Mazzuca, William

Equipment mechanic William Mazzuca sustained an industrial injury to his right shoulder and arm on February 11, 2022, while working for the permissibly self-insured City of San Bernardino. The WCJ found MMI as of November 18, 2023 (the PQME evaluation date) and 52% permanent disability. Both parties petitioned for reconsideration: applicant challenged the exclusion of two treating physician reports and the MMI date; defendant challenged the strength-loss rating under the AMA Guides, the apportionment analysis, and asserted Blackledge required formal DEU rating instructions. The Board denied defendant's petition, granted applicant's petition, and affirmed the F&A as amended to admit the two treating reports of Dr. Nassos and to add the date of injury. The Board upheld the WCJ's reliance on PQME Dr. Peterson's strength-loss rating as a 'rare case' under the AMA Guides and rejected the private rater's attempt to substitute his own opinion for the physician's.