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
Applicant has 28% Whole Person Impairment for left ankle injury based on use of cane and AFO support per AMA Guides 5th Edition Table 17-5; no apportionment found.
Dr. Ryan's opinion was found substantial and more credible than Dr. Thomas's opinion, supported by Applicant's credible testimony and medical evidence.
From the decision · page 4THE EXPERT MEDICAL OPINION OF PQME DR. MANIJEH RYAN, M.D. PROVED
BY A PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE THAT APPLICANT HAS 28%
PTPRejected
Found 3% WPI based on ankle motion impairment per AMA Guides Table 17-11; did not consider cane and AFO use; apportionment analysis speculative.
Dr. Thomas's opinion was rejected for lack of consideration of all AMA Guides and speculative apportionment.
From the decision · page 5The expert medical opinion of Dr. Timmy Thomas did not address Whole Person
Impairment pursuant to Table 17-5 of the AMA Guides 5th Edition. Applicant is entitled to have
the whole of the AMA Guides considered when a physician is determining her WPI. There is no
evidence in the record contradicting the determination Applicant uses a cane and AFO support.
Dr. Thomas' finding of 3% WPI was found to be insubstantial because he has not considered all
of the AMA Guides 5th Edition to establish his expert medical opinion.
QMERelied upon · internal medicine
Applicant's use of Ibuprofen for industrial ankle injury contributed to kidney damage; apportioned 20% industrial cause of kidney damage resulting in 13% WPI for kidneys.
Dr. Anderson's opinion was found substantial and credible based on medical history and records review.
From the decision · page 7Applicant was evaluated by Dr. Scott Anderson, M.D. as a Panel Qualified Medical
Examiner regarding internal medicine issues. Dr. Anderson performed an examination on February
12, 2021 and issued a report with that date. (App. Ex. 2) Dr. Anderson was deposed on September
20, 2021. (Joint Ex. 2) Dr. Anderson's records review documents Applicant's treatment with
Kaiser between 1980 and 2020. (App. Ex. 2 Pages 11- 46) Dr. Anderson summarized this history
when he said: