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PanelQMEMed-legalGranted

Barrera, Gabriel

GABRIEL BARRERA, Applicant vs. MATTHEWS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ19324168
Decision date: Dec 3, 2025
District office: Pomona
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: Travelers Insurance Company
Commissioners: JOSEPH V. CAPURRO, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR, PAUL F. KELLY, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: back, neck, shoulders, wrists, knees, hips, teeth/jaw, psyche, anxiety, insomnia

LC §5909LC §5900LC §5903LC §5952LC §5313LC §5701LC §5906CCR §10787

Summary

Applicant Gabriel Barrera, a forklift driver, claimed injury AOE/COE to numerous orthopedic and non-orthopedic body parts during employment from August 1, 2022 through March 11, 2024. Based solely on the PQME report of Dr. Gail Hopkins, the WCJ found applicant failed to meet his burden of proving industrial injury. The WCAB granted reconsideration, finding that Dr. Hopkins' report was not substantial medical evidence because she failed to fully explain whether employment contributed to the hip complaints (beyond osteoarthritic changes) and relied improperly on lack of reporting/treatment, and because she never addressed the non-orthopedic claims (teeth/jaw, psyche, anxiety, insomnia). The Board rescinded the FOF, deferred all issues, and remanded for further development of the record, including allowing applicant to depose Dr. Hopkins.

Issues

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Holding

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Analysis

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Applicant takeaway

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Defense takeaway

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Provider takeaway

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Similar decisions

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Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.