JCC Awards TPD and Multilevel Fusion in Walters v. Lakeside Neurologic

In Walters v. Lakeside Neurologic/Ascendant Claims Services, the Tampa JCC considered claims arising from a 2019 workplace fall, including temporary disability, compensability of a thoracic-spine condition, and authorization of extensive decompression and fusion surgery.

The JCC credited the authorized neurosurgeon and the claimant’s independent medical examiner over the employer/carrier’s examiner. The order found that the workplace accident was the major contributing cause of the thoracic condition and need for surgery, and rejected the asserted jump-rope incident as an intervening cause because that opinion rested on an inaccurate factual history.

The judge denied temporary total disability but awarded temporary partial disability from November 18, 2025, forward. The order also granted compensability of the thoracic injury, authorized posterior decompression at T12-L1-L2 and fusion from T10 through L3, and awarded related penalties, interest, attorney’s fees, and costs.

Source: Compensation Order