Teresa Irannejad — ADJ9313954, ADJ9313956

Applicant Teresa Irannejad, a social worker, claimed multiple injuries including a sleep disorder while employed by the County of Los Angeles/LAC-USC Medical Center, which the employer disputed as to psyche and sleep components. The matter proceeded to trial on the sole issue of whether an additional QME panel in neurology or another specialty was needed to evaluate her sleep condition, and the WCJ denied the request for lack of good cause. Applicant sought relief, which the Board treated as a petition for reconsideration because the decision contained a final AOE/COE finding, but applied the removal standard since she only challenged the interlocutory QME panel determination. The Board found that an additional QME panel in neurology was warranted because applicant could not otherwise conduct necessary medical-legal discovery to prove compensability of her sleep disorder. The Board rescinded the Joint F&O and issued a new decision granting the additional neurology QME panel.