Frances Carlson vs. Blue Cross of California, California Insurance Guarantee Association (for Fremont, in Liquidation)

This case concerns applicant Frances Carlson's claim for vocational rehabilitation maintenance allowance (VRMA) benefits stemming from a cumulative trauma injury ending October 16, 1996. The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) granted reconsideration and reversed the trial judge's award of VRMA. This decision was based on the en banc rulings in Weiner I and Weiner II, which held that the repeal of Labor Code section 139.5 terminated rights to vocational rehabilitation benefits for awards not final before January 1, 2009. Since Carlson's VRMA claim was not final before that date, the WCAB found it lacked jurisdiction and rescinded the award.