Alice D. Wolf v. Kaufman & Broad Home

This is an appeal from the Industrial Commission's refusal to allow modification of a compensation agreement, which modification was requested by claimant on the grounds of an alleged change in her condition. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for the commission's further consideration in light of this Court's opinion in Woodvine v. Triangle Dairy, Inc., 106 Idaho 716, 682 P.2d 1263 (1984). The facts of this case are as follows. Claimant began employment at Kaufman and Broad in March 1976, building overhead cabinets for mobile homes. This was employment covered by and subject to Idaho's Workmen's Compensation Law. In June 1976, she began to experience difficulty with her arms, and in October, she saw Dr. Kendall, who prescribed medication and physical therapy. In November 1976, Dr. Kendall advised claimant to quit work, due to the inflammation and pain in her arms, and she then left employment. As her condition worsened, claimant saw several doctors, who gave differing diagnoses of the problem, such as synovial inflammation and lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). She underwent various forms of care, including multiple injections, wearing a cast, and physical therapy, but her condition did not improve. She had surgery in July 1977. In January 1978, the surgeon, Dr. Lenzi, gave her a medical release to return to work in a limited capacity with no strenuous lifting or heavy grasping.