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Case Law Database

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

Case No. ADJ6456347
Regular
Jan 30, 2012

MARK WILLIAMS vs. CITY OF PASADENA

This case involves a police officer claiming industrial injury to his heart due to hypertensive heart disease, a condition he argued was distinct from previously compensated hypertension. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) rescinded the administrative law judge's decision, finding the claim was not barred by res judicata. The WCAB clarified that while hypertension alone is not considered heart trouble, left ventricular hypertrophy, as diagnosed in the current claim, constitutes a distinct condition. The case is returned to the trial level for further proceedings on other unresolved issues.

res judicatahypertensive heart diseasepolice officerLabor Code section 3212.5heart trouble presumptionleft ventricular hypertrophystipulated awardindustrial injurypermanent disabilityapportionment
References
Case No. ADJ9506185
Regular
Jul 13, 2016

JIM NEWELL vs. COUNTY OF KERN

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the County of Kern's petition for reconsideration of an award to Jim Newell. The award was based on industrial cumulative trauma to the lumbar spine and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The County argued there was insufficient evidence of LVH and sought further medical development, specifically a cardiac MRI. The Board found that the existing medical evidence, including echocardiograms and expert testimony, constituted substantial evidence to support the LVH diagnosis, making further testing unnecessary.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCounty of KernJim NewellSheriff's Sergeantcumulative traumalumbar spinecirculatory systemhypertensionhypertensive cardiovascular diseaseleft ventricular hypertrophy
References
Case No. ADJ12288761
Regular
Dec 29, 2020

MICHAEL GOMEZ vs. CALIFORNIA INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND, STATE CONTRACT SERVICES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, upholding a finding of 62% permanent disability for a correctional officer with cumulative trauma. The core issue was whether Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), found by a QME, constituted "heart trouble" under Labor Code section 3212.2, triggering a presumption of industrial injury. The Board affirmed the WCJ's decision, relying on prior case law and expert medical opinions that LVH, even if minor, qualifies as "heart trouble" for purposes of the presumption. Defendant's arguments that LVH was not "heart trouble" and that medical opinions were contradicted were rejected as insufficient to rebut the presumption.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCalifornia Institution for Womencorrectional officercumulative traumainternal organshypertensionGERDheart trouble presumptionLabor Code section 3212.2Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
References
Case No. ADJ10763960
Regular
May 20, 2019

DENNIS ROMERO vs. COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO

This case involves a workers' compensation appeal where the defendant, County of San Diego, sought reconsideration of an award granting the applicant, Dennis Romero, permanent disability. The defendant argued that the administrative law judge improperly overlapped factors of disability when assessing the applicant's $94\%$ permanent disability rating. The Appeals Board denied reconsideration, adopting the judge's report which found that the qualified medical evaluator considered factors beyond shortness of breath, such as left ventricular hypertrophy and lightheadedness, when determining impairments for hypertensive and coronary heart disease. The Board also cited legal precedent that the multiple disabilities rating schedule accounts for any overlap.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings Award and OrderDeputy SheriffIndustrial InjuryHeart InjuryHypertensionPermanent DisabilityHypertensive Heart DiseaseCoronary Heart Disease
References
Case No. RDG 0119917
Regular
Feb 04, 2008

WILLIAM ROBERTS vs. BURGER KING, ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

This case affirmed a finding of 100% permanent disability for an industrial injury to an assistant manager's left knee, shoulder, hip, and leg. The Appeals Board ruled that a physician's report indicating the existence of permanent disability before reaching the "permanent and stationary" status qualified for using the older 1997 permanent disability rating schedule. The Board found substantial evidence supported the 100% rating, deferring to the WCJ's credibility assessment.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPermanent Disability Rating ScheduleReconsiderationIndustrial InjuryAssistant ManagerLeft KneeLeft ShoulderLeft HipLeft LegPermanent Disability
References
Case No. VNO 0456809
Regular
Oct 02, 2007

JAVAD BASSIRY, vs. AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES; ZURICH NORTH AMERICA

This case involves Javad Bassiry's workers' compensation claim for injuries sustained as a plumber tech. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to amend a finding of fact regarding the specific body parts injured. Ultimately, the Board affirmed the original decision but with the clarified finding of injury to the applicant's left shoulder, neck, left arm, left wrist, and lower abdominal muscle.

Javad BassiryAmerican Residential ServicesZurich North AmericaVNO 0456809ReconsiderationJuly 30 2007Plumber techOccupational Group No. 481March 8 2002Left shoulder
References
Case No. ADJ9176582
Regular
Feb 21, 2020

MARIA MORENO vs. GARROUTTE FARMS, ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of a prior award finding applicant sustained industrial injury to her left shoulder, left wrist, left hip, and low back, causing temporary and permanent disability. While the Board denied the defendant's petition regarding the low back injury and temporary disability, it deferred the issue of the permanent disability rating. This deferral includes a potential increase to the whole person impairment for pain, which will be determined at the trial level after further hearing. The Board confirmed an award for additional temporary total disability and further medical treatment.

ADJ9176582Petition for ReconsiderationFindings Award and OrderIndustrial InjuryLeft ShoulderLeft WristLeft HipLow BackTemporary DisabilityPermanent Disability
References
Case No. ADJ1046040 (AHM 0149418)
Regular
Apr 23, 2010

BLANCA REYES vs. CALIFORNIA RICE CENTER, INC., TRAVELERS INSURANCE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) dismissed Superior Med Surgical's petition for reconsideration because it was filed against a preliminary notice of intent to dismiss, not a final order. The lien claimant failed to properly file their petition and did not seek reconsideration of the subsequent dismissal order. However, the lien claimant may petition the trial judge to set aside the dismissal, and sanctions should be considered due to their failure to appear at the lien trial.

Lien claimantPetition for reconsiderationNotice of Intent to DismissCompromise & ReleaseIndustrial injuryLeft handLeft wristLeft forearmLeft shoulderPsyche
References
Case No. ADJ4167965 (FRE 0231376) ADJ3619518 (FRE 0231377) ADJ1898353 (FRE 0232205)
Regular
Jan 29, 2016

RICHARD ZAGORNIK vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, CORCORAN STATE PRISON

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration of the WCJ's decision regarding applicant Richard Zagornik's multiple industrial injuries. The Board found the defendant's petition timely filed and affirmed the WCJ's findings of injury and the 1997 disability rating schedule application. However, the Board rescinded the WCJ's combined permanent disability award due to insufficient apportionment of the low back injury's causation between the specific knee injuries. The case was returned to the trial level for further proceedings to develop the record on permanent disability, apportionment, and attorney fees.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationAmended Findings of FactAwardOrdercorrectional officeradmitted industrial injuryright kneeleft armleft wrist
References
Case No. MON 0325089 MON 0325090
Regular
Oct 05, 2007

NORA MEDEARIS vs. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

This case concerns the denial of an applicant's petition for reconsideration of a workers' compensation award. The applicant sought further temporary disability benefits beyond the 104-week limit imposed by Labor Code § 4656(c)(1). The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the petition, finding the applicant failed to prove equitable estoppel against the defendant's application of the statutory limit, despite the defendant's initial refusal to authorize shoulder surgery. The Board adopted the WCJ's reasoning that the applicant did not demonstrate reliance on any conduct by the defendant that prevented her from timely pursuing authorization for the surgery.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardNora MedearisCounty of Los AngelesPermissibly Self-InsuredMON 0325089MON 0325090Opinion and Order Denying Petition for ReconsiderationInterim Joint Findings and AwardCentral Services TechnicianIndustrial Injury
References
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