LORENA GUERRA vs. FALLAS PADERES/NATIONAL STORES, INC. & HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY, GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES, INC.
This case involves a workers' compensation applicant seeking further medical treatment for a psychological injury exacerbated by her employment. The administrative law judge (WCJ) previously found that while the applicant sustained an industrial injury to her psyche and internal systems due to work stress and aggravation of Turner's Syndrome, she no longer required further treatment. The applicant appealed, arguing that the WCJ improperly apportioned treatment to her pre-existing condition. However, the Appeals Board denied the reconsideration petition, finding substantial medical evidence from a Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) indicating that the applicant reached a stationary status regarding her industrial psychological injury in June 2013 and no longer required further treatment for that specific injury. The Board also noted that the medical opinions did not support an acceleration of the applicant's pre-existing Turner's Syndrome.