Villavicencio Wong, Ruben

Applicant Ruben Villavicencio, a warehouse worker, alleged cumulative industrial injury ending April 23, 2019 to multiple body parts. The WCJ found industrial injury to the low back and hernia, but denied injury to the cervical spine, shoulders, upper extremities, lower extremities and knees, while deferring the psyche issue for further development. Applicant sought reconsideration of the denial of injury to the knees and shoulders. The PQME orthopedist, Dr. Gabriel, initially found no industrial injury to those parts without reviewing imaging, but in a supplemental report found degenerative changes aggravated by work; the WCJ rejected the supplemental opinion as insufficiently explained. The Board granted reconsideration and amended the decision to defer the disputed orthopedic body parts pending further development of the medical record, rather than affirm the denial.