Brouwers, Christopher

Christopher Brouwers, who sustained a subsequent industrial injury to his left knee as a vehicle mechanic foreman on April 23, 2014, sought reconsideration of an August 27, 2024 Findings of Fact in which the WCJ found his SIBTF claim was not barred by the statute of limitations but that he failed to satisfy the elements of Labor Code section 4751 and was therefore ineligible for SIBTF benefits. The WCJ also found applicant did not meet his burden to use the addition method of combining disabilities, and found preexisting labor-disabling disability of 9% (right ankle) and 42.5% (bilateral upper extremities). Applicant, represented by counsel but filing pro se, argued he had sufficient combined WPI and that an additional low back injury was rejected based on report language, and offered to be examined by another QME. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration based on a preliminary review of the record and applicant's extensive medical history to further study his eligibility for SIBTF benefits. The Board deferred its final decision on the merits pending further review of the entire record under applicable statutory and decisional law.