Sahli, Kristen

Applicant Kristen Sahli filed a cumulative trauma claim (Oct 2018-June 2019) and later a specific injury claim (Nov 27, 2017) to her lumbar spine while working for self-insured Nordstrom; she underwent a multi-level lumbar fusion in February 2020. After PQME Dr. Aminian evaluated the CT claim and later reversed his causation opinion at deposition, applicant filed the subsequent specific injury claim and obtained a new PQME, Dr. Suzuki, who attributed at least 1% industrial apportionment to the lumbar spine. The WCJ found industrial injury on the cumulative trauma lumbar claim, found against applicant on the lower extremity CT and specific injury claims, and rejected defendant's argument that Dr. Suzuki's reporting was improperly obtained through doctor-shopping. The WCAB denied defendant's Petition for Reconsideration, adopting the WCJ's report which relied on the en banc decision in Navarro v. City of Montebello to uphold the second PQME panel, and finding the decision supported by substantial evidence.