Spencer Mallinger — ADJ7172447

Applicant Spencer Mallinger, a CAL FIRE paramedic and fire apparatus engineer, sustained an industrial injury on June 11, 2008, when a wildfire overran his fire engine, causing injuries to his heart, psyche (including sleep apnea), and burns to his head, neck, nose, and hands. The WCJ awarded 76% permanent disability using the Combined Values Chart (CVC) to combine his physical and psychiatric impairments. Applicant sought reconsideration, arguing that the AME's opinion supported adding rather than combining the impairments based on a 'synergistic overall effect,' which would yield 100% permanent disability. The Board affirmed the 76% PD finding to maintain benefit flow but deferred the issues of combining versus adding impairments and entitlement to additional PD, finding that AME Dr. Mehtani's opinion required further development to satisfy the standards announced in the en banc decision Vigil v. County of Kern. The matter was remanded for supplemental reporting addressing the impact of impairments on activities of daily living (ADLs) and overlap analysis, and for the WCJ to rule on admissibility of QME Dr. Reddy's reports.