Francisco Siles Rivas — ADJ10045593

Applicant Francisco Siles Rivas, an automobile mechanic for Brake Land, LLC, claimed cumulative trauma injury to multiple body parts during a period ending July 10, 2015. A WCJ found no industrial injury based on credibility concerns. On reconsideration, the WCAB found the WCJ relied on facts largely immaterial to industrial causation (such as whether applicant was fired or quit, payment methods, and a clerical 2016 date error) and improperly invoked a post-termination defense never raised by defendants. Both the primary treating physician (Dr. Ashok) and the PQME (Dr. Lee) opined applicant sustained industrial injury, with Dr. Lee finding a lumbar strain at 2% WPI. The Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the F&O, and remanded for further development of the record, including clarification of credibility findings, whether a cumulative injury occurred, and apportionment analysis.