Luo, Siling

Applicant Siling Luo, an editor for China Digital Times, filed two cumulative trauma claims (psyche, and back/lower extremities/stress/psyche) for injury periods in 2020-2021. The WCJ found the WCAB lacked subject matter jurisdiction because applicant was hired in and worked exclusively from Massachusetts, never physically working in California, and found applicant failed to prove the claims were presumed compensable under section 5402(b). Applicant sought reconsideration, arguing that in a digital age the location of work is meaningless and her work benefited the California-based employer via its California servers. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration on a preliminary basis, finding the WCJ's jurisdictional decision was not supported by substantial evidence without further development of the record. The Board deferred issuance of a final decision pending further review of the merits and the entire record.