Rodriguez, Silvia Gallegos

Applicant Silvia Gallegos Rodriguez, a machine feeder injured on December 8, 2016, sought reconsideration of an April 21, 2025 FO&A that found injury AOE/COE to several body parts but denied additional claimed injuries, temporary total disability, replacement of orthopedic PQME Dr. Daniel D'Amico, and an additional neurology panel. Applicant argued Dr. D'Amico should be disqualified for alleged bias, disrespect, and ethics violations under AD Rule 41, and that additional panels were warranted. The Appeals Board granted reconsideration, affirmed the denial of a replacement orthopedic panel (finding insufficient evidence of an ethical violation), but found good cause for an additional panel in neurology because Dr. D'Amico himself recommended a neurologic consultation and EMG/nerve velocity studies and could not provide a specific diagnosis. The Board rescinded the FO&A, substituted a new Findings and Order, deferred all other issues, and returned the matter to the trial level.