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Amado Munoz — ADJ22129016, ADJ22129017

AMADO MUNOZ, Applicant vs. YAMAHA CORPORATION OF AMERICA; SENTINEL INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD., administered by THE HARTFORD, Defendants

ADJ number: ADJ22129016, ADJ22129017
Decision date: Jul 5, 2026
District office: Pomona
WCJ: —
Claim administrator: The Hartford (administering Sentinel Insurance Company, Ltd.)
Commissioners: JOSÉ H. RAZO, COMMISSIONER, KATHERINE WILLIAMS DODD, COMMISSIONER

Injury / body parts: hips, knees, back, hands, neck, psyche, digestive system, nervous system

LC §3208.1LC §3208.2LC §5303LC §4062.2LC §5900LC §5904LC §5909CCR §30CCR §31.7CCR §10396CCR §10517CCR §10600

Summary

Applicant Amado Munoz filed two separate cumulative trauma claims against the same employer (Yamaha) for a continuous employment period as a sales manager: one for orthopedic body parts (ADJ22129016) and one for psyche/digestive systems (ADJ22129017). His attorney obtained a psychology panel first (Feb 18, 2026) and a chiropractic panel the next day (Feb 19, 2026). The WCJ applied Navarro v. City of Montebello and struck the chiropractic panel. On reconsideration, the WCAB panel rescinded the F&O, holding that Navarro was misapplied because it only governs situations where an applicant already evaluated by a QME files a new claim and disputes whether to return to the same QME. The Board found the threshold question of whether there is one cumulative injury or two must be resolved first, and returned the matter to the WCJ for further proceedings.

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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Similar decisions

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Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.

Full case search with summaries, PDFs, holdings, and filters is included with Member. This block is a decorative placeholder so the page layout is visible without exposing restricted text. Sign in or subscribe to Member to read the complete decision. The panel considered the record, the applicable statutes, and the arguments of the parties. Member is $25/month or $250/year and includes the weekly email digest, full case search, and bookmarks.