What the panel ordered
Findings and Order of July 12, 2021 rescinded; new Findings and Order issued directing parties to obtain replacement QME panels in orthopedics and rheumatology specialties.
Petition for reconsideration granted to study factual and legal issues regarding the specialty of the replacement QME panel; decision after reconsideration issued.
What was disputed, and how it came out
Each issue the panel decided, with the reasoning it gave. An outcome is what this panel did on this record — not a rule, and not a prediction.
The record, including Dr. Nijjar's deposition, supports the need for a replacement orthopedic panel and an additional rheumatology panel to further develop the medical record regarding causation of CRPS.
From the decision · page 3In this case, it appears that a second panel is warranted based on the record in order to promote an expeditious resolution of this case. Based on Dr. Nijjar's deposition, including the exhibits attached to it, a rheumatology panel will provide additional evidence on the causation of CRPS. Therefore, we will amend the Findings and Order to order the parties to request two panels from the medical unit.
The facts that decided it
What the panel treated as outcome-determinative, and which side it favoured.
Dr. Nijjar is no longer available to serve as a panel qualified medical evaluator.
Favours Applicant prevailed
Necessitates replacement orthopedic panel to further develop medical record.
From the decision · page 3FINDINGS OF FACT 1. Applicant, while employed by Central California Child Development, insured by Star Insurance, as a janitor (Occupational Group 340) sustained an injury on July 24, 2017 to the right ankle which arose out of and occurred during the course of employment. 2. Dr. Nijjar was selected as a panel qualified medical evaluator in the field of orthopedics. 3. Pursuant to a Finding and Order issued on October 28, 2020, there is a need for further development of the medical record. 4. Dr, Nijjar is no longer available to serve as a panel qualified medical evaluator. 5. A new panel qualified medical evaluator in the field of orthopedics is necessary to further develop the medical record. 6. An additional panel qualified medical evaluator in the field of rheumatology is necessary to further develop the medical record.
Deposition of Dr. Nijjar supports need for additional rheumatology panel to evaluate causation of CRPS.
Favours Applicant prevailed
Additional panel will provide necessary evidence on causation issue.
From the decision · page 3In this case, it appears that a second panel is warranted based on the record in order to promote an expeditious resolution of this case. Based on Dr. Nijjar's deposition, including the exhibits attached to it, a rheumatology panel will provide additional evidence on the causation of CRPS. Therefore, we will amend the Findings and Order to order the parties to request two panels from the medical unit.
What the panel did with the medical opinions
The role the physician served, and the weight the opinion carried. Physicians are named here as the decision names them; we do not score them.
Deposition supports need for additional rheumatology panel to provide evidence on causation of CRPS.
Deposition and exhibits indicate additional specialty needed for causation evaluation.
From the decision · page 3In this case, it appears that a second panel is warranted based on the record in order to promote an expeditious resolution of this case. Based on Dr. Nijjar's deposition, including the exhibits attached to it, a rheumatology panel will provide additional evidence on the causation of CRPS. Therefore, we will amend the Findings and Order to order the parties to request two panels from the medical unit.
The rules the panel named
Authorities as the decision cited them, with how this panel applied each one.
Labor Code
Labor Code section 4062.2
Governs the selection and replacement of qualified medical evaluators.
From the decision · page 1Applicant seeks reconsideration of the July 12, 2021 Findings and Order wherein the workers' compensation administrative law judge (WCJ) found that applicant, while employed as a janitor by Central California Child Development sustained an injury to her right ankle. The WCJ ordered the parties to obtain a replacement panel in the field of orthopedics in order to replace the initially selected PQME who is no longer available.
What proof carried it
The evidence the panel weighed, by kind.
Deposition of Dr. Nijjar and attached exhibits
From the decision · page 3In this case, it appears that a second panel is warranted based on the record in order to promote an expeditious resolution of this case. Based on Dr. Nijjar's deposition, including the exhibits attached to it, a rheumatology panel will provide additional evidence on the causation of CRPS. Therefore, we will amend the Findings and Order to order the parties to request two panels from the medical unit.
The same issues, filtered across the whole corpus — or paste your own facts and let the search rank by factor match.
About this page
- A published decision of the California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, taken apart by what it turned on. The Board publishes the decision itself; this page adds the extraction and quotes the passage behind every claim.
- The injured worker is not named here, and the case caption is not printed. Physicians appear as the decision names them, because a medical opinion is an act in a public proceeding.
- Issues, outcomes and weights were extracted by AI and released only where the source passage checked. Read the official decision before relying on anything here. Not legal advice.
- If you are named in this decision and want this page removed, write to privacy@similarcase.com.