The role the physician served, and the weight the opinion carried. Physicians are named here as the decision names them; we do not score them.
PTPRelied upon
Took applicant off work on February 9, 2021, after injury on August 5, 2020.
From the decision · page 2the applicant was a police captain employed by Culver City.
On August 5, 2020, during an exercise workout in the course and
scope of his duties, the applicant fell forward with 75-pound weights
strapped to his wrists, causing him to strike his face on the ground
and to lose consciousness. The impact caused injuries to his neck,
back, both shoulders, and both knees. (MOH/SOE pg. 3) the applicant
was temporarily totally disabled for a couple weeks but returned to
modified duties performing desk work. the applicant then was taken off
work by Dr. Jae Chon February 9, 2021(Exhibit F). The applicant
never returned to work. the applicant underwent left shoulder surgery on
November 11, 2021. He was found maximally medically improved
for these injuries February 7, 2023 by QME Dr. William Mealer
(Exhibit EE).
QMERelied upon
Found applicant maximally medically improved for injuries from August 5, 2020 incident on February 7, 2023.
From the decision · page 2the applicant was a police captain employed by Culver City.
On August 5, 2020, during an exercise workout in the course and
scope of his duties, the applicant fell forward with 75-pound weights
strapped to his wrists, causing him to strike his face on the ground
and to lose consciousness. The impact caused injuries to his neck,
back, both shoulders, and both knees. (MOH/SOE pg. 3) the applicant
was temporarily totally disabled for a couple weeks but returned to
modified duties performing desk work. the applicant then was taken off
work by Dr. Jae Chon February 9, 2021(Exhibit F). The applicant
never returned to work. the applicant underwent left shoulder surgery on
November 11, 2021. He was found maximally medically improved
for these injuries February 7, 2023 by QME Dr. William Mealer
(Exhibit EE).
AMERelied upon
Concluded bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was due to cumulative trauma, not the specific incident on August 5, 2020; amended temporary total disability start date to February 9, 2021.
From the decision · page 2the applicant sustained a cumulative trauma claim for the period
May 1, 1994 to February 8, 2021 for bilateral carpal tunnel
syndrome (MOH/SOE pg. 2). AME Steven Brourman noted that the
applicant experienced some numbness and tingling following the
specific incident on August 5, 2020, but the electrodiagnostic study
(EMG/NCV) of the bilateral upper extremities performed on
August 24, 2020, shortly after the specific incident of August 5,
2020 did not reveal carpal tunnel syndrome. However, the
subsequent electrodiagnostic study dated January 31, 2022[ did
show bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. Dr. Brourman concluded
that the bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome was not due to the specific
incident but a work-related cumulative trauma (Exhibit AA).
Initially, AME Dr. Brourman found that applicant was temporarily
totally disabled as the result of the carpal tunnel syndrome
beginning March of 2021 (Exhibit BB). It should be noted that the
cumulative trauma claim was originally pled as May 1, 2004 to
March 4, 2021. However, according to the evidence presented, the
applicant was taken off work as of February 9, 2022 for the August
5, 2020 injury and he never returned to work. Therefore, there was
no injurious exposure attributable to the bilateral carpal tunnel
syndrome past February 8, 2021, and this is the proper end date of
PTPRelied upon
Found applicant permanent and stationary for cumulative trauma injury on February 16, 2023.
From the decision · page 3the cumulative trauma injury. Dr. Brourman later amended his
opinion as to the start date of temporary total disability to February
9, 2021 (Exhibit DD). The applicant was found permanent and
stationary by both Dr. Keith Feder, the primary treating physician
(Exhibit B), and Dr. Brourman, the Agreed Medical Evaluator
(Exhibit BB) on February 16, 2023.