WYCKOFF LOGGING; STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND INSURED REDDING, STEVE REYNOLDS, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARDSTATE OF CALIFORNIASTEVE REYNOLDS, Applicant,vs.WYCKOFF LOGGING; STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCEFUND INSURED REDDING, Defendant(s).Case No. ADJ1142998 (RDG 0118288)OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING RECONSIDERATION AND DECISION AFTER RECONSIDERATION Applicant seeks reconsideration of the Findings and Order issued by the workers’ compensation administrative law judge (WCJ) on March 16, 2009, wherein the WCJ found that applicant did not develop avascular necrosis as a compensable consequence of his July 24, 2004 industrial injury, and that medical treatment of avascular necrosis was not needed on an industrial basis. Previously, the parties stipulated that applicant, while employed as a heavy equipment operator on July 24, 2004, sustained industrial injury to his low back, right hip, and left lower extremity. On April 20, 2007, the WCJ found that applicant sustained injury to his right hip and left lower extremity as a compensable consequence of his July 24, 2004 industrial injury. Applicant contends the WCJ erred in finding that he did not need medical treatment for his right hip avascular necrosis on an industrial basis, arguing that the medical treatment for that condition should be provided because he fell as a compensable consequence of his industrial injury and lit up his preexisting non-industrial right hip avascular necrosis. Applicant contends the WCJ erred in determining that the force of the fall was primarily to the left side, arguing that applicant’s uncontroverted testimony was that he landed on his right side and hip. Applicant contends the WCJ mischaracterized the medical evidence from the reporting physicians regarding , the role of trauma, and ignores the x-ray evidence which showed advanced stage m avascular necrosis in applicant’s traumatized right hip and only early avascular necrosis in his non-traumatized left hip.
