What the panel ordered
Findings of Fact, Award and Orders issued by WCJ on 2020-02-11 affirmed except amended to find 39% permanent disability for lumbar spine injury; issue of sleep disorder permanent disability deferred; matter returned to WCJ for further proceedings.
Petition for Reconsideration granted to further study factual and legal issues; decision after reconsideration issued affirming and amending prior Findings of Fact, Award and Orders; matter returned to WCJ for further proceedings.
What was disputed, and how it came out
Each issue the panel decided, with the reasoning it gave. An outcome is what this panel did on this record — not a rule, and not a prediction.
Dr. Woods' orthopedic AME opinion was substantial evidence supporting 39% permanent disability for lumbar spine injury caused 90% by the industrial injury.
From the decision · page 6Regarding applicant's lumbar spine disability, Dr. Woods was chosen by the parties to examine applicant as the orthopedic AME. He was presumably chosen by the parties because of his expertise and neutrality. Therefore, his opinions should ordinarily be followed unless there is a good reason to find his opinions unpersuasive. (Power v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 775, 782 [51 Cal.Comp.Cases 114, 117].)