Candia, Christopher

Christopher Candia, an employee of the City and County of San Francisco, prevailed before a workers' compensation arbitrator (WCA) who found his cumulative trauma claim compensable based on the cancer presumption of Labor Code section 3212.1 applied to his brain tumor (meningioma), and awarded medical treatment, temporary and permanent disability, and all other benefits. Defendant sought reconsideration, arguing the WCA improperly disregarded the Independent Medical Examiner's opinion in favor of the treating physician and exceeded her powers by awarding benefits on issues not submitted for arbitration, violating due process. The Appeals Board first addressed the timeliness of its action under former Labor Code section 5909, finding that equitable tolling applied because the petition was not processed until July 27, 2023, through no fault of the parties. On the merits, the Board found it could not conduct meaningful review because the arbitration record was incomplete—lacking transcripts, submitted evidence, and identification of stipulations, exhibits, and issues. The Board rescinded the F&O and returned the matter to the arbitrator for further proceedings.