Ramirez, Romarico

Applicant Romarico Ramirez sought reconsideration of two concurrent Findings and Awards finding 11% permanent disability for a specific right shoulder injury (12/28/2020) and 23% permanent disability for a cumulative cervical and lumbar spine injury ending 7/7/2021, with no industrial injury found to other body parts or internal medicine conditions. Applicant argued the WCJ should have followed treating physician Dr. Haronian rather than PQME Dr. Watkins, and that injury and disability should have been found for the left shoulder, left elbow, knees, and internal medicine claims. The Board found the medical record insufficient because PQME orthopedist Dr. Watkins evaluated but never expressly addressed industrial causation for the left shoulder, elbows, and knees, and PQME internist Dr. Majcher only addressed causation relative to the specific injury rather than the cumulative trauma period spanning over 30 years of employment. The Board granted reconsideration, rescinded both decisions, and returned the matters to the trial level for further development of the record. The Board expressed no opinion on the ultimate resolution of any issue.