GERARDO MARTINEZ vs. KITSON NURSERY; CALIFORNIA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION, Administered by BROADSPIRE CLAIM SERVICES, In liquidation
The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied reconsideration, affirming the denial of death benefits. The claim was barred by Labor Code section 5406's 240-week limitation period because the employee died over 20 years after the date of his specific industrial injury. Although the death allegedly resulted from medications taken for the injury, under the "compensable consequences" doctrine, this is considered a continuation of the original injury, not a new one. Therefore, the date of injury remained the original specific injury date, exceeding the statutory timeframe.