RAMON COLLADO vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, CENTINELA STATE PRISON
The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to study the factual and legal issues in Ramon Collado's case against the California Department of Corrections and Centinela State Prison. Collado sought reconsideration of a WCJ's Findings and Order from July 28, 2021, which concluded he failed to prove an industrially caused heart/hypertension injury between December 20, 2012, and August 14, 2018. The Board found the Qualified Medical Evaluator's opinion on whether Collado's condition was an aggravation or mere exacerbation of prior injuries was unclear and contradictory, failing to constitute substantial medical evidence. Consequently, the Board rescinded the WCJ's decision and returned the matter to the trial level for further proceedings, including the development of the medical record and a determination on the applicability of Labor Code section 3212 presumptions.