Plascencia, Ramon

Applicant Ramon Plascencia sustained an accepted industrial injury to his lumbar spine and right leg on May 27, 2014 while employed by Insured Solutions/Fontana Logistics Center, with CIGA administering coverage for the insolvent Lumbermens Underwriting Alliance. He had a prior 2008 back injury (resolved by Compromise and Release) that produced two disc herniations at L4-5 and L5-S1, with surgery recommended but never performed. After the 2014 injury, applicant developed a third-level disc protrusion at L3-L4, underwent a three-level laminectomy in 2016, and later required a revision spinal fusion/decompression certified by Utilization Review. The WCJ found the 2014 injury contributed to the need for surgery and that CIGA had no legal or factual basis to deny authorization. The Appeals Board affirmed, holding that medical treatment cannot be apportioned and that the preponderance of evidence, including AME and treating physician reports, supported the conclusion that the 2014 injury contributed to the current need for surgery.