PanelQMEMed-legalGranted
Ethiopia Tedla — ADJ20322653
ETHIOPIA TEDLA, Applicant vs. SANTA ROSA CITY SCHOOLS, permissibly self-insured, administered by REDWOOD EMPIRE SCHOOLS INSURANCE GROUP, Defendants
- ADJ number
- ADJ20322653
- Decision date
- Oct 15, 2026
- District office
- Santa Rosa
- WCJ
- —
- Claim administrator
- Redwood Empire Schools Insurance Group (administrator for permissibly self-insured Santa Rosa City Schools)
- Commissioners
- JOSEPH V. CAPURRO, COMMISSIONER, LISA A. SUSSMAN, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
Injury / body parts: psyche, head/headaches, sleep disorder, teeth, circulatory system
LC §5909LC §5900LC §3208.3LC §5300LC §5301LC §111LC §5309LC §5310LC §5906LC §5908CCR §10628CCR §10400CCR §10401CCR §10961CCR §10305CCR §10348
Summary
An unrepresented applicant, a night custodian, claimed a cumulative psychiatric injury (plus headaches/sleep disorder) through December 27, 2024, attributing her anxiety to fear caused by unlocked doors at her workplace. The WCJ found the injury non-compensable, relying on PQME Dr. Allen's supplemental opinion that there was 'insubstantial evidence' to meet the 51% predominant-cause threshold under Labor Code section 3208.3. On reconsideration, the Board found applicant's Petition timely because the proof of service indicated she was never actually served with the F&O (her name was not highlighted on the official address record), rendering the WCJ's untimeliness finding erroneous. The Board further held Dr. Allen's modified reports were not substantial medical evidence because she abandoned a complete 100% causation opinion for an incomplete one that failed to identify and assign percentages to all causes as required by Rolda. The Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the F&O, and returned the matter for further development of the medical record and a proper causation/personnel-action analysis.
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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