Rojas, Jose

Applicant Jose Rojas filed multiple applications, including ADJ18451814 against Pacific Steel Group (insured by The Hartford) for a cumulative injury period of February 5, 2019 to March 14, 2019, and ADJ12117806 against Alamillo Rebar (insured by Old Republic) for a period of March 15, 2018 to March 15, 2019. Defendant Hartford sought reconsideration of the WCJ's F&O, arguing the ADJ18451814 application was duplicative of ADJ12117806 and should be dismissed under WCAB Rule 10455(a), and seeking sanctions under section 5502(d). The Appeals Board granted reconsideration to correct technical defects in the Findings of Fact but ultimately upheld the WCJ's substantive determinations. The Board found the application was not duplicative because the claims involved different employers, carriers, dates of injury, and not complete overlap of body parts; that applicant failed to establish the section 5402(b) presumption of compensability because no claim form filing date was shown; that Dr. Nerenberg was validly obtained as QME; and that discovery had not closed. The Board rescinded the F&O and substituted corrected Findings of Fact.