Esther Kim, a social services worker for the County of Kern (self-insured), claimed cumulative injury during employment from June 1993 through July 2017 to multiple body parts. The WCJ found AOE/COE injury to the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands, awarded 74% permanent disability, and found the reports of chiropractic QME Joel W. Bird, D.C., to be substantial medical evidence. Defendant sought reconsideration, challenging the thoracic/lumbar injury findings, inclusion of grip loss in the rating, and Dr. Bird's no-apportionment opinion. The majority (Capurro and Snellings) affirmed the F&A, adopting the WCJ's Report and finding Dr. Bird's reports constituted substantial evidence with no evidence of bias, speculation, or inexperience. Commissioner Razo dissented, finding Dr. Bird's reports biased, argumentative, and unprofessional based on repeated disparaging comments about industrial medical treatment providers, and would have removed him as QME.
Issues
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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Holding
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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Analysis
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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Applicant takeaway
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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Defense takeaway
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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Provider takeaway
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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Similar decisions
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties.
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