Decision #34/03 - Type: Workers Compensation

Preamble

A non-oral file review was held on February 27, 2003, at the claimant's request.

Issue

Whether or not the WCB should accept financial responsibility for an ambulance bill on June 29, 2002.

Decision

That the WCB should not accept financial responsibility for an ambulance bill on June 29, 2002.

Decision: Unanimous

Background

On May 30, 2002, the claimant injured the fingers of his right hand when he stepped out of a trailer onto a wooden ladder when the ladder slipped, causing him to grab onto the metal edge of the trailer. The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) accepted the claim for compensation and benefits on May 31, 2002.

Subsequent file information revealed that the claimant asked the WCB to pay for a June 29, 2002 ambulance bill. The claimant advised his adjudicator on August 1, 2002, that he was home alone on June 29th when he started to feel ill and that he felt like he was having a heart attack. He felt his symptoms may have been caused by the medication that he was taking for his hand. On August 6, 2002, the claimant told his adjudicator that the hospital treated him for anxiety and that he was later released. In hindsight, the claimant thought that he had become dehydrated from his medication, the heat, not enough water, too much coffee and a reaction from the cough candies he was taking.

On August 7, 2002, an opinion was sought from a WCB medical advisor as to whether or not he felt that the claimant's hospital visit and ambulance service was a WCB responsibility. The medical advisor indicated that the claimant had essentially suffered from a panic attack and that the panic attack had no relationship to the compensable accident. The medical advisor indicated that the ambulance bill was not a WCB responsibility. On September 3, 2002, the claimant was advised in writing that the WCB was unable to accept responsibility for the June 29, 2002 ambulance bill. The claimant appealed this decision to Review Office.

In a decision dated November 8, 2002, Review Office confirmed that no financial responsibility would be accepted for the cost of the ambulance bill. Review Office concluded there was no available information on file that would support the claimant's contention that the ambulance trip was in any way related to his compensable hand injury.

On December 8, 2002, the claimant appealed Review Office's decision and a non-oral file review was arranged.

Reasons

In the afternoon of June 29th, 2002, the claimant began to experience what he believed to be was a heart attack. Out of an abundance of caution, he contacted an ambulance service and requested that he be taken to a nearby hospital. He now seeks reimbursement for the cost of this service from the WCB.

We find in accordance with the evidence that the claimant presented at the emergency ward of the local hospital with what can be best described as panic/anxiety attack symptoms. We further find based on the weight of evidence that these anxiety symptoms did not occur as a result of the medication he was taking with respect to his compensable injury.

The WCB should not accept financial responsibility for the claimant's June 29th, 2002 ambulance bill. Therefore the claimant's appeal is hereby dismissed.

Panel Members

R. W. MacNeil, Presiding Officer
A. Finkel, Commissioner
M. Day, Commissioner

Recording Secretary, B. Miller

R.W. MacNeil - Presiding Officer
(on behalf of the panel)

Signed at Winnipeg this 7th day of April, 2003

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