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

Case No. ADJ8026817
Regular
Apr 22, 2013

MARIA OCHOA vs. RANGERS DIE CASTING COMPANY, COMPWEST INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration of a decision finding the applicant sustained injury to her respiratory system and psyche AOE/COE. The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr. Lipper and Dr. Curtis lacked substantiality. Specifically, the physicians failed to provide clear diagnoses, quantify exposures, or adequately explain causation. The Board noted contradictory testimony from the applicant's supervisor and insufficient evidence to support the initial findings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardMaria OchoaRangers Die Casting CompanyCOMPWEST INSURANCE COMPANYADJ8026817Los Angeles District OfficeOpinion and Order Granting ReconsiderationDecision After ReconsiderationFindings of FactWorkers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge (WCJ)
References
Case No. ADJ1904323 (GRO 0034275) ADJ3208896 (GRO 0034276) ADJ649343 (GRO 0034277)
Regular
Nov 01, 2010

SARAH SHIPP vs. GOTTSCHALKS, SPECIALTY RISK SERVICES

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinding the prior award due to the Workers' Compensation Judge's (WCJ) improper reliance on an Agreed Medical Evaluator's (AME) hernia analogy to rate upper extremity impairment. This analogy violated *Almaraz II* by not adhering to the AMA Guides and potentially incorporating pre-2005 rating schedules. The rater also used an incorrect impairment number and occupational adjustment. The case is remanded for further proceedings and a new decision by the WCJ, ensuring the rating is not based on the flawed hernia analogy.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardSarah ShippGottschalksSpecialty Risk ServicesJoint Findings and Awardindustrial injuryright shoulderleft shoulderright elbowthumb
References
Case No. ADJ7197213
Regular
Oct 03, 2011

Robert Goslin vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS/REHABILITATION; Legally Uninsured, adjusted by STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND/ STATE CONTRACT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and reversed a prior award, finding that the applicant, a correctional officer, was not entitled to the industrial cancer presumption under Labor Code section 3212.1. The Board determined that correctional officers are not among the specifically enumerated "peace officers" eligible for this presumption. Furthermore, the applicant failed to meet the burden of proving his cancer was industrially caused, as the medical expert found insufficient occupational exposure to link it to his employment. Consequently, the applicant's claim for injury arising out of and in the course of employment was denied.

Labor Code section 3212.1Penal Code section 830.2(d)(1)correctional officerpeace officerindustrial cancer presumptionAOE/COEPanel Qualified Medical Evaluator (PQME)nexusdisputable presumptionexpressio unius exclusio alterius
References
Case No. ADJ9519422
Regular
Feb 06, 2017

VALERIE O'DELL vs. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, (legally uninsured), administered by STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

This case involves a workers' compensation applicant seeking reconsideration of a prior award. The applicant's petition was granted in part, amending the findings to classify her occupational group as 112 and increasing her permanent disability rating from 8% to 13%. The Board affirmed the use of the QME physician's opinion for disability rating over the primary treating physician's, finding it to be substantial evidence. The increased rating is based on the applicant's significant keyboarding and writing duties, aligning with the higher demands of occupational group 112.

Workers Compensation Appeals BoardOpinion and Decision After ReconsiderationFindings and AwardAdministrative Law JudgePermanent DisabilityOccupational GroupPrimary Treating PhysicianQualified Medical EvaluatorBilateral Carpal Tunnel SyndromeApportionment
References
Case No. ADJ9326556 ADJ9768185
Regular
Mar 16, 2018

Walter Donovan vs. United Parcel Service, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company

This case involves applicant Walter Donovan, a UPS truck driver, seeking a higher occupational group number (460, material handlers) than the WCJ's finding (350, truck drivers). The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, applying the "dual occupation" rule. They found Donovan's duties as a delivery driver included significant loading and unloading, thus entitling him to the higher-rated group number 460 for permanent disability calculations. The Board's decision amends the original award to reflect this occupational group assignment.

Dual occupation ruleOccupational group numberTruck driversMaterial handlersMachine loadersPackage deliveryPermanent disabilityPetition for reconsiderationWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardQualified Medical Evaluator
References
Case No. ADJ10565692
Regular
Nov 08, 2018

BRIAN CLARK vs. LOS RIOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, YORK RISK SERVICES GROUP

This case involves a sports athletic trainer, Brian Clark, who sustained head and psyche injuries at work. Both the applicant and the defendant sought reconsideration of the initial award. The applicant argued his occupational group was misclassified, while the defendant contended the judge wrongly rejected the medical evaluator's apportionment of permanent disability. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied both petitions, upholding the original findings. The Board found the applicant failed to prove factual error in his occupational group classification and adopted the WCJ's reasoning regarding the apportionment.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDLOS RIOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTYORK RISK SERVICES GROUPFindings and Awardsports athletic traineroccupational group 390occupational group 311permanent disability apportionmentPanel Qualified Medical Evaluator (PQME)substantial evidence
References
Case No. ADJ4638227 (LAO 0848464), ADJ519038 (LAO 0848465)
Regular
Oct 18, 2010

TINA ROBINSON vs. CITY OF LOS ANGELES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and rescinded a prior award based on the defendant's argument that the applicant's permanent disability rating was incorrect. The Board found the record underdeveloped regarding the applicant's actual job duties as a traffic officer, which is crucial for determining the proper occupational group and variant under the 2005 Schedule. The case is returned to the trial level for further evidence and a new decision on the permanent disability issue.

ADJ4638227ADJ519038CITY OF LOS ANGELESTINA ROBINSONOccupational Group 4902005 Schedule for Rating Permanent Disabilitiesoccupational variantpermanent disability ratingJoint Findings and AwardReconsideration
References
Case No. ADJ18852673
Regular
Jul 14, 2025

Harrison P. Wenson vs. Los Angeles Angels, Ace American Insurance Company/Chubb

Applicant Harrison P. Wenson sought reconsideration of a WCJ's April 14, 2025, Findings of Fact and Order, which found no California subject matter jurisdiction over his cumulative trauma claim. Wenson argued jurisdiction based on Labor Code section 3600.5(d) exceptions, the defendant being a California employer, and his employment with a California-based team. The Appeals Board granted the petition for reconsideration to further study the jurisdictional issue, deferring a final decision after reconsideration.

Cumulative traumaSubject matter jurisdictionProfessional athleteLabor Code section 3600.5(d)Employer controlCalifornia-based teamContract of hireDuty daysSignificant connectionNexus
References
Case No. ADJ10863775
Regular
Jul 25, 2505

HARBANS SINGH-KALER vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted the applicant's Petition for Reconsideration of a January 17, 2020 Findings and Award. The Board ruled that Harbans Singh-Kaler's hypertension disability constitutes "heart trouble" under Labor Code section 3212.2, thereby exempting it from apportionment under Labor Code section 4663(e). Consequently, the WCJ's decision was amended to reflect this finding. However, the Board deferred the issues of occupational group, permanent disability, and attorneys' fees back to the trial level for further analysis.

Labor Code § 3212.2heart troublehypertensionapportionmentoccupational group 332occupational group 380chief engineercumulative injurypermanent disabilityattorney's fees
References
Case No. ADJ10473323 ADJ9241894
Regular
Nov 15, 2019

HECTOR GONZALEZ vs. RECOLOGY GOLDEN GATE

The WCAB granted reconsideration to amend the previous award. The Board found that applicant is entitled to a single, unapportioned award for his right knee permanent disability, as it directly resulted from unsuccessful medical treatment for both his specific and cumulative trauma injuries, per *Hikida*. Additionally, the Board determined that applicant's permanent disability should be rated using the higher Occupational Group 560, reflecting his occasional performance of more arduous duties as a garbage collector. The matter was returned to the trial level for issuance of a new award reflecting these findings.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardHector GonzalezRecology Golden Gatepermanent disabilityspecific injurycumulative traumaOccupational Group 350Occupational Group 560Agreed Medical Examinerapportionment
References
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