Martin Alonso vs. Desert Arc and CIGA, Hemet Unified School District

This case involves an applicant seeking workers' compensation benefits for a cumulative trauma injury to his left knee and lower back sustained while employed by Hemet Unified School District (HUSD). The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) denied HUSD's petition for reconsideration, upholding the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) findings. The ALJ found the medical opinions of Dr. Watkin, which attributed some disability to cumulative trauma from HUSD work, to be substantial and persuasive. This conclusion was based on the ALJ's review of the evidence, including MRIs and surgical reports, and crediting Dr. Watkin's detailed reasoning over conflicting opinions. The WCAB gave great weight to the ALJ's credibility determination and found no substantial evidence to warrant rejection.