THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTED A CAUSAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE STRESS CAUSED BY INTERACTION WITH CLAIMANT’S SUPERVISOR AND CLAIMANT’S HEART ATTACK (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, reversing the Workers’ Compensation Board, determined the evidence supported a causal relationship between the stress caused by interaction with claimant’s supervisor and the subsequent heart attack:

We agree with claimant’s contention that the Board’s decision is not supported by substantial evidence as its finding that claimant did not sustain a physical injury is inconsistent with the medical evidence as well as its own finding that claimant sustained a myocardial infarction. The sole medical evidence presented was that from Leslie Parikh, a cardiologist who treated claimant at the emergency room. Parikh testified unequivocally that claimant was diagnosed as suffering a myocardial infarction based upon the elevated troponin levels in claimant’s blood, which was consistent with a stress event on the heart, and opined that the heart attack was causally-related to claimant’s interaction with her supervisor at work. Based on this uncontroverted evidence, the Board, in fact, found that claimant suffered a myocardial infarction causally-related to work.

The Board, nevertheless, found that claimant did not sustain a physical injury, characterizing the incident as claimant having been “in mild emotional distress and . . . experience[ing] a stress event.” …  This is contrary to the unrefuted and unequivocal medical evidence and diagnosis that claimant suffered a myocardial infarction. Matter of DiMeo v Trinity Health Corp., 2023 NY Slip Op 02731, Third Dept 5-18-23

Practice Point: The treating physician determined claimants’ heart attack was caused by stress from interaction with claimant’s supervisor. Claimant was entitled to Worders’ Compensation benefits.