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

Case No. ADJ7673518, ADJ7647749
Regular
Jan 23, 2015

ANA DE AYALA vs. AO-THE UNIVERSITY CORPORATION / CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRIDGE

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration and reversed a prior ruling, finding the applicant sustained industrial injury to her neck. While the applicant testified to injuring her neck in a workplace incident and this was partially corroborated, the Board found insufficient evidence for other claimed injuries. The Board specifically disagreed with the administrative law judge's credibility assessment concerning the neck injury itself, relying on medical reports and testimony supporting the neck injury claim. The Board affirmed the denial of claims for all other alleged injuries, finding insufficient medical evidence to link them to the incident.

Petition for ReconsiderationFindings and OrderIndustrial InjuryNeck InjuryBack InjurySpine InjuryUpper ExtremitiesPsycheGastroesophageal SystemInternal System
References
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 The WCAB rescinded the decision and returned the case to the trial level, finding the medical opinions of Dr.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. RDG 0095368; RDG 0095369; RDG 0095573; RDG 0126270
Regular
Sep 25, 2007

HENRY PHILLIPE vs. GOTTSCHALKS, LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE

The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to allow reimbursement for the applicant's vocational expert fees, reversing the WCJ's decision. The Board found it reasonable for the applicant to hire his own vocational expert to rebut the defendant's expert, especially given the passage of time since the original vocational feasibility report. Consequently, the defendant was ordered to reimburse the applicant's attorney for the $1,075.00 vocational expert cost.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardReconsiderationExpert Witness FeesVocational ExpertLabor Code Section 5811Qualified Rehabilitation Representative (QRR)LeBoeuf argumentAgreed Medical Examination (AME)Permanent DisabilityIndustrial Injury
References
Case No. ADJ8210063; ADJ8621818
Regular
Feb 27, 2025

GRACE NUNES vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES; administered by STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

Grace Nunes, an applicant, sustained industrial injuries to her neck, left shoulder, and bilateral upper extremities while employed by the State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles. Following a prior reconsideration, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) clarified that 'vocational apportionment' is impermissible and vocational evidence must align with medical apportionment. The Workers' Compensation Judge (WCJ) ordered further development of the record with the Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) and vocational experts to comply with the Board's decisions. Applicant petitioned for reconsideration or removal of this interlocutory order, which the Appeals Board denied, affirming the WCJ's discretion to develop the record for a just and reasoned decision.

Industrial injuryNeck injuryShoulder injuryBilateral upper extremitiesField representativeVocational retrainingPermanent and total disabilityVocational apportionmentMedical apportionmentQualified Medical Evaluator
References
Case No. ADJ10256108, ADJ10255968, ADJ10256212, ADJ10256223, ADJ10489875
Regular
Sep 23, 2022

JOSEPH RYAN vs. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The Appeals Board affirmed the finding of permanent and total disability for the applicant, Joseph Ryan, stemming from industrial injuries sustained while employed as a correctional captain. However, the Board remanded the matter for further proceedings to specifically address apportionment of the permanent disability under Labor Code section 4663, considering the Agreed Medical Evaluator's opinion on pre-existing spinal disease. The Board found that the applicant's specific and cumulative trauma injuries to his spine resulted in intertwined disabilities, justifying a combined award, but that Dr. Hasday's apportionment findings require further development and determination at the trial level.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardJoseph RyanCalifornia Department of CorrectionsLegally UninsuredState Compensation Insurance FundADJ10256108ADJ10255968ADJ10256212ADJ10256223ADJ10489875
References
Case No. ADJ2007189 (LAO 0857899)
Regular
Nov 01, 2019

Monica Bernasani vs. International Filing Company, U.S. Fire Insurance Company, Crum & Forster

This case involves Monica Bernasani's workers' compensation claim against International Filing Company for cumulative trauma injury. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) found Bernasani permanently totally disabled due to industrial injuries to her back, neck, shoulders, wrists, knees, psyche, headaches, weight gain, hypertension, and gastrointestinal system, awarding lifetime benefits. The defendant appealed, arguing the Agreed Medical Examiner's (AME) opinion was insufficient to support total disability and that a vocational report by Enrique Vega was improperly admitted. The Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition, affirming the ALJ's decision and finding the vocational report admissible due to the defendant's waiver of objection. The Board found substantial medical and vocational evidence supported the finding of permanent total disability.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardMonica BernasaniInternational Filing CompanyU.S. Fire Insurance CompanyPetition for ReconsiderationFindings Award and OrderAdministrative Law JudgeWCJIndustrial Cumulative Trauma InjuryPermanently Totally Disabled
References
Case No. ADJ3565194 (BAK 0139614)
Regular
Dec 04, 2015

TAMMY AGOSTA vs. VONS, A SAFEWAY COMPANY

The applicant sought reconsideration of a workers' compensation award of $61\%$ permanent disability for an industrial injury. She argued that the administrative law judge erred and that she should be found permanently totally disabled ($100\%$) based on vocational expert and medical evaluations. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied her petition, adopting the WCJ's report. However, one commissioner dissented, arguing that the applicant's significant medical restrictions and vocational expert's opinion supported a finding of $100\%$ permanent disability.

AgostaVonsSafewayWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardPetition for ReconsiderationFindings Orders and Awardadministrative law judgecumulative injuryright shoulderright upper extremity
References
Case No. ADJ7899375
Regular
Apr 06, 2020

AMANDA CULVER vs. INITIATIVE FOODS, UNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, CRUM AND FORSTER

This case involves Amanda Culver's claim for permanent total disability due to a 2010 industrial injury resulting in a fall down stairs. The defendant, Initiative Foods, contested the finding of 100% permanent disability, arguing the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) improperly relied on an Independent Vocational Evaluator (IVE) and overlooked their own vocational expert. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the ALJ's decision, finding the IVE's report constituted substantial evidence supporting the applicant's permanent total disability. The Board found the defendant's arguments regarding the IVE's methodology and reliance on medical reports unconvincing.

Independent Vocational Evaluatorvocational rehabilitationpermanent total disabilityorthopedic injurypsychiatric injuryapportionmentAgreed Medical Examinerwork restrictionsvocational testingsubstantial evidence
References
Case No. ADJ9607136
Regular
Mar 13, 2023

NORMA PEREZ vs. CUSTOM PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING, EMPLOYERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE COMPANY

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the Petition for Reconsideration, upholding the Workers' Compensation Administrative Law Judge's (WCJ) decision. The WCJ found the applicant to be 100% permanently and totally disabled based on credible testimony and substantial medical and vocational evidence. The defendant's arguments regarding non-industrial apportionment and the vocational evaluator's reporting without an interpreter were rejected. The Board adopted the WCJ's report and decision, denying the defendant's request for reconsideration.

Petition for ReconsiderationReport and RecommendationWorkers' Compensation Appeals BoardDenying PetitionAdministrative Law JudgeCumulative TraumaNon-industrial Medical ApportionmentNon-industrial Vocational ApportionmentInterpreterVocational Evaluator
References
Case No. ADJ1857563
Regular
Nov 21, 2008

GLORIA CASSADY vs. NATIONAL STAFF NETWORK, CALIFORNIA INSURANCE GUARANTEE ASSOCIATION, CAMBRIDGE INTEGRATED SERVICES, RELIANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied the defendant's petition for reconsideration, affirming the administrative law judge's decision to deny the defendant's appeal from the Rehabilitation Unit. The Board found the applicant entitled to retroactive vocational rehabilitation maintenance allowance, citing case law establishing that benefits are owed from the time of a good-faith request, even if medical evidence of qualified injured worker status is not immediately available. The Board adopted the judge's reasoning and incorporated his report, thus denying the defendant's request for review.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardRehabilitation UnitPetition for ReconsiderationAmended Findings and AwardVocational Rehabilitation Maintenance AllowanceQualified Injured WorkerVocational FeasibilityAdministrative Law JudgePermanent DisabilityCumulative Injury
References
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