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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. ADJ13002649, ADJ13002697
Regular
Oct 20, 2025

LORENZO TORRES vs. KOOS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.; SAFETY NATIONAL CASUALTY COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied defendant's Petition for Reconsideration of a Joint Findings and Award (F&A) issued on July 21, 2025. The F&A, authored by a Workers' Compensation Judge, found that applicant Lorenzo Torres sustained injuries arising out of and in the course of employment (AOE/COE) to his lumbar spine and psyche (ADJ13002649), with the psychological injury not precluded by a good faith personnel action defense, resulting in temporary partial disability and 14% permanent disability to the lumbar spine. Additionally, applicant sustained AOE/COE injuries to his right and left shoulders (ADJ13002697), leading to 3% and 4% permanent disability respectively. Defendant challenged these findings, arguing insufficient evidence for the psyche injury, unjustified temporary partial disability, a lower lumbar spine impairment, and no industrial shoulder injury. The Appeals Board reviewed the matter, including the WCJ's Report and Recommendation, and found the WCJ's conclusions to be supported by substantial evidence. Consequently, the Board affirmed the original F&A and denied the reconsideration petition.

AOE/COEGood Faith Personnel Action DefensePsychological InjuryLumbar Spine InjuryShoulder InjuryTemporary Partial DisabilityPermanent DisabilityApportionmentQualified Medical EvaluatorSubstantial Evidence
References
11
Case No. AD10769216
Regular
Dec 13, 2019

Richard Hovannisian vs. UCLA, Permissibly Self-Insured, Administered By SEDGWICK CMS

The WCAB granted reconsideration and deferred issues of lumbar spine injury and permanent disability from a prior award. The WCJ's decision relied on a QME report that failed to establish industrial causation for the lumbar spine injury and lacked sufficient explanation for departing from AMA Guides methodology for permanent disability ratings. The Board found these deficiencies meant the decision was not based on substantial medical evidence. Further proceedings are required for the QME to adequately address causation, rating methodology, and lumbar spine classification.

WCABPetition for ReconsiderationFindings of Fact & Awardindustrial injurylumbar spinepermanent disabilitysubstantial medical evidencedue processDisability Evaluation Unitpanel qualified medical evaluator
References
4
Case No. ADJ8725399 ADJ8725400
Regular
Feb 15, 2019

WENDY YFFERT vs. WILLIAM D. RAWLINGS, DDS, STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, affirming the finding of 100% permanent disability for the applicant's cumulative trauma injury. The applicant, a dental hygienist, suffered injuries to her lumbar spine and other body parts, and the Board found these injuries rendered her totally disabled. The defendant argued for apportionment of disability based on medical opinions regarding internal and psychiatric conditions, but the Board concluded apportionment was unnecessary as the lumbar spine injury alone caused total disability. The WCJ's report, adopted by the Board, adequately addressed the defendant's contentions.

Permanent disabilityapportionmentcumulative traumaAgreed Medical Examiner (AME)orthopedic injurypsychiatric injuryinternal medicinedeposition testimonyvocational expertJoint Findings and Award
References
1
Case No. ADJ267505 (BAK 0140579) ADJ1932429 (BAK 0140580)
Regular
Jun 11, 2009

SHERYLL HICKS vs. KERN COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS; SELF INSURED SCHOOLS BAKERSFIELD

This case concerns an applicant's appeal of a workers' compensation award for industrial injuries to her lumbar spine and psyche. The applicant contended the defendant failed to pay the permanent disability award correctly and disputed the temporary disability end date. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to correct a clerical error in the original findings of fact regarding injuries to other body parts. The Board affirmed the WCJ's decision, including the $6\%$ permanent disability for the lumbar spine and $100\%$ for the psyche.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardIndustrial InjuryLumber SpinePsychePermanent DisabilityTemporary Total DisabilityPermanent Total DisabilityPetition for ReconsiderationWCJClerical Error
References
0
Case No. ADJ790852
Regular
Apr 05, 2016

LAURA BREITIGAN vs. COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted the applicant's petition for reconsideration, amending the award to include attorney fees on accrued unpaid permanent disability benefits and correcting clerical errors. The Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, upholding the finding of 100% permanent disability and injury to the lumbar spine. The defendant was also admonished for filing a document exceeding the page limit without prior permission. The applicant, a nurse, sustained industrial injuries to her thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and psyche.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLaura BreitiganCounty of RiversideFindings and Awardindustrial injurythoracic spinelumbar spinepsychepermanent disabilityapportionment
References
0
Case No. ADJ10954606
Regular
Mar 09, 2020

DORIT DAVIDOFF vs. UCLA MEDICAL CENTER, SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration to clarify findings of fact regarding industrial injury AOE/COE. The Board rescinded the previous decision and substituted a new Findings and Award to specifically address the stipulated injury to the lumbar spine, ensuring the award of permanent disability benefits was properly supported. The Board clarified that stipulations agreed upon by the parties should be treated as findings of fact to meet statutory requirements. The decision confirms permanent disability for the left ankle, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine, denies claims for neck and knee injuries, and orders further medical treatment and attorney fees.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and AwardIndustrial InjuryLumbar SpineThoracic SpineLeft AnkleAOE/COEStipulationJurisdictional FactsFindings of Fact
References
1
Case No. ADJ11065177
Regular
Apr 09, 2019

FRANK ROMANO vs. PROVIDENCE HEALTH AND SERVICES, SEDGWICK CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinding a prior award that found 4% permanent disability. The Board found the orthopedist's apportionment of lumbar spine impairment to nonindustrial daily activities to be unsubstantiated. Specifically, the doctor could not identify specific nonindustrial activities causing impairment or link them to the found impairment. Therefore, the Board awarded an unapportioned 7% permanent disability for the applicant's industrial lumbar spine injury.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationPermanent DisabilityApportionmentSubstantial Medical EvidenceMedical OpinionLumbar Spine DRE Category IIWhole Person ImpairmentAMA GuidesMuscle Spasm
References
9
Case No. ADJ8413521
Regular
Apr 13, 2020

STEVEN KING vs. COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO

This Workers' Compensation Appeals Board case involves applicant Steven King's claims for injury arising out of and occurring in the course of employment, including bilateral shoulders, lumbar spine, cardiac system, hernia, skin disorder, hearing loss, and hypertension. The Board affirmed the finding of injury AOE/COE and the hypertension rating but remanded the case for further development of the record regarding the applicant's lumbar spine impairment. The administrative law judge's prior rejection of the Agreed Medical Examiner's (AME) supplemental opinion on lumbar spine disability was deemed an improper disregard of substantial medical evidence.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationAmended Findings and Awardinjury arising out of and occurring in the course of employmentbilateral shoulderslumbar spinecardiac systemherniaskin disorderhearing loss
References
8
Case No. ADJ1211037
Regular
May 10, 2010

ANGELICA DAYRIT vs. WALGREENS

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted Walgreens' petition for reconsideration, overturning the prior award for cervical, lumbar spine, and psyche injuries. The Board found the applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence and testimony to establish industrial injury to her cervical and lumbar spine. However, the Board affirmed the finding of a psyche injury, acknowledging that hearsay evidence from a physician's report could support this claim. The case is remanded for further proceedings to determine temporary disability, permanent disability, and attorney's fees based solely on the psyche injury.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSenior Pharmacy TechnicianCumulative TraumaOrthopedic ComponentsPsychiatric ComponentsMandatory Settlement ConferenceApplicant Failure to AppearNotice to AppearDue ProcessSubstantial Evidence
References
7
Case No. ADJ7438046
Regular
Nov 28, 2016

Bridgitte Strawberry vs. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

The applicant sought reconsideration of a prior award, primarily contesting the exclusion of headaches and sleep apnea as industrial injuries and the rating methodology for lumbar spine and right knee injuries. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, affirming that headaches and sleep apnea were not industrially caused but found the applicant entitled to a 15% increase in permanent disability. Crucially, the Board determined the Agreed Medical Examiner's alternative *Almaraz/Guzman* ratings for the lumbar spine and right knee were valid, requiring a return to the trial level for new rating instructions and further proceedings on permanent disability and apportionment.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardLegally UninsuredFindings and AwardIndustrial InjuryPsycheLumbar SpineRight KneeHypertensionGERDPermanent Disability
References
4
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