Mitchell Thomas — ADJ17238555

Firefighter Mitchell Thomas sustained a cumulative industrial injury to his cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral shoulders, heart, scarring, and hearing loss over a roughly 20-year career. The WCJ awarded 73% permanent disability by applying the Combined Values Chart (CVC), finding the PQME reports of Dr. Weber (internal medicine) and Dr. Sharma (physiatry) failed to rebut the CVC under Vigil v. County of Kern. On reconsideration, the Appeals Board agreed the PQME reports were not substantial evidence—Dr. Weber's no-overlap opinion was conclusory and based on generalized physiological principles, and Dr. Sharma's opinion was contradictory because he acknowledged overlapping ADLs yet summarily called the restrictions 'synergistic' without explaining the amplification. The Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the FA&O, corrected a clerical error on the date of injury, deferred permanent disability and attorney's fees, and ordered development of the record (including supplemental reporting on the tinnitus rating under Almaraz-Guzman).