Anderson,Bennie v. City of Knoxville Department of Recreation
Bennie Anderson, an employee of the City of Knoxville Department of Recreation, sustained work-related injuries after a slip and fall. Although the employer accepted compensability and provided initial medical care, Anderson sought unauthorized treatment for conditions he claimed were related to the accident. The trial court denied his request for additional medical and temporary disability benefits, ruling he was unlikely to prove entitlement given he had reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) by authorized physicians. On appeal, the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board affirmed this decision, citing the employee's failure to present expert medical evidence supporting his claims and the absence of a proper appellate record. The Board emphasized that an employee's lay testimony alone is insufficient to establish medical causation for benefits.