COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Benton, Coleman and Willis

HALMOR CORPORATION D/B/A DR. PEPPER OF STAUNTON AND SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY MEMORANDUM OPINION * v. Record No. 2293-94-3 PER CURIAM MAY 30, 1995 ROBERT DONALD KELLEY

FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION (G. Rodney Young, II; Wharton, Aldhizer & Weaver, on brief), for appellants.

No brief for appellee.

Halmor Corporation d/b/a Dr. Pepper of Staunton and its insurer (hereinafter collectively referred to as "employer") contend that the Workers' Compensation Commission erred in finding that Robert Donald Kelley sustained an injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment. Upon reviewing the record and opening brief, we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we summarily affirm the commission's decision. Rule 5A:27. "In order to carry his burden of proving an 'injury by accident,' a claimant must prove that the cause of his injury was an identifiable incident or sudden precipitating event and that it resulted in an obvious sudden mechanical or structural change in the body." Morris v. Morris, 238 Va. 578, 589, 385 S.E.2d * Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not designated for publication.

858, 865 (1989).

On appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party below. R.G. Moore Bldg. Corp. v. Mullins, 10 Va. App. 211, 212, 390 S.E.2d 788, 788 (1990). We must uphold the commission's findings of fact if they are supported by credible evidence. James v. Capitol Steel Constr.

Co., 8 Va. App. 512, 515, 382 S.E.2d 487, 488 (1989).

Kelley testified that on November 15, 1993, he lifted and pulled the corner of a three-foot by four-foot pallet loaded with drinks in an attempt to remove the plastic wrap. Kelley testified that the plastic wrap would not come off and that he had to lift and pull it several times to remove it from the pallet. After removing the plastic wrap, Kelley loaded or moved the pallet. Approximately five minutes later, he sat down in a truck and felt a bulging pain. He examined himself in the restroom and discovered that "things didn't look right." He informed his co-worker that he had hurt himself. The co-worker told him that he had sustained a hernia. The pain worsened as Kelley continued to work. At 1:00 a.m. the next morning, Kelley sought treatment at King's Daughter's Hospital emergency room.

The hospital emergency room report states that Kelley "pulled something loose in LLQ, at work 8 pm tonight upon lifting pallet of Dr. Pepper-noted swelling upon getting into truck." Kelley was diagnosed with acute inguinal hernia. Dr. William L.

Faulkenberry's Attending Physician's Report relates a similar

history and notes treatment for left inguinal hernia.

The commission awarded compensation, finding that Kelley's left inguinal hernia was the result of a November 15, 1993, identifiable incident that caused an obvious sudden mechanical or structural change in Kelley's body. Kelley's testimony and the medical evidence provides sufficient credible evidence to support the commission's findings. Although Kelley did not experience pain until five minutes after pulling and lifting the pallet, his condition can be fairly traced to an identifiable incident occurring at a specific time. "Where reasonable inferences may be drawn from the evidence in support of the commission's factual findings, they will not be disturbed on appeal." Hawks v. Henrico County Sch. Bd., 7 Va. App. 398, 404, 374 S.E.2d 695, 698 (1988).

For the reasons stated, we affirm the commission's decision.

Affirmed.