Meanor, Jessica

Applicant, a 22-year-old supervising cook, sustained an admitted right hand injury on June 20, 2012 that progressed to CRPS, with sequelae to the cervical spine, teeth (from pain medication-induced decay), psyche, and left wrist. The WCJ found 100% permanent total disability after adjustments, relying on PQME reports that added the psychiatric and dental impairments to the combined CRPS and cervical impairments. Defendant sought reconsideration, arguing the PQME reports of Drs. Egert, Piciucco, and Villafuerte were not substantial medical evidence because they opined outside their specialties, improperly added rather than combined impairments, and that Dr. Egert lacked support for rating CRPS by analogy to shoulder disarticulation under Chapter 16. The Board denied reconsideration, holding the PQME reports constituted substantial medical evidence and that adding impairments was justified under Kite because each affected separate and distinct activities of daily living. The Board also upheld Dr. Egert's Almaraz/Guzman analysis using Table 16-4 as the most accurate rating method, consistent with applicant's credible testimony that she does not use her right arm.