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Schmuckle, Jason

JASON SCHMUCKLE, Applicant vs. SUBSEQUENT INJURIES BENEFITS TRUST FUND, Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ16362629
Decision date: Feb 4, 2026
District office: Salinas
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund
Commissioners: JOSEPH V. CAPURRO, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: low back, lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, cervical spine, psyche, cognitive disorder

LC §4751LC §5909LC §5900LC §5701LC §5906

Summary

Applicant Jason Schmuckle, a firefighter, sought SIBTF benefits after sustaining a 2022 industrial injury to his low back and bilateral hips (66% PD) following prior 2002 cervical and lumbar spine injuries. The WCJ awarded SIBTF benefits at a 90% PD rate but excluded psychological and cognitive disability ratings from Dr. Scheinbaum that applicant claimed would render him 100% permanently totally disabled. Applicant sought reconsideration of the exclusion. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, agreeing that Dr. Scheinbaum's report was not substantial medical evidence due to lack of diagnostic testing and contemporaneous documentation, but also found the WCJ's permanent disability ratings contained errors (improper FEC and age adjustments) and that the seizure and cognitive conditions warranted further development. The Board deferred the SIBTF entitlement issue and remanded for further development of the record on applicant's psychological and cognitive disabilities.

Issues

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Holding

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Analysis

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Applicant takeaway

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Defense takeaway

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Provider takeaway

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Similar decisions

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Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.