Eldridge Taylor vs. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND

The California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board denied a petition for reconsideration, affirming a prior award to Eldridge Taylor. The award included permanent disability for cumulative trauma injuries, sleep disorder, and hearing loss. The employer argued the sleep disorder rating was subsumed by orthopedic pain, the hearing loss lacked substantial evidence, and the WCJ failed to properly apportion non-industrial factors. The Board adopted the WCJ's report, finding sufficient medical evidence for the sleep disorder and hearing loss. The dissenting opinion argued the sleep disorder award should be rescinded as it stemmed solely from industrial pain already rated.