Mendoza Olivares, Francisco

Applicant Francisco Mendoza Olivares, a line cook employed by Barrett Business Services from 1995-2020, claimed numerous injuries including Chagas disease allegedly contracted from an insect (kissing bug) bite, cardiac issues requiring a pacemaker, and orthopedic, internal, and psychiatric conditions. The WCJ found no industrial injury AOE/COE and ordered applicant take nothing. Applicant sought reconsideration, arguing the WCJ applied the wrong causation standard, that absence of contemporaneous records is not determinative, that specific and cumulative claims can coexist, and that the record should be further developed. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, finding the WCJ's AOE/COE decision may not be supported by substantial evidence and that further development of the record—including clarification of whether applicant alleges a specific or cumulative injury and the number/dates of injuries—may be appropriate. A final decision after reconsideration was deferred.