Janet Ramirez vs. County Of Los Angeles, Permissibly Self-Insured

In this case, Janet Ramirez, a former sheriff deputy, was awarded lifetime permanent disability indemnity at the rate of $966.82 per week after sustaining four admitted industrial injuries while employed. The County of Los Angeles, Permissibly Self-Insured, contested the award, arguing that the applicant did not establish permanent total disability, that the WCJ erred by adding applicant’s impairments, and that the WCJ failed to follow and apply the apportionment to non-industrial factors found by the Agreed Medical Examiner. After review, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board affirmed the WCJ's Findings, Award and Order, finding that the basis for the WCJ’s finding of permanent total disability

County of Los Angeles, Permissibly Self-Insured Janet Ramirez WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD STATE OF CALIFORNIAJANET RAMIREZ, Applicantvs.COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, Permissibly Self-Insured, DefendantsAdjudication Numbers: ADJ8507009, ADJ7430026, ADJ7430035, Van Nuys District OfficeADJ9539943 Los Angeles District OfficeOPINION AND DECISION AFTER RECONSIDERATION            We granted reconsideration in this matter to provide an opportunity to further study the legal and factual issues raised by the petition for reconsideration. Having completed our review, we now issue our Decision After Reconsideration.            Defendant, County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, permissibly self-insured, filed a Petition for Reconsideration from the January 17, 2020 Findings, Award and Order, wherein the workers’ compensation administrative law judge (WCJ) found that applicant Janet Ramirez sustained permanent total disability as a result of four admitted industrial injuries while she was employed as a sheriff deputy on January 3, 2009, October 21, 2009, August 22, 2011, and over the period March 6, 2010 through March 6, 2011. The WCJ found applicant sustained injury to her hiatal hernia, GERD, IBS, asthma, pneumonia, fibromyalgia, trigeminal neuralgia, right hemihypesthesia, right hemiparesis, cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, shoulders, carpal tunnel, knees, hips and lower extremity. Following the opinion of the Agreed Medical Examiner (AME), Dr. Brazina, the WCJ found the disability from applicant’s orthopedic impairments should be added rather than combined. Applicant was awarded lifetime permanent disability indemnity at the rate of $966.82 per week, after commutation for attorney’s fees, and further medical treatment.            Defendant contests the WCJ’s finding that applicant is entitled to an award of 100% permanent disability, where the AME in orthopedics found applicant had a 72% whole person impairment, and did not find applicant was permanently tot

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