Barrios, Junior

Junior Barrios, a field technician for Southern California Gas Company, sustained an industrial injury to his lumbar spine, both knees, and left ankle on June 12, 2023 when he slipped on a wrench and fell. The WCJ issued a Findings of Fact & Award granting 46% permanent disability with further medical treatment, relying on the primary treating physician Dr. Khalid Ahmed rather than the PQME Dr. Soheila Ghaziaskar. The self-insured defendant petitioned for reconsideration, arguing Dr. Ahmed's reports were not substantial medical evidence and that its due process rights were violated by not relying on the PQME and not ordering supplementation under Labor Code section 4061(i). The Appeals Board denied reconsideration, adopting the WCJ's Report, finding Dr. Ahmed's opinion constituted substantial medical evidence and the WCJ's credibility determinations were entitled to great weight. The Board also confirmed it timely acted within 60 days of case transmission under amended section 5909.