WCPanelIQ
PanelQMEMed-legalDenied

Howard, Lakeisha

LAKEISHA HOWARD, Applicant vs. OPTUM 360 SERVICES, A UNITED HEALTH GROUP COMPANY; TRAVELERS PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY OF AMERICA (TIL), ADMINISTERED BY SEDGWICK, Defendants

ADJ number
ADJ16773219
Decision date
Jun 2, 2025
District office
Oakland
WCJ
Alison Howell
Claim administrator
Sedgwick (administering for Travelers Property Casualty Company of America)
Commissioners
—

Injury / body parts: left knee, left ankle

LC §5909LC §5900LC §4060LC §4061LC §4062LC §4062.1LC §4062.2LC §4064LC §4065LC §4605LC §5903LC §5952LC §5705LC §3600CCR §10600

Summary

Applicant Lakeisha Howard, a 50-year-old clerk, claimed a cumulative trauma injury to her left knee and ankle through May 22, 2022, and sought to introduce reports by chiropractor Dr. Zylna Granado to support causation and a compensable consequence theory. The WCJ found applicant did not sustain a cumulative injury, ruled Dr. Granado's reports inadmissible under Labor Code section 4605 (finding they were obtained solely to rebut the panel QME, Dr. Welborn), and denied the right to depose Dr. Granado. The PQME, Dr. Welborn, opined applicant's sedentary job could not have caused cumulative trauma and that her roller-skating ankle fracture was non-industrial. The Appeals Board adopted and incorporated the WCJ's Report and denied reconsideration. The Board also addressed timeliness under amended Labor Code section 5909, concluding it timely acted within 60 days of the April 8, 2025 transmission date.

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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