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.
AMERelied upon
Applicant reached P&S status on 02/05/2021 for neck and right shoulder; original 06/03/2018 P&S date premature
WCJ and WCAB relied on AME opinion for 2018 injury P&S date
From the decision · page 3Dr. Lucy Lin was chosen to be the AME for the 2018 injury. She obtained the same history as Dr. Brown (Op. Cit., p. 8). She stated (p. 10): “I concur with Dr. Brown that the applicant reached a permanent and stationary status on February 5, 2021 referable to the neck and right shoulder.
QMERelied upon
Applicant P&S for 2019 rhabdomyolysis injury as of 09/04/2020 evaluation; no further treatment needed
QME finding of P&S status constitutes substantial medical evidence ending TD entitlement
From the decision · page 4The 2019 injury was assigned to Dr. Robert Noriega for the QME evaluation. He reported that Applicant was permanent and stationary for the 2019 injury as of the date of his 09/04/2020 evaluation. (Report, 10/03/2020, Ex. J-3, p. 14)
PTPRelied upon
Applicant able to work full duty but off due to chronic rhabdo; unable to work in heat
Treating physician reports consistently attributed work absence to 2019 rhabdo injury
From the decision · page 3In her June 16, 2020 report, Dr. Brown stated that Applicant was able to work full duty “ … but is off due to his chronic rhabdo as he can’t work in heat now … ” and was receiving disability payments for his 2019 injury from EDD (Ibid, pp. 6-7).
otherNot reached
Released applicant to return to regular work with no restrictions or limitations on 06/03/2018
WCJ report states Dr. Reddy released applicant to regular work on 06/03/2018 with no restrictions
From the decision · page 3On 06/03/2018, Applicant was released to return to regular work by his then treating physician, Dr. Reddy, with no restrictions or limitations. (Ex. D- 2). He continued to work after the 2018 injury, albeit with some symptoms and modified duties for a time, until the second injury in April of 2019 (Report, Lucy Lin, MD, 03/04/2021, Ex. J-7, p. 8;