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PanelQMEMed-legalRemanded

Cruz, Jesse

JESSE CRUZ, Applicant vs. BRISTOL INDUSTRIES; TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY OF AMERICA, Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ14466153
Decision date: Oct 20, 2025
District office: Los Angeles
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: Travelers Property Casualty Company of America
Commissioners: KATHERINE A. ZALEWSKI, CHAIR, JOSEPH V. CAPURRO, COMMISSIONER, JOSÉ H. RAZO, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: back, bilateral hips, bilateral legs, bilateral feet

LC §3600LC §3202.5LC §5900LC §5903LC §5701LC §5906LC §5411LC §5412LC §5313LC §5952LC §4060LC §4062.3CCR §10605CCR §10600CCR §10940CCR §10615CCR §10517CCR §10964CCR §10410

Summary

Jesse Cruz, a machinist for Bristol Industries, claimed a specific injury on June 17, 2020 to his back, bilateral hips, legs, and feet. The WCJ found no injury AOE/COE, relying on applicant's 'less than credible testimony' and pre-existing chronic back pain and peripheral neuropathy documented at Kaiser before his employment began. On reconsideration, the WCAB panel found that the issue of injury is a medical determination requiring expert medical opinion, and the record was completely devoid of any medical evidence addressing causation either way. The Board held the WCJ failed to develop the record and failed to provide the analysis and citation to evidence required by Hamilton and section 5313. The F&O was rescinded and the matter returned to the trial level for medical discovery (via PQME or AME) and further proceedings.

Issues

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Holding

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Analysis

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Applicant takeaway

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Defense takeaway

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Provider takeaway

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Similar decisions

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Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.