WCPanelIQ
PanelGranted in Part

Louie Zamora — ADJ11141991

LOUIE ZAMORA, Applicant vs. SUBSEQUENT INJURIES BENEFITS TRUST FUND, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ11141991
Decision date
May 18, 2026
District office
Salinas
WCJ
—
Claim administrator
—
Commissioners
JOSÉ H. RAZO, COMMISSIONER, CRAIG L. SNELLINGS, COMMISSIONER, ANNE SCHMITZ, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: lumbar spine, thoracic spine, cervical spine, both shoulders, right ankle, left knee, psyche

LC §4751

Summary

Applicant Louie Zamora sustained an industrial injury on August 26, 2017 to his spine, both shoulders, and right ankle while working as a premises technician for Pacific Bell, settling that underlying claim by C&R. He then sought Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) benefits, and the WCJ awarded 100% permanent disability based on the subsequent injury combined with preexisting left knee and psychological disabilities. SIBTF petitioned for reconsideration, challenging the substantiality of the medical evidence and the inclusion of the psychological condition. The Board affirmed the existence of the preexisting left knee disability but found Dr. Scheinbaum's psychiatric impairment opinion constituted impermissible 'retroactive prophylactic work restrictions' because the traumatic events were only relayed two years after the subsequent injury without prior contemporaneous evidence. The Board amended the award to reflect a combined permanent disability of 76% rather than 100%.

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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