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.
QMERelied upon · orthopedics
Lumbar spine permanent disability rated at 14% based on PQME opinion and PTP report; shoulder impairments rated at 3% right and 4% left based on PTP report due to insufficient basis in PQME report.
PQME Alexakis's opinion was found most persuasive for lumbar spine impairment; PTP Ahmed's report was used for shoulder impairment rating.
From the decision · page 10The Joint Findings, Award and Order was issued on July 21, 2025. In relevant part, the
applicant was found to have a June 21, 2019 specific injury that resulted in compensable injuries
to the lumbar spine and psyche. This resulted in 14% permanent disability ("PD") for the lumbar
spine (based on the opinions of PQME Alexakis) and a period of temporary disability ("TD") from
December 2, 2022 through February 2, 2024 due to the applicant's psyche injury (based on the
opinions of Dr. Hirsch).
PTPRelied upon · orthopedics
Provided Permanent and Stationary report used to extrapolate shoulder impairment ratings.
PTP Ahmed's report was used to rate shoulder impairments due to insufficient basis in PQME report.
From the decision · page 9The applicant's most recent primary treating physician ("PTP") was Khalid Ahmed, M.D.,
who authored a Permanent and Stationary ("P&S") report, dated April 27, 2023. (Applicant's
Exhibit 1.)
QMERelied upon · psychology
Applicant's psychological injury was caused 20% by termination, 20% by harassment from co-workers, and 60% by depression and agitation from chronic pain; psychological injury is compensable.
Dr. Hirsch's reports provided substantial medical evidence supporting compensability of psychological injury.
From the decision · page 2Licensed psychologist, Dr. Seth Hirsch, Ph.D., acted as the QME in psychology in this case
and provided three reports regarding applicant's psychological condition. In Dr. Hirsch's
preliminary psychological report of December 2, 2022, he noted that after applicant was given
work restrictions following his injury, applicant reported that his co-workers ridiculed him and
made fun of him for "making a lot of money for doing nothing." (App. Ex. 17, Medical Report by
Dr. Seth Hirsch, dated 12/2/22, p. 2.) In the supplemental psychological evaluation of
September 10, 2023, Dr. Hirsh stated that