8/23/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 1. BILATERAL VARICOCO[E]LE, MORE SEVERE IN THE LEFT[;] 2. EPIDIDYMAL HEAD CYSTS VERSUS SPERMATOCOELES, RIGHT[;] 3. NORMAL ULTRASOUND OF THE TESTES AND LEFT ]EPIDIDYMIS; and] 4. UNENLARGED INGUINAL LYMPH NODE, BILATERAL[19] On May 23, 2012, respondent underwent various tests such as CBC, BUN, creatinine, cholesterol, LDL, SGPT, SGOT, urinalysis and abdominal ultrasound, all of which yielded normal results. However, his inguinoscrotal ultrasound showed varicocoele, bilateral. Thus, Dr. Comising recommended a procedure called varicocoelectomy, bilateral.[20] On June 26, 2012, respondent underwent varicocoelectomy, bilateral at the Manila Doctor's Hospital.[21] The histopathologic diagnosis[22] was: VARICOCOELECTOMY,[23] BILATERAL VARICOCOELE Upon his return for evaluation on July 5, 2012, Dr. Comising noted that there was minimal tolerable pain over the operative wounds which were healing well.[24] On his follow-up check-up on July 12, 2012, the doctor observed that there was decreasing pain over the operative wounds.[25] During his check-up on August 28, 2012, Dr. Comising noted that the pain respondent was feeling in the operative wounds has resolved and the wounds have healed well. As such, respondent was declared fit to work.[26] Doubtful of his fit to work assessment, respondent wrote petitioners, through Jose, immediately the following day informing them that despite his operation and the said assessment, he still continues to feel pain on his surgical wound and experience numbness on the site of operation. He also feels pain on his spine. He, thus, asked that he be reevaluated and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) be performed on him to determine his present state. He also asked for illness allowance.[27] Since he did not get any response on his requests from the petitioners and anxious to know the real cause of his lower back pains, respondent decided to undergo MRI of his lumbo-sacral spines at the BDM MRI Center, Inc. on September 21, 2012.[28] The result of the MRI was: IMPRESSION: > DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE, L3-L4 AND L4-L5 > BROAD BASED DISC BULGE WITH AN ANNULAR TEAR AT L4L5[29] On October 1, 2012, respondent consulted Dr. Omar T. Cortes (Dr. Cortes), Chief of Urology Section, Department of Surgery, Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center (AFPMC) for a second opinion. Dr. Cortes interviewed the respondent and studied the medical records and documents he presented which showed that he had Varicoc[o]ele, Bilateral S/P Varicoc[o]electomy, Bilateral; Broad-based disc bulge with annular tear at level L4-L5; and Degenerative disc disease L3-L4 and L4-L5. In a Certification dated October 5, 2012, Dr. Cortes opined that the present clinical status elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/65134 3/12