Norma Ochoa — ADJ21919815, ADJ21919813

Applicant Norma Ochoa simultaneously filed two cumulative trauma applications: ADJ21919813 alleging a psyche injury (CT 11/1/2024-11/1/2025) and ADJ21919815 alleging a back and hand injury (CT 11/26/2024-11/26/2025). The WCJ found the claims duplicative and overlapping, dismissed ADJ21919813, amended ADJ21919815 to add the psyche, and stayed the QME process for the psyche claim. Applicant sought reconsideration, arguing the WCJ erred in dismissing the case and staying discovery. The Board granted reconsideration, finding the WCJ improperly concluded the cases were duplicative without taking any testimony or medical evidence or conducting the analysis required under Ortiz. The Board rescinded the decision, deferred all issues of duplication and whether one or multiple injuries occurred pending development of the medical record, and found defendant was not entitled to a stay of the QME process.