Catrina Washington — ADJ10642765

Applicant Catrina Washington sustained an admitted industrial left knee injury while employed as a Direct Sales Representative from June 26, 2014 to June 13, 2016, and the parties stipulated to an award based on AME Dr. Berman's reporting. Applicant timely filed a Petition to Reopen for new and further disability on April 13, 2021, later amending her claim to add multiple body parts (lower extremities, back, psyche, circulatory system). QME Dr. Samson found no additional impairment to the left knee, and the WCJ found the newly alleged body parts unrelated and denied applicant's request for additional QME panels. On reconsideration, the WCAB granted the petition, rescinded the findings related to new and further disability, and deferred the issue, finding that the affirmative duty to develop the record was triggered because no substantial medical evidence addressed the alleged compensable consequence injuries. The Board encouraged the parties to agree on a medical-legal discovery plan on remand.