Randy Meza — ADJ1786046

Applicant Randy Meza, a meter reader for Southern California Edison, sustained an admitted cumulative trauma injury (1/1/1993–6/12/2001) to his cervical spine, psyche, headaches, and tinnitus, and a prior specific cervical injury on 9/20/1993. A 2002 Stipulated Award resolved disability at 25% (with no PD attributable to the 9/20/1993 injury), and applicant filed a timely Petition to Reopen in 2003. After reconsideration, the Board affirmed the WCJ's September 9, 2019 decision in part but rescinded findings on permanent disability and apportionment, holding that Dr. Feldman's report constituted substantial evidence of new and further psychiatric disability within five years, but that the WCJ failed to address the AME's 5% non-industrial apportionment of psychiatric disability and a clerical age error in the rating. The Board returned the matter to the trial level to revisit permanent disability, apportionment, credit for the prior award, and attorney's fees.