Gerardo Gomez — ADJ13544485

Applicant Gerardo Gomez, a framer, claimed injury to multiple body parts including the chest (blood clot) and circulatory system on July 3, 2020; defendant accepted the left leg and left knee but disputed AOE/COE to the internal/circulatory body parts. After the orthopedic panel QME (Dr. Feldman) expressly deferred causation of the cardiovascular condition to an internal medicine specialist, defendant petitioned for an additional QME panel in internal medicine, which the WCJ denied, reasoning that an existing treating physician report addressed the internal causation. The WCAB granted reconsideration, rescinded the F&O, and found defendant entitled to an additional QME panel in internal medicine—cardiovascular disease. The Board held that the existence of a treating physician report does not constitute good cause to deny an additional panel, and that defendant's prior use of an orthopedic QME panel did not waive its right to a panel in a different specialty.