CompFox AI Summary
This case concerns a death benefit claim where the applicant's claim was initially denied by the WCJ due to the statute of limitations. The applicant argued that Labor Code section 5406.7, which provides an extended timeframe for claims involving blood-borne diseases or MRSA, should apply. The Appeals Board rescinded the WCJ's findings, finding that the determination of the "date of injury" for cumulative trauma claims, as defined by Labor Code section 5412, hinges on the applicant's knowledge of the industrial cause of death. Because no such determination was made and the defendant failed to meet its burden of proof on this issue, the case was returned to the trial level for further proceedings.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
This case concerns a death benefit claim where the applicant's claim was initially denied by the WCJ due to the statute of limitations. The applicant argued that Labor Code section 5406.7, which provides an extended timeframe for claims involving blood-borne diseases or MRSA, should apply. The Appeals Board rescinded the WCJ's findings, finding that the determination of the "date of injury" for cumulative trauma claims, as defined by Labor Code section 5412, hinges on the applicant's knowledge of the industrial cause of death. Because no such determination was made and the defendant failed to meet its burden of proof on this issue, the case was returned to the trial level for further proceedings.
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