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 · orthopedics
Rated right shoulder impairment at 9% WPI, apportioning 65% to industrial injury, 25% to prior problems, and 10% to a fall in Hawaii; precluded heavy lifting, repetitive bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying.
His impairment rating and work restrictions were relied upon by the vocational expert and WCJ to support permanent total disability.
From the decision · page 3Due to continuing problems, applicant had another right shoulder surgery on January 13,
2014, and then aggravated her right shoulder when a chair slipped out from under her while on
vacation in Hawaii in May of 2014. Dr. Mandell evaluated her again on September 24, 2014, and
rated her right shoulder impairment at 9% WPI, based on an AMA Guides rating, apportioning
25% to "prior problems," 10% to her fall in Hawaii, and 65% to the industrial injury. He precluded
her from "heavy lifting, repetitive bending and stooping, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, etc."
(Jt. 8, 9/24/14 AME Dr. Mandell Report, p. 5-6.)
AMERelied upon · neurology
Rated neurological impairment at 19% WPI due to gait and station impairment from spinal cord injury; provided work preclusions including ability to sit at will, avoidance of stairs, climbing, working with power tools and at heights; stated orthopedic and neurologic impairments are separate and should be combined per AMA Guides.
His neurological impairment rating and work restrictions were relied upon by the vocational expert and WCJ to support permanent total disability.
From the decision · page 4AME Dr. Gravina evaluated applicant's neurological issues related to her complaints of
loss of balance and vertigo from her spinal cord injury. He noted his initial reporting in 2011,
wherein he opined that her neurological condition was "secondary to spinal cord symptomatology,
100% due to the accident of July 10, 2008...." Dr. Gravina rated applicant's neurological
impairment based on a gait and station impairment of 19% WPI, citing Table 13.15 the AMA
Guides (rises to a standing position; walks some distance with difficulty and without assistance
but is limited to level surfaces). He provided work preclusions of "ability to sit at will, avoidance
of stairs, climbing, working with power tools and at heights." (Jt. 16, 8/27/18 AME Dr. Gravina
Report, p. 1-2.)
AMERelied upon · internal medicine
Concluded GERD and hypertension were not causally related to industrial injury; found no work restrictions due to these conditions and that applicant was not a qualified injured worker for these issues.
His opinion was considered but found not to affect the permanent total disability finding as his conditions were non-industrial and did not preclude return to work.
From the decision · page 4AME Dr. Ng evaluated applicant's internal medicine condition, specifically her
hypertension and gastrointestinal symptoms. After reviewing applicant's extensive medical
history, Dr. Ng concluded that her GERD was not causally related to her industrial injury. (Jt. 17,
12/13/13 AME Dr. Ng Report, p. 20; Jt. 18, 11/3/16 AME Dr. Ng Report, p. 21.) He also concluded
in his 2017 evaluation that her longstanding hypertension was not caused by her industrial injury,
and further opined that since her condition was adequately controlled through medication, she did
not require any work restrictions and was not a qualified injured worker. (Jt. 19, 4/5/17 AME Dr.
Ng Report, p. 34-35.)
AMERelied upon · psychiatry
Diagnosed Major Depressive Disorder and Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety caused by industrial injury; rated psychiatric impairment at 15% WPI; found no grounds for apportionment; noted cognitive and concentration difficulties affecting work ability.
His psychiatric impairment rating and opinion on work limitations were relied upon by the vocational expert and WCJ to support permanent total disability.
From the decision · page 4She was evaluated by AME Dr. Petrakis for her psychiatric injury in 2017 and 2018. He
diagnosed applicant as suffering from Major Depressive Disorder Recurrent, and Adjustment
Disorder with Anxiety, which were predominantly caused by her 2008 industrial injury. Noting
that her symptoms had worsened between his two evaluations, Dr. Petrakis gave her a GAF score
of 60, corresponding to a 15% WPI. He found no grounds to apportionment her psychiatric
disability. (Jt. 22, 7/26/18 AME Dr. Petrakis Report, p. 8-9.)