Escobar, Victoria

Applicant Victoria Escobar, a charge nurse, claimed cumulative injury including dental injury (bruxism, myofascial facial pain, periodontal aggravation) arising from her industrial orthopedic injury and related stressors. The WCJ found no dental injury, found lien claimant Dental Trauma Center failed to prove its services were reasonable and necessary, and disallowed the lien. On reconsideration, the Appeals Board rescinded the F&O, finding substantial medical evidence in Dr. Schames' reporting established an industrially-caused dental injury. The Board held that a contested claim existed when services were provided and that the medical-legal services were reasonable and necessary, deferring the issues of liability for treatment (pending UR consideration) and the amount owed under section 4622. The matter was returned to the trial level for further proceedings.