Lara, Maribel

Applicant Maribel Lara sustained an industrial slip-and-fall on June 6, 2017, while working for Goodwill Industries, with stipulated injuries to both knees, lumbar spine, and dental. The disputed issue was whether the fall caused or exacerbated hypertension, and if so, whether apportionment applied. The WCJ found industrial injury 'causing and/or exacerbating' hypertension and awarded unapportioned benefits, rejecting AME Dr. Hirsch's 67% non-industrial / 33% industrial apportionment. Defendant petitioned for reconsideration, arguing the AME reporting was not substantial evidence of injury and that if injury were found, apportionment was supported. The Board granted reconsideration, finding the record potentially insufficient and the WCJ's findings unclear as to whether the hypertension was permanently aggravated or merely temporarily exacerbated, and deferred a final decision pending further review and possible development of the record.