Arvin Manvelian — ADJ9655567

Applicant Arvin Manvelian, a 23-year-old machine operator, suffered a catastrophic industrial injury on September 26, 2014 when a cup molding machine amputated all four fingers and severely damaged the thumb of his right (major) hand, plus a psychiatric injury. The WCJ awarded 100% permanent total disability without apportionment, finding that vocational expert Laura Wilson's report rebutted the scheduled PDRS rating under Ogilvie, Dahl, and LeBoeuf. Defendant sought reconsideration, challenging the substantial evidence supporting the medical and vocational reporting, the exclusion of its vocational expert Nick Corso, the use of a Kite-style additive analysis, and reliance on Labor Code section 4662(b). The WCAB granted reconsideration to study the issues, then affirmed the Findings and Award, adopting and incorporating the WCJ's Report and Recommendation. The Board concluded the vocational evidence sufficiently established that the applicant was precluded from competing in the open labor market and was not amenable to vocational rehabilitation.