Faustina, Steve

Applicant Steve Faustina, a Los Angeles County firefighter, was found by the WCJ to be permanently and totally disabled without apportionment across three consolidated claims, with disability driven primarily by industrially-related myasthenia gravis. The County, permissibly self-insured, sought reconsideration arguing the award failed to consider orthopedic apportionment by IME Dr. Hasday and that applicant's vocational reporting from Dr. Reyes was not substantial evidence. The WCAB affirmed the F&A, adopting the WCJ's Report. The Board held that although Dr. Reyes' use of 'vocational apportionment' was impermissible under Nunes, the finding of permanent total disability rested on the unapportioned medical opinions of neurology IME Dr. Richman and ophthalmology IME Dr. Recasens, neither of whom apportioned the disabling myasthenia gravis. Alternatively, the Board found Dr. Hasday's orthopedic apportionment opinions did not constitute substantial evidence under Escobedo because they failed to explain how and why the nonindustrial factors presently caused permanent disability.