In the Matter of the Claim of Fernando Nunez
Fernando Nunez appealed two decisions from the Workers' Compensation Board. Nunez, a maintenance worker, sustained work-related injuries in July 2018. In March 2019, he experienced further back issues at home and resigned. His workers' compensation claim was initially established for a lower back injury by a WCLJ, who found the March 2019 incident exacerbated his prior injury and awarded benefits. However, the Board modified this, finding insufficient evidence of a causally-related disability after March 2019, and denied authorization for surgery. The Appellate Division affirmed the Board's decisions, noting Nunez's burden to prove continued disability and the Board's authority to assess medical evidence credibility, especially when expert opinions were based on incomplete histories provided by Nunez.