SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY; Permissibly Self-Insured, MONICA RAMIREZ, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDSTATE OF CALIFORNIAMONICA RAMIREZ, Applicant,vs.SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY; Permissibly Self-Insured, Defendant.Case No. ADJ3821690 (MON 0352080)OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING RECONSIDERATION AND DECISION AFTER RECONSIDERATION Defendant seeks reconsideration of the Findings of Fact and Award issued by a workers’ compensation administrative law judge (WCJ) on September 21, 2009, wherein the WCJ found, based on the parties’ stipulations, that applicant, while employed as a meter reader on December 13, 2005, sustained industrial injury to her back. The WCJ found that applicant is entitled to temporary disability from December 13, 2005, to the present and continuing. The WCJ ordered new panels in the areas of internal medicine, psychology, and neurology. Defendant contends the WCJ erred in issuing a decision that does not comply with the requirements of Labor Code section 5313,1 arguing that the WCJ fails to state the evidence he relied on and the reasons for his decision. Defendant also contends that the WCJ erred in striking the reports of the panel qualified medical examiner (QME) in orthopedics, Daniel Gobaud, M.D., arguing that his medical opinions constitute substantial evidence. Defendant argues that the WCJ should have ordered another orthopedic panel if he found that the QME’s report was not substantial evidence, and that applicant waived any objections to the panel QME by failing to cross-examine him. Defendant contends that the WCJ erred in relying on the medical opinion of applicant’s primary treating physician, Ralph Steiger, M.D., arguing that his opinion was not 1Unless I otherwise stated, all further statutory references are to the Labor Code. , substantial evidence. Defendant also contends the WCJ erred in ordering panel QME’s appointed in additional medical specialties. Defendant further contends the WCJ erred in awarding
