Ferguson, Rande

Applicant Rande Ferguson, a firefighter employed by the City of Palm Springs from 1992 to 2021, claimed cumulative trauma injuries to multiple body parts. The WCJ found that PQME Dr. Jeffrey Holmes's opinions were substantial medical evidence and that applicant sustained industrial injury to the lumbar spine, hearing, skin, heart, hypertension, knees, shoulders, and ankles, with entitlement to future medical care. Defendant petitioned for reconsideration, arguing applicant failed to meet his burden of proof under Labor Code section 3202.5 because Dr. Holmes's reporting provided an inadequate medical history and was incomplete, thus not substantial evidence. The Board found Dr. Holmes took an adequate history and examination, reviewed extensive records, and provided well-reasoned opinions never wavered across five reports and a deposition. The Board concluded the record overwhelmingly supported industrial causation and that the WCJ's decision satisfied section 5313. The Petition for Reconsideration was denied.