Marie Talley — ADJ8492544

Applicant Marie Talley, a management analyst for the County of Monterey, claimed industrial injury on April 30, 2008 to her cervical spine, face (trigeminal nerve), headaches, hypertension, diabetes, and sleep loss. The WCJ found industrial injury to the cervical spine, face, headaches, and hypertension but not diabetes or sleep loss, awarded 49 percent permanent partial disability, and combined impairment ratings using the CVC rather than adding them. Applicant sought reconsideration arguing the internal medicine QME, Dr. Mahmoudi, established industrial contribution to her diabetes and sleep conditions and that her ratings should be added under Kite/Vigil. The Board affirmed, holding the QME's opinions on diabetes and sleep were not substantial medical evidence because they relied on speculation, unreconciled Epworth and polysomnography results, and subjective complaints. Because the diabetic and sleep conditions were found nonindustrial, there was no basis to add impairments, and the generalized synergy assertion failed the Vigil standard.