Luis Rosales — ADJ11027267

Applicant Luis Rosales, a tile setter, sustained an admitted lumbar spine injury on April 11, 2017. After Judge Friedman ordered development of the record and supplemental reporting from PQME Dr. Charles Sonu addressing the 'causative element' of applicant's radiculopathy, a Findings and Award issued November 22, 2022 finding 0% permanent disability based on Dr. Sonu's reporting. Applicant petitioned for reconsideration arguing Dr. Sonu's reports were not substantial evidence and were internally inconsistent. The WCAB adopted the WCJ's Report and Recommendation and denied reconsideration, finding Dr. Sonu's reporting constituted substantial evidence and that the alleged inconsistency was unsupported—the January 2018 report stated the sacral cyst was unrelated to the lumbar contusion, not that symptoms were unrelated to the cyst.