Wilkinson v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

Opinion

TOBRINER, Acting C. J.

This is a petition for writ of review by applicant Ronald Wilkinson, who incurred successive industrial injuries to both knees and obtained an award of $7,175 based upon a determination that each accident caused 15% percent permanent disability. Wilkinson claims he should have received an award of $8,662.50 based upon a combined disability for both injuries of 30% percent. We sustain Wilkinson’s contention and annul the decision of the board.

Under the doctrine established in Bauer v. County of Los Angeles (1969) 34 Cal.Comp.Cases 594, whenever a worker, while…