CompFox AI Summary
The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied defendant's petition for reconsideration and dismissed its petition for removal. The WCAB found that an additional Qualified Medical Examiner (QME) panel in rheumatology was appropriate to further develop the medical record on causation, as recommended by the initial orthopedic QME. Defendant argued the WCJ erred by ordering this without first determining applicant's credibility and AOE/COE, but the Board deemed the need for a rheumatological evaluation a critical issue justifying reconsideration. Therefore, the WCAB upheld the WCJ's order for an additional QME panel.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied defendant's petition for reconsideration and dismissed its petition for removal. The WCAB found that an additional Qualified Medical Examiner (QME) panel in rheumatology was appropriate to further develop the medical record on causation, as recommended by the initial orthopedic QME. Defendant argued the WCJ erred by ordering this without first determining applicant's credibility and AOE/COE, but the Board deemed the need for a rheumatological evaluation a critical issue justifying reconsideration. Therefore, the WCAB upheld the WCJ's order for an additional QME panel.
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