noted Ms. Dixon had undergone a functional capacity evaluation. They discussed a return to full-duty work and permanent restrictions. Dr. Field said:

She is very desirous of the latter and I must admit that her persistent mild pain and her complaints of her inability to get back to her rather strenuous occupation would make permanent restrictions a reasonable alternative for her. Her active forward flexion today is normal. External rotation is normal. Strength is normal. Stability is normal. She does have mild crepitation on active range of motion which generates a 6% upper extremity impairment rating. FCE that was obtained will function as her permanent restrictions. From this day forward she can do the following occasional activities. She can lift 25 pounds from floor to knuckle height, 25 pounds from 12 inches from the floor to knuckle height. She can lift 20 pounds from knuckle to shoulder height and 10 pounds from shoulder height to overhead. She can pull 68 pounds, push 48 pounds and can carry up to 30 pounds 100 feet.

Dr. Field saw Ms. Dixon again on May 9,1997, and she told him she lifted a box two days before and had an acute onset of mild pain in the trapezius region. Dr. Field gave her some muscle relaxants and non-steroidal medications. He released her to return as needed. On June 2,1997, Ms. Dixon told Dr. Field she was having trouble doing permanent restriction work. Dr. Field injected the trapezius area and released her again.

On July 10, 1997, Ms. Dixon returned to Dr. Field telling of continued difficulties with the limited duty at work. Dr. Field suggested an EMG/nerve conduction study which was performed and was basically normal. Dr. Field suggested non-steroidal medicine. On July 18, 1997, Dr. Field allowed Ms. Dixon to return to light-duty work with permanent restrictions.

On August 14, 1997, Ms. Dixon presented to Dr. Field with complaints of moderate to severe right shoulder pain that she thought work-related. Dr. Field said x-rays showed a large down-turning spur and some squaring off of the AC joint. He diagnosed impingement syndrome, which he said was similar to tendonitis, that is, inflammation and irritation of the rotator cuff tendon, and symptomatic acromioclavicular (AC) joint. He injected the subacromial space and sent her for physical therapy.

On September 11, 1997, Ms. Dixon saw Dr. Field and told him she wanted right shoulder surgery. Dr. Field recommended right shoulder arthroscopic acromioplasty and distal clavicle excision evaluation of the rotator cuff, and repair if necessary. Dr. Field testified that he thought the activities Ms. Dixon had been doing at work contributed to the development of her severe right shoulder symptoms.

Ms. Dixon returned to see Dr. Field on December 5, 1997, because of persistent right shoulder difficulties. Dr. Field noted the employer would not approve her surgery. He also said she had developed some right-hand numbness indicative of carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist. He returned her to light duty work with permanent restrictions of the left arm and no overhead work with the right.

Dr. Field saw her again on January 2, 1998, for significant right shoulder difficulties and carpal tunnel symptoms on the right. He continued treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome with a splint and prescribed more shoulder exercises and light-duty work.

On February 27, 1998, Dr. Field noted there was still no approval for Ms. Dixon's surgery. Her symptoms had worsened on the right, and he took her completely off work for six weeks. He recommended a right carpal tunnel release as well as right shoulder surgery. On April 10, 1998, the surgery was still not approved. Dr. Field said he was worried about her arm, and he took her completely off work.

By May 14, 1998, Ms. Dixon returned to see Dr. Field after the carpal tunnel release and shoulder surgery on May 6, 1998, and the numbness in her fingers had resolved. On June 11, 1998, Dr. Field said Ms. Dixon was doing very well after carpal tunnel release and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. He started her on some physical therapy. On July 14, 1998, Dr. Field examined Ms. Dixon and suggested another month of work hardening.

On August 14, 1998, Dr. Field found she could return to work. He assigned August 15, 1998, as the date of maximum medical improvement and assigned a 6% permanent impairment rating to the arm.

On August 21, 1998, however, Ms. Dixon told Dr. Field she was having trouble doing her job because of pain. Dr. Field reviewed the functional capacity evaluation and assigned the following restrictions:

She can lift 29 pounds from floor to thigh height and 30 pounds from 12 inches from the floor to thigh height. She can lift 20 pounds from thigh to shoulder height and 10 pounds from shoulder to overhead. With one hand she can lift 10 pounds from floor to thigh height and 8 pounds from 12 inches from the floor to thigh height with 5 pounds from, thigh to shoulder and 3 pounds from shoulder to overhead.

On September 17, 1998, Dr. Field injected the trapezius to help her tenderness. On October 22,1998, Dr. Field noted Ms. Dixon had some mild bicipital tendonitis. He offered an injection but she refused. He advised simple exercises and non-steroidal medication. On November 24, 1998, Mr. Dixon had some very mild diffuse muscular spasm bilaterally. Dr. Field gave her some muscle relaxants and non-steroidal medication. On December 31,1998, Dr. Field said Ms. Dixon was doing very well except for left shoulder pain. She continued to complain on January 29, 1999. Dr. Field recommended a referral to a pain specialist and told her to return to him as needed.

On March 23, 1999, Ms. Dixon returned to see Dr. Field. The employer had refused to approve the referral to a pain doctor. On April 20, 1999, she still had not been able to see the pain doctor.

The medical records of Dr. Jeffrey Summers, specialist in pain management, were received into evidence, and Dr. Summers testified by deposition dated March 28, 2000. Dr. Summers first examined Earnestine Dixon on July 15, 1999, for complaints of constant bilateral shoulder pain that was aggravated by activity, particularly anything that required her to raise her arms. Dr. Summer's thought her pain was probably musculoskeletal but he could not rule out a possible disease involving the nervous system. He suspected reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

Dr. Summers noted "marked giveaway weakness with inconsistent effort and cocontraction." He described Ms. Dixon as "quite anxious and somewhat histrionic." (Exhibit 7, p. 0014). Dr. Summers thought she had some functional self-imposed limitations and movement. He did a left stellate ganglion block. He provided Ms. Dixon with a TENS unit. He thought she needed to increase her activity levels to prevent deconditioning.

On July 21, 1999, Dr. Summers did another left stellate ganglion block. She reported not much improvement. He thought her residual pain was more musculoskeletal with a significant functional component. He stated in a letter to Dr. Field, dated July 21, 1999, "She's neurologically intact, and is capable of a higher functional level than she's presently expressing." (Exhibit 7, p. 00 10).

On July 27, 1999, Ms. Dixon returned to Dr. Summers reporting no change, no improvement. He opined she had reached maximum medical improvement in terms of what he could do for her. She did not display any continuing evidence of reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

On August 27, 1999, Ms. Dixon returned to Dr. Summers. He noted she was not responding to treatment for a neurogenic pain syndrome. He said she was not using her arms enough because of grossly self-limiting behavior. On September 17, 1999, she complained to Dr. Summers of continuing bilateral shoulder pain with activity. Dr. Summers discontinued her medication because it had not been effective. He said he could not do anything else for her and suggested a functional capacity evaluation. Dr. Summers did not see her again.

The medical records of Dr. David C. Colipp, specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation in Jackson, were received into evidence. On October 18, 1999, Dr. Colipp evaluated Earnestine Dixon at the referral of Dr. Jeff Summers. Ms. Dixon complained to Dr. Colipp of bilateral shoulder pain and numbness in both arms. When he examined her, she exhibited pain behavior. Dr. Colipp diagnosed:

Probable chronic pain syndrome with significant investment in pain behavior and disability behavior. She needs significant psychological intervention as well as physical therapy in order to bring about any improvement. I will set her up for physical therapy at our location with Dr. Koestler for pain management and see if we can bring about improvement. Otherwise, her examination is consistent with malingering, but I believe that this is more of a chronic pain picture, Certainly the longevity of this particular situation is concerning.

On October 18, 1999, Dr. Colipp dictated a letter to Dr. Jeffrey Summers thanking him for the referral of Ms. Dixon. He diagnosed bilateral disuse atrophy that would be consistent with RSD. Dr. Colipp commended to Dr. Summers that Ms. Dixon was "very guarded during examination, and is practically at a malingering level for giveway weakness." (Exhibit 2, p. 4).

On December 6, 1999, Dr. Colipp noted that Ms. Dixon participated in a functional capacity evaluation on November 29, 1999. He commented:

This patient was completely self limited with complaints of pain. She gave poor effort during most of the weighted capacity subtests. She had several inconsistencies (8) all of which are significant. This patient demonstrated sufficient capacity to return to work at a sedentary level, but this patient's true levels of ability are unknown.

She is at maximum medical improvement. I will follow up with her on a PRN basis, She can return to work immediately at sedentary duty.

After carefully considering the pleadings, pretrial statements, stipulations, lay and medical evidence, the demeanor of the witnesses at the hearing, and the applicable law, the Administrative Judge finds as follows:

1. Earnestine Dixon received admittedly compensable, work-related injuries to her right and left shoulders and right hand, as alleged in the petitions to controvert.

2. The average weekly wage of the claimant on June 25,1996, and July 14,1997, was $298.15, as figured from the wage statement submitted into evidence by the employer.

3. Because of the work injury to the left shoulder, the claimant was temporarily totally disabled from June 25, 1996, the date of the left shoulder injury, until April 29,1997, when Dr. Field found her to be at maximum medical improvement, except for those days during that time when she actually worked and earned wages at Allen Canning Company. Because of the work injury to the right shoulder and the right carpal tunnel syndrome, Ms. Dixon was temporarily totally disabled from August 14, 1997, when Ms. Dixon first complained to Dr. Field of right shoulder pain, until August 15, 1998, when he released her as having reached maximum medical improvement, except for those days when Ms. Dixon actually worked and earned wages at Allen Canning Company. If there were other days when one of her treating physicians kept her off work because of the work injuries, then these days would be included in the period of temporary total disability.

4. Because of the work injuries, the claimant has sustained a permanent partial disability or industrial loss of use of 20% of the right arm and 20% of the left arm, for a total award of eighty (80) weeks of permanent partial disability benefits at the rate of $198.77 a week. Dr. Field assigned a 6% permanent medical impairment to each arm resulting from the work injuries and surgeries. He returned Ms. Dixon to full-duty work but with permanent restrictions, and it is because of these restrictions that she has sustained a greater industrial disability than the medical impairment ratings. There would certainly be some jobs that she could not do with her physical limitations.

Ms. Dixon later saw Dr. Summers for pain management but achieved no improvement, and he referred her to Dr. Colipp, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Ms. Dixon exhibited pain behavior and self-imposed limitations upon examination by these doctors and during the functional capacity examination that Dr. Colipp ordered. The functional capacity evaluation resulted in a recommendation that she be limited to sedentary work, but her true physical capabilities could not be determined because she did not give maximum effort on the testing. Dr. Field's recommended restrictions appear reasonable, and they would allow her to do more than sedentary work. While she could not do every job at the Allen Company, she could certainly return to work as a line inspector or can watcher job such as what Allen Canning Company had available to her, as well as some assembly line work that did not exceed Dr. Field's restrictions.

5. The employer is liable for any medical services and supplies that are required by these work injuries, including any future medical expenses that a medical provider may relate to the work injuries of June 1996 or July 1997.
 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the employer pay workers' compensation benefits to the claimant as follows:

1. Temporary total disability benefits at the rate of $198.77 per week beginning June 25, 1996, and continuing until April 29,1997, and again from August 14, 1997, until August 15, 1998, with credit for any such payments already made by the employer or for wages earned by the claimant during this time;

2. Permanent partial disability benefits relating to the left shoulder injury at the rate of $198.77 per week beginning April 30, 1997, and extending for forty (40) weeks, with credit for any such payments already made by the employer;

3. Permanent partial disability benefits relating to the right shoulder and hand injuries at the rate of $198.17 pet week beginning August 16, 1998, and extending for forty (40) weeks, with credit for any such payments already made by the employer;

4. Penalties and interest on all due and unpaid compensation benefits;

5. Provide medical services and supplies as required by the nature of the claimant's injury and the process of her recovery therefrom pursuant to Mississippi Code Annotated §71-3-15 (1995), General Rule 12, and the Medical Fee Schedule.

SO ORDERED, this the 11th day of October, 2000.

LINDA A. THOMPSON
ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE

ATTEST:
Jo Ann McDonald, Secretary