Villegas, Alejandro

Applicant Alejandro Villegas sustained admitted industrial injury to his cervical spine and head on February 28, 2023. The WCJ found that applicant is not entitled to select his own certified interpreter outside the defendant's MPN for medical treatment appointments. Applicant sought reconsideration, arguing the order violated Equal Protection and constituted national origin discrimination. The Board treated the petition as one for reconsideration (rather than removal) because the interpreter entitlement issue concerned Labor Code section 4600 medical treatment benefits, making it a final order. The Board denied the petition on the merits, adopting the WCJ's Report, noting that defendant stipulated applicant needs Spanish interpretation and that applicant could choose from among the 10 interpreters in defendant's MPN.