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.
QMERelied upon · physical medicine and rehabilitation
Found bilateral shoulders reached maximum medical improvement as of April 3, 2017; assigned 21% WPI for right shoulder, 23% WPI for left shoulder, and 3% add-on for pain for left shoulder; no apportionment to other factors besides cumulative trauma injury; provided work restrictions.
From the decision · page 2Manijeh Ryan, M.D. evaluated applicant as the physical medicine and rehabilitation QME.
She found applicant's bilateral shoulders to have reached maximum medical improvement as of
April 3, 2017. (Applicant's Exhibit No. 11, Report of PQME Manijeh Ryan, M.D., May 10, 2017,
p. 22.) The right shoulder was assigned 21% whole person impairment (WPI) with 23% WPI for
the left shoulder and an additional 3% add-on for pain for the left shoulder. (Id. at pp. 23-24.)
There was no apportionment to other factors besides applicant's cumulative trauma injury. (Id. at
p. 24.) Dr. Ryan gave the following work restrictions:
QMERelied upon · internal medicine
Diagnosed GERD, sleep disorder, sexual dysfunction, and hypertension; assigned 6% WPI for GERD with 10% apportionment to non-industrial causes; 3% WPI each for sexual dysfunction and sleep disorder; did not specify work restrictions related to internal medicine conditions.
From the decision · page 2Dr. Chang-Sing conducted an internal medicine evaluation of applicant as the panel QME.
His diagnoses included GERD, sleep disorder, sexual dysfunction and hypertension. (Joint Exhibit
J1, Report of Panel QME Peter Chang-Sing, December 1, 2017, pp. 16-17.) The sleep disorder
and sexual dysfunction were considered "derivative" of the industrial injury. (Id. at p. 17.) Dr.
Chang-Sing assigned a 6% WPI rating for the GERD, which he apportioned 10% to non-industrial
causes and 90% to the injury. (Id. at p. 18.) He also provided a 3% WPI rating each for applicant's
sexual dysfunction and sleep disorder. (Id. at p. 17.) Dr. Chang-Sing did not specify work
restrictions related to the internal medicine conditions.
QMERelied upon · psychiatry
Diagnosed major depressive disorder predominantly caused by cumulative trauma injury; assigned 18% WPI with 5% apportionment to non-industrial factors; reported no issues with communication except typing, some difficulty with hygiene and ADLs, pain with typing and walking, and low self-esteem; did not provide specific work restrictions for psychiatric condition.
From the decision · page 2Anish Shah, M.D. evaluated applicant as the psychiatric QME. Dr. Shah diagnosed
applicant with a major depressive disorder. (Applicant's Exhibit No. 20, Report of PQME Anish
Shaw, M.D., February 4, 2019, p. 32.) Applicant's psychiatric condition was considered
predominantly caused by the cumulative trauma injury. (Applicant's Exhibit No. 21, Report of
PQME Anish Shaw, M.D., January 3, 2020, p. 51.) Dr. Shah attributed applicant's depression to
pain from his orthopedic injury. Applicant was given a GAF score of 58, which translates to 18%