{"id":"alj-H400841-2026-01-22","awcc_number":"H400841","decision_date":"2026-01-22","opinion_type":"alj","claimant_name":"Sherri Bass","employer_name":"National Opinion Research Ctr","title":"BASS VS. NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CTR. AWCC# H400841 January 22, 2026","outcome":"denied","outcome_keywords":["denied:4"],"injury_keywords":["cervical","shoulder","neck","back","wrist","thoracic","fracture"],"pdf_url":"https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/BASS_SHERRI_H400841_20260122.pdf","source_index_url":"https://labor.arkansas.gov/workers-comp/awcc-opinions/administrative-law-judge-opinions/","filename":"BASS_SHERRI_H400841_20260122.pdf","text_length":31145,"full_text":"BEFORE THE ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION \n \n WCC NO. H400841 \n \nSHERRI BASS, Employee CLAIMANT \n \nNATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CTR., Employer RESPONDENT \n \nTHE HARTFORD, Carrier RESPONDENT \n \n \n \n OPINION FILED JANUARY 22, 2026 \n \nHearing   before   ADMINISTRATIVE   LAW   JUDGE   ERIC   PAUL   WELLS   in   Springdale, \nWashington County, Arkansas. \n \nClaimant unrepresented and appearing pro se. \n \nRespondents represented by RANDY P. MURPHY, Attorney at Law, Little Rock, Arkansas. \n \n STATEMENT OF THE CASE \n \n On October  28,  2025,  the  above  captioned  claim  came  on  for  a  hearing  at  Springdale, \nArkansas.      A  pre-hearing  conference  was  conducted  on March  31,  2025,  and  a  Pre-hearing \nOrder  was  filed  on March  31,  2025.      A  copy  of  the  Pre-hearing  Order  has  been  marked \nCommission's Exhibit No. 1 and made a part of the record without objection. \n At the pre-hearing conference the parties agreed to the following stipulations: \n 1. The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission has jurisdiction of this claim. \n 2. The   relationship   of   employee-employer-carrier   existed   between   the   parties on \nSeptember 16, 2023. \n 3. The respondents have controverted the claim in its entirety. \n 4. The claimant was earning sufficient wages to entitle her to compensation at the weekly \nrates of $356.00 for temporary total disability benefits. \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-2- \n By agreement of the parties the issues to litigate are limited to the following: \n 1.  Whether  Claimant  sustained  compensable  injuries  to  her  bilateral  shoulders,  bilateral \nelbows, bilateral hands, and cervical spine on or about September 16, 2023. \n 2. Whether Claimant is entitled to medical treatment for her bilateral shoulders, bilateral \nelbows, bilateral hands, and cervical spine injuries. \n 3.  Whether  Claimant  is  entitled  to  temporary  total  disability  benefits  from  January  29, \n2024, to a date yet to be determined. \n The claimant's contentions are as follows: \n“The   treatment   orders   were   never   full-filled.   Denied   claims. \nClaims they didn’t notify me were denied. They just told me ‘they \nwere working on it.’ Verbally abused by the treating physicians \nwith   false   diagnosis   and   accusations,   unlawfully.   Physically \nabused   by   the   treating   doctors,   for   not   giving   me   proper \nrestrictions  and  re-injuring  and  increasing  the  pain.  I  never  had  a \ncase manager. I had to contact The Hartford through Insta-Gram. I \nhave  real  injuries  that  have  yet  to  receive  any  treatment  at  all. \nVerbal  abuse  tactics  by  Randy  Murphy,  AAL  during  a  3  way  call \nwith the State Attorney. I’ve been begging for treatment for over a \nyear, for a 24 year physical career, that was ruined because of these \ninjuries.  Continued  injuries  for  being  returned  to  work  without \nrestrictions, over and over. There is a third claim for Cervical with \nan ER visit from 2022, that was denied after it was reported within \nthe  time  limits.  I  am  in  severe  pain  and  need  treatment.  I  can  no \nlonger afford to pay out of pocket. \n \nI  would  like  appreciate  restrictions  for  my  dx.  I  would  especially \nlike treatment. I would also prefer the Work Comp Commission to \nchoose where I receive my IME. I have requested IME’s, last year, \nso I could get treatment on my own, and be MMI’d. They refused \nto  do  this,  like  everything  else.  Mr.  Murphy  and  his  team  are \nbadgering  me  to  see  THEIR  out  of  town  doctor,  for  an  IME,  and \nwon’t agree to mediation or a Department Committee approved \nphysician. These records will also show discrimination. Also at the \nadvise of the State Work Comp Legal Department.” \n \n The respondents’ contentions are as follows: \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-3- \n“Claimant has received all benefits to which she is entitled for her \ncompensable   work-related   injury.   Claimant   medical   records \nestablish  that  she  has  numerous  physical  and  emotional  problems \nwhich are unrelated to the compensable injury. The medical reports \nof  Dr.  Diemer,  Dr.  Benafield,  and  Dr.  Kelly  establish  that  her \npsychiatric    condition    is    a    non-work    related    independent, \nintervening cause which has caused and prolongs disability and her \nneeds for treatment. See Ark. Code Ann § 11-9-102(F)(b)(III).” \n \n The  claimant  in  this  matter  is  a 60-year-old  female who  alleges  to  have  sustained \ncompensable  injuries  to  her  bilateral  shoulders,  bilateral  elbows,  bilateral  hands,  and  cervical \nspine on or about September 16, 2023. The claimant appeared pro se before the Commission and \ngave testimony in a narrative form. Following is an effort to highlight portions of the claimant’s \nnarrative testimony regarding the incident or incidents on or about September 16, 2023, in which \nshe  alleges  she  sustained  compensable  injuries  to  her  bilateral  shoulders,  bilateral  elbows, \nbilateral hands, and cervical spine: \nTHE CLAIMANT: So, Your Honor, on September 16\nth\n and \n17\nth\n, I didn’t have any work restrictions and I was released to work \nprior to that to do my regular job, which you have pictures and also \nlinked to the video to show what my job entails: Balancing laptops \non  my  hands,  lifting  a  20-pound  bag  out  of  my  car  in  and  out \nmultiple times a day, carrying it into people’s homes, sitting in \nunergonomical places to do my job for up to 90 minutes, two hours \nor more at a time. \n \n I  have  to  hold  out  my  arms  stretched  out  with  a  3-pound \ntable,  pinch  grip,  that  the  doctors  state  that  I  can  pinch  that  and \nhold that all I want to and it won’t cause any damage. \n \n We  have  to  hold  it  out  with  our  arms  straight  in  order  for \nthe Respondent to take it from us. The Respondents are all elderly \nor disabled and a lot of times they don’t know how to work that \ntable, so we have to work it for them and hold it out for them and \nmove our arms in awkward positions. \n \n And  my  job  there  is – we  follow  my  respondents  for  four \nyears.  There  is  three  different  times  that  we  visit  them  per  year. \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-4- \nEvery four months we go to these people’s houses and reinterview \nthem once they have been put into the study. \n \n Every  June  a  whole  new  caseload  comes  out.  People  that \nhave  never  been  contacted.  That  lasts  from  June  until  December \n27\nth\n or December 31\nst\n, I’m sorry, or whatever year it may be. \n \n At  that  time  we  have  new  cases  of  people  that  are  being \nbrought into the study, so we have to – and I am the only employee \nin  the  whole  state  and  I  have  one  of  the  largest  caseloads  as  my \ndocuments mention that you already have a copy of. \n \n And  so  my  work  equipment  is  in  my  passenger’s  seat, \nalong  with  the  table  that  I  have  to  grab,  and  I  have  to – before  I \nleave,  I  have  to  fill  up  a  notebook  with  all  of  the  cases  I  have.  I \nhave to write down the person’s name, their address – we don’t get \na  phone  number – their  date  of  birth  and  so  forth  in  a  notebook. \nAnd we have to make folders. We have to put labels on them with \nliterature in them to bring to the door. We knock on doors. \n \n So  that  takes  place  for  half  of  the  year.  We  are  bringing \nnew  people  into  the  study.  Those  new  people  will  be  my  future \nwork because every year there is respondents leaving the study. So \nthat is my future work. And that is what I am working on when Dr. \nDeimel and Dr. Benafield said that I could do all of that. \n \n So  that  particular  day  I  had  to  knock  on  doors.  I  held  my \narm  like  a  clipboard,  my  left  arm  like  a  clipboard  for  four  hours, \nYour Honor, while I was knocking on doors. \n \n*** \n The day of the injury, that Saturday I had worked, knocked \non doors. I had pain while I was doing that. I had a lady who didn’t \nwant  to  participate,  but  she  wanted  to  talk,  so  I  stood  there  for  an \nhour  in  her  door  with  my  arm  held  like  a  clipboard,  in  and  out  of \nmy  car,  in  and  out  of  my  car,  reaching  over  the  passenger  seat \npinching-gripping that tablet. \n \n So   I   made   two   new   appointments,   so   I   had   those \nappointments  on  Sunday.  So  the  first  appointment  I  made  was  a \nproxy, which I discovered he was a proxy for many women and he \nwas a con artis on old women. \n \n We  went  to  his  house,  not  the  respondent’s  house.  His \nhouse was  a hoarder house There was nowhere to sit down.  I was \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-5- \nsitting  in  a  chair  just  like  I  am  now,  pushed  up  against  something \njust like it is now. I had this much space (indicating). I would say \nmaybe two feet of space to work. He was sitting facing me leaning \nagainst  the  side  of  the  table.  I  had  my  laptop  in  my  lap.  I  had  the \npen top on the right.  I had to bring my right arm up and over like \nthis (indicating) so I could move better, but I had to hold it up and \nover to try to work the tablet from this way so he could see it. \n \n*** \n So  not  only  was  I  doing  that  with  my  shoulder,  that  took \nalmost  two  hours  to  do  that  interview.  I  was  also  leaning  on  this \nside  to  pick  up  all  my  other  stuff  off  the  floor,  Your  Honor, \nbecause I didn’t have enough space to do my job, which is 80 \npercent typical for my job. \n \n So  I  had  a  severe  pain,  once  again  in  my  right  occipital  of \nmy neck, just like I complained about on October 22 when I went \nto  the  emergency  room  after  working  and  after  climbing  stairs  to \ninterview  someone  carrying  my  laptop  case,  so  I  went  to  the \nemergency room. \n  \n And they might like to claim that I had a preexisting injury \nto my neck and my shoulder. I did have a fall. I didn’t get any – I \ngot very little treatment. I didn’t get a diagnosis. I didn’t get any \nrestrictions.  Because  of  my  job,  I  was  able  to  take  myself  off  of \nwork.  I  had  some  pain  in  my  shoulder,  in  my  hand,  and  in  my \nneck. \n \n*** \n So  back  on  September  16\nth\n and  17\nth\n,  on  the  17\nth\n was  a \nSunday, I made two appointments from that work on the 16\nth\n. \n \n THE  COURT:  Just  for  a  point  of  clarification,  this  is \nSeptember 16\nth\n and 17\nth\n of 2023? \n \n THE CLAIMANT: Yes, sir. \n \n THE COURT: Thank you. \n \n THE  CLAIMANT:  I  had  an  original  neck  injury  from \n10/21 and 22, but they quickly denied that. \n \n THE COURT: Got you. \n \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-6- \n THE  CLAIMANT:  So  I  had  two  interviews,  so  I  already \nexplained how I had administered that first interview. \n \n I was running late to the second interview, so I grabbed all \nmy stuff, packed it up, loaded it in my car. Went down the street to \nthe second interview. It was a woman who is younger than me. She \nwas maybe in her 30s or 40s on Medicaid, low income. It was a – \nshe had Halloween stuff sitting on her front porch and a nice chair, \nbut she wouldn’t let me sit there. She didn’t want me in her house, \nso she brought out a child’s chair that was homemade for me to sit \nin. It had one-inch handles that were just wood and it was a child’s \nchair. \n \n She  was  smoking  a  joint  while  I  was  there.  She  refused  to \ntake  the  pen  to  the  laptop  or  the  tablet  from  me,  so  I  had  to  just \nkeep my arm held out, my right arm held out for her to take it. \n \n I kept asking her to take it, but she wouldn’t take it, so that \ncaused even more pain in my shoulders, my elbows, my hands, and \nmy  neck.  That  is  the  date,  September  16\nth\n and  17\nth\n,  I  had  those \ninjuries. I was still released to work with no restrictions. \n \n In  October,  I  have  proof  here,  and  you  will  see  the  emails \nas  well,  because  I  am  the  only  employee  here,  they  had  to  bring \nsomeone in. That’s what they do. They are called travelers. They \nbring someone in to do the other person’s work. \n \nIn  order  to  prove  a  compensable  injury  as  the  result  of  a  specific  incident  that  is \nidentifiable by time and place of occurrence, a claimant must establish by a preponderance of the \nevidence  (1)  an  injury  arising  out  of  and  in  the  course  of  employment;  (2)  the  injury  caused \ninternal or external harm to the body which required medical services or resulted in disability or \ndeath;  (3)  medical  evidence  supported  by  objective  findings  establishing  an  injury;  and  (4)  the \ninjury was caused by a specific incident identifiable by time and place of occurrence. Odd Jobs \nand More v. Reid, 2011 Ark. App. 450, 384 S.W. 3d 630. \n Within  the  medical  records introduced  into  evidence  there  exists  evidence  of  objective \nmedical  findings  of  derangement  to  some,  but  not  all,  of  the  body  parts  the  claimant  alleges  to \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-7- \nhave  sustained  compensable  injuries  to  on  or  about  September  16,  2023.  However,  even  if  the \nclaimant could show objective medical findings regarding all the body parts she alleges to have \nsustained  injuries  to  on or  about September  16,  2023,  she  cannot  prove  a  causal  connection \nbetween those body parts and the incident or, more appropriately, the incidents she alleges. \n The claimant’s description of how she was injured is a wide array of tasks and events that \nappear  to  happen  over  a  day  if  not  a  two-day  period.  Examples  include,  but  are  not  limited  to, \nsitting in a bad chair, holding a laptop in her hand, getting a bag from her car, and having to be \nseated while watching someone walk around in a room. \n I note at this time that the claimant has a separate Arkansas Workers’ Compensation \nclaim that has an injury date in February of 2023. I note this due to the reference of this date in \nmany of the medical records submitted into evidence.  \n The claimant’s lack of a causal connection between her alleged compensable injuries and \nher objective medical findings is weakened by the lack of medical evidence to support any injury \nor  injuries  on  that  date  or  in  that  time  frame.  Claimant’s  Exhibit  1,  pages  98-100,  is  an \nemergency department physician’s note from Washington Regional Medical Center authored by \nDr. Davis Duong dated November 5, 2023, which, in part, states: \nChief Complaint \nPt arrives to er with c/o bilat shoulder pain, pt was lifting a laptop \nand tablet \n \nHistory of Present Illness \n58-year-old  female  here  for  evaluation.  History  obtained  from \npatient.  Chief  complaint  of  shoulder  pain.  Localized  bilaterally, \nright  greater  than  left.  Reports  chronic  history  of  shoulder  pain. \nStates  symptoms  have  been  exacerbated  since  February  2023. \nSymptoms worsened with movement and palpation. Denies fall or \ntrauma.  Reports  pain  exacerbated  over  past  several  days  after  she \nobtained   an   outpatient   MRI   of   RUE.   States   has   follow-up \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-8- \nappointment pending with orthopedic surgery Clinic this upcoming \nweek in Fort Smith. \n \n Claimant’s Exhibit 1, pages 129-130,  is  a  medical  record  dated  November  16,  2023, \nauthored by Dr. Miles Johnson and, in part, states: \nCHIEF  COMPLAINT:  Pain,  numbness  and  tingling  in  the  upper \nextremities. \n \nHISTORY  OF  PRESENT  ILLNESS:  Patient  is  a  58-year-old \nambidextrous diabetic female who has a history of bilateral elbow \npain  and  intermittent  numbness  and  tingling  in  the  hands  which \nbegan  on  February  21\nst\n.  Symptoms  can  involve  all  the  digits  but \nusually  just  the  fourth  and  fifth  digits.  Symptoms  are  worse  at \nnight, typing, lifting, or gripping. There is some improvement with \nheat  and  massage.  She  denies  any  significant  weakness.  There  is \nsome  nonradiating  neck  pain.  Patient  has  been  seen  by  Dr.  Kelly \nand  is  referred  for  electrodiagnostic  testing  of  the  bilateral  upper \nextremities. \n \n Neither of these medical records makes any mention of the claimant’s suffering an injury \non or about September 16, 2023. Instead, both reference the claimant’s February 2023 incident.  \n The closest by date medical record in evidence after the claimant’s alleged on or about \nSeptember 16, 2023, incident is a medical record found at Respondents’ Exhibit 1, pages 92-96, \nauthored  by  Dr.  George  Diemel  and  dated  September  26,  2023.  Following  are  portions  of  that \nmedical record: \nFollow Up Questionnaire \n \nAre you better, worse, or the same since your last appointment: \nWorse \n \nWhere is your primary complaint? \nLUE, elbow, medial/lateral/axillary, scapula, right elbow and wrist, \nfingers \n \nApproximately how long have you had this symptom now? \n02/21/2023 \n \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-9- \nRate your pain \n9 \n \nWhich best describes your current complaints? \nAching \nBurning \nNumb \nSharp \nShooting \nStabbing \nThrobbing \n \nMs.  Bass  returns  to  the  clinic  today  for  follow  up.  She  was  last \nevaluated  on  8/03/2023.  At  that  time,  I  was  seeing  her  for  upper \nextremity   pain   complaints.   She   was   also   being   seen   by   Dr. \nBenafield  and  had  been  going  to  occupational  therapy.  They  have \nboth  discharged  her  from  care.  During  our  last  visit,  there  were \nsome  emotional  exchanges  during  the  course  of  the  discussion. \nAfter  that  visit,  her  work-comp  case  manager  reached  out  and \nasked  whether  or  not  we  would  continue  to  evaluate  her.  She  is \nhere today to discuss further evaluation and treatment options. \n \n*** \nAssessment/Plan \nImaging and record review: \nAn MRI of the thoracic spine from Washington Regional Medical \nCenter  dated  2/7/2023  was  reviewed.  There  is  a  vertebral  body \nhemangioma. There is some mild degenerative disc disease at T5-6 \nwith anterior osteophytosis. \nOtherwise unremarkable \nCervical   spine   radiographs   from   Ozark   Orthopaedics   dated \n4/4/2023  were  reviewed.  There  is  well  preserved  disc  space  and \nvertebral  body  height  throughout.  No  abnormal  alignment.  No \nfracture. \nAn  MRI  of  the  cervical  spine  from  Ozark  Orthopaedics  dated \n4/10/2023  was  reviewed.  There  is  mild  disc  bulging  and  facet \narthropathy at the C4-5 level. This results in mild central canal and \nmild  right  neural  foraminal  narrowing.  There  is  moderate  left \nneural foraminal stenosis. The remaining levels are unremarkable. \nReport  from  EMC/NCS  of  the  bilateral  upper  extremities  dated \n4/13/2023 was reviewed and is normal. \nX-ray  of  the  right  elbow  was  taken  in  clinic  6/26/2023.  3  views \nshowing good alignment. No osteolytic lesion. \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-10- \nClinical    documentation    from    Dr.    Bryan    Benafield,    dated \n07/19/2023,  was  obtained  and  reviewed.  He  gave  her  an  injection \nand has done night time splinting. \nClinical documentation from D. Bryan Benafield, dated 8/23/2023, \nwas reviewed. In this note, he indicated that he believed that there \nwas  some  secondary  gain  behavior/malingering  and  would  no \nlonger see the patient. \nMultiple   clinic   notes   from   occupational   therapy   were   also \nreviewed. A discharge summary, dated 9/21/2023, was reviewed. \n \nInterventions: \nA  report  from  ultrasound-guided  right  ulnar  nerve  corticosteroid \ninjection dated 6/21/2023 was reviewed. \n \nDiagnoses: \n1.  Bilateral  elbow  pain  and  hand  parasthesias,  suspected  ulnar \nneuropathy at the elbow vs referred cervical radicular pain. \n2.  Neck  and  right  shoulder  pain  with  bilateral  arm  pain  and \nparasthesias, possible superimposed cervical radiculopathy. \n3. Work-related injury. 2/21/2023 with injury while lifting. \n4. Pre-existing neck and shoulder pain secondary to fall. \n5. Filed conservative care including activity modification, over the \ncounter medications, and physical therapy. \n6. Prior concern for autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis. \n7. S/p EMG/NCS, normal. \n8. Cervical spondylosis. \n9. Cervical spine MRI evidence of C4-5 facet arthropathy, mild to \nmoderate NF stenosis. \n10. S/p right ulnar nerve corticosteroid injection with improvement \nin  symptoms,  patient  experienced  injection  site  dermatological \nreaction. \n11. Status-post occupational therapy, night time splinting under the \ncare of Dr. Bryan Benafield. \n12.  Recent  discharge  from  care  with  Dr.  Bryan  Benafield  due  to \ncontentious patient/physician interaction. \n13.  Status-post  occupational  therapy  with  discharge  of  care  with \nclinical documentation of patient being resistant to \nsuggestions/recommendations  for  joint  protection  techniques  and \nworkstation ergonomics. \n \nAssessment: \nMs. Bass returns to clinic today for a follow up. We discussed her \nclinical  course.  She  spent  the  first  20  minutes  of  the  visit  going \nthrough  a  list  of  grievances  against  Ozark   Orthopaedics,  Dr. \nBenafield, our therapy team and her WC carrier  as far as how she \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-11- \nhas  been  treated.  She  states  she  is  frustrated  by  her  care  and  also \nnoted  that  she  has  attempted  to  get  in  touch  with  us  on  multiple \noccasions in attempts to  try to pursue different treatments. During \nthe  course  of  the  discussion,  she  outlined  different  dates  in  which \nshe had tried to reach out in hopes that she could get a “Toradol \nshot”.  She  did  state  that  somewhere  in  the  course  of  this  she \nultimately went to urgent care although it was unclear whether she \ndid in fact the get treatment she was looking for. She continued to \nreference  her  left  shoulder  and  arm  as  the  reason  for  the  need  to \ntreatment. Previous complaints had focused on the bilateral elbows \nwhich  is  what  initial  WC  injury  location  was  indicated  as  per  my \nunderstanding. Our previous workup had included cervical spine x-\nrays,  MRI  of  cervical  spine,  EMG/NCS  of  the  bilateral  upper \nextremities,   an   injection   for   the   right   elbow   to   assess   the \ncontribution of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, referral for orthopedic \nhand consultation and a considerable amount of therapy to address \nher bilateral upper extremity concerns. \n \nClinical  correspondence  from  8/18/2023  indicates  a  one  time, \napproval   from   her   WC   CM   regarding   evaluation   of   her   left \nshoulder and wrists which prompted today’s appointment. In the \ncorrespondence,  it  was  noted  that  approval  had  not  been  given \npreviously to evaluate these injuries. She states she was not aware \nof when this appointment was going to be made and had to look at \nthe  portal.  I  told  her  that  the  appointment  was  requested  by  her \nwork-comp  case  manager  which  she  states  she  has  not  spoken  to. \nShe   states   that   she   only   knew   about   this   appointment   after \nreferencing the portal. She stated that she didn’t know what she \nwas here but wanted to be sure to show up so “we couldn’t mark \nher  down  as  non-compliant.” I told her that I did not have any \nintention of making such a claim nor what “out to get her”. \n \nSo  summary  of  initial  discussion  regarding  this  appointment  from \nher  perspective  was  questioning  why  she  was  here  stating  she  did \nnot  request  this  appointment  be  made.  This  was  subsequently \nfollowed  by  the  aforementioned  outlining  of  grievances  she  had \nwith how her care had bene administered. She then went on to say \nthat  she  had  hired  an  attorney.  She  also  reached  out  to  the  Work-\nComp   State   Commission.   They   have   since   sent   her   up   an \nappointment  with  Dr.  Kelley,  and  she  has  an  appointment  on \nMonday, in Fort Smith to see him and establish care. \n \nNear the conclusion of the visit, she asked whether or not I would \nevaluate her left shoulder/arm. This was approximately 40 minutes \ninto her visit. Prior to the visit, I did review records indicating we \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-12- \nhave done EMG/NCS of the upper extremities, cervical spine xrays \nand  cervical  spine  MRI.  We  have  also  sent  therapy  in  to  address \nher upper extremities complaints. Per her recollection, therapy did \nnot  do  anything  to  address  her  concerns.  Review  of  discharge \ntherapy records from 9/20/2023 indicated that she was “resistant” \nto  recommendations,  “argumentative”  and  requested  therapy \nelsewhere. \n \nAt this point given the history of prior interactions, the fact that she \nhas  on  her  own  accord  attempted  to  establish  care  and  has  a \npending  appointment  with  another  provider  through  the  work-\ncomp  system  which  has  apparently  been  orchestrated  with  her \nnewly acquired legal representation, and made references to taking \nlegal  action  against  my  orthopedic  hand  partner,  Dr.  Benafield,  I \ntold  her  that  I  would  hold  on  any  further  evaluation  of  her  new \npain complaints. Despite my explaining this to her, she also asked \nwither  or  not  she  could  receive  a  Toradol  shot,  which  I  politely \ndeclined.  I  did  not  take  a  detailed  history  of  injury  to  the  left \nshoulder.  I  did  not  inquire  about  prior  injuries  not  did  I  address \nwork   status   related   to   her   shoulder   injury.   From   my   prior \nevaluation, there are no functional limitations related to her elbows \n(initial  work  injury)  that  would  limit  her  ability  to  return  to  her \nprior work tasks which have been outlined previously as computer \nwork, administrative tasks and light duty activities. \n \nAgain, this visit was contentious and centered accusations that she \nhas not been provide the level of care that she expected. From prior \ninteractions, this stems from a differing opinion on whether she is \nable to continue her work activities as outlined. I truly believe she \nbelieves  that  she  cannot  perform  these  tasks.  Unfortunately,  all \nobjective data that  we have to make decisions from in the context \nof her initial WC injury does not support her belief that continuing \nthese  work  activities  will  result  in  irreversible  and  irreparable \nharm.  Any  attempts  at  discussing  a  return  to  work  plan  were  met \nwith   resistance.   My   interactions   seem   to   be   consistent   with \ndocumentation  from  Dr.  Benafield  and  our  occupational  therapy \nteam  about  interactions  they  have  also  had  with  Ms.  Bass.  At  this \npoint, I am not sure I have anything else further to add to her care. \n \nIn the end, I did apologize that she did not receive the level of care \nhere  at  Ozark  Orthopaedics  that  she  was  expecting.  I  wished  her \nthe  best  and  told  her  I  hoped  she  finds  a  suitable  solution  for  her \npain complaints. \n \nSummary \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-13- \nWill hold on any further evaluation or treatment recommendations \ngiven  that  the  patient  has  established  care  with  another  provider \nthrough work-comp. \nNo   further   work   restrictions   per   my   recommendation   given \npending care through other provider. \n \nFollow up as needed. \n \n1. Ulnar neuropathy of right arm \nG56.21: Lesion of ulnar nerve, right upper limb \n \n This administrative law judge has been unable to find any medical record that reports an \ninjury,  or  injuries to have  beset  the  claimant  on  or  about  September  16,  2023,  until  a  February \n27,  2024,  medical  record  from  the  Center  for  Psychology,  PA,  authored  by  Virginia  Krauft,  a \nlicensed  psychologist  and  Carly  Solome,  a  clinical  psychologist.  Following  is  a  portion  of  that \nmedical record found at Respondents’ Exhibit 1, pages 172-179: \nREASON FOR REFERRAL: \nPsychological  evaluation  was  requested  by  Ms.  Bass  due  to  her \nphysician’s concern about a possible overlap between physical and \npsychological  symptoms.  She  reported  difficulties  communicating \nwith medical providers, managing stress, coping with chronic pain \nand emotional distress, deficits in attention and focus that interfere \nwith functioning t home and work. Her overall goal was to receive \ndiagnostic clarity. \n \nMs.  Bass  reported  difficulties  organizing  and  completing  tasks, \nbecoming  easily  exhausted  and  overwhelmed,  and  experiencing \nstress  and  anxiety  related  to  worker’s  compensation  claim  and \nchronic  illness.  She  said  symptoms  become  unmanageable  after \nlosing  her  job  in  November  2023.  This  followed  incidents  that \nhappened at work in October 2022, February 2023 and September \n2023 (See Appendix V). \n \nI note that Appendix V is not found in the medical evidence in this matter. \n The claimant filed an AR-C on January 31, 2024, alleging to have sustained compensable \ninjuries  to  her  bilateral  shoulders,  bilateral  wrists,  bilateral  elbows,  neck  and  numbness  to \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-14- \nfingers, alleging those injuries to have occurred on September 16, 2023. That AR-C was signed \nby the claimant on January 22, 2024, and is found at Respondents’ Exhibit 2, page 3.  \n Here, the claimant is unable to prove a causal connection between any objective medical \nfindings she does possess and the incident or incidents she alleges to have occurred on or about \nSeptember 16, 2023. The claimant has failed to prove her alleged injuries on or about September \n16, 2023, compensable. \n From a review of the record as a whole, to include medical reports, documents, and other \nmatters properly before the Commission, and having had an opportunity to hear the testimony of \nthe witness and to observe her demeanor, the following findings of fact  and conclusions of law \nare made in accordance with A.C.A. §11-9-704: \n FINDINGS OF FACT & CONCLUSIONS OF LAW \n 1.  The  stipulations  agreed  to  by  the  parties  at  the  pre-hearing  conference  conducted  on \nMarch 31, 2025, and contained in a Pre-hearing Order filed March 31, 2025, are hereby accepted \nas fact. \n 2. The claimant has failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that she sustained \ncompensable  injuries  to  her  bilateral  shoulders,  bilateral  elbows,  bilateral  hands,  and  cervical \nspine on or about September 16, 2023. \n 3. The claimant has failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that she is entitled \nto medical treatment for her alleged compensable injuries. \n 4. The claimant has failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that she is entitled \nto temporary total disability benefits from January 29, 2024, to a date yet to be determined.  \n \n \n\nBass – H400841 \n \n-15- \n ORDER \nPursuant  to  the  above  findings  and  conclusions,  I  have  no  alternative  but  to  deny  this \nclaim in its entirety. \nIf  they  have  not  already  done  so,  the  respondents  are  directed  to  pay  the  court  reporter, \nVeronica Lane, fees and expenses within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice. \n IT IS SO ORDERED. \n \n                                ____________________________                                               \n       HONORABLE ERIC PAUL WELLS \n       ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE","preview":"BEFORE THE ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION WCC NO. H400841 SHERRI BASS, Employee CLAIMANT NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CTR., Employer RESPONDENT THE HARTFORD, Carrier RESPONDENT OPINION FILED JANUARY 22, 2026 Hearing before ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE ERIC PAUL WELLS in Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas. Clai...","fetched_at":"2026-05-19T22:33:03.634Z","links":{"html":"/opinions/alj-H400841-2026-01-22","pdf":"https://www.labor.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/BASS_SHERRI_H400841_20260122.pdf","source_publisher":"https://labor.arkansas.gov/workers-comp/awcc-opinions/administrative-law-judge-opinions/"}}