Which document is filed with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board when an applicant proceeds with adjudication of a claim without counsel?

• A. Original Medical Reports
• B. Subpoenaed medical records
• C. Copies of letters to opposing counsel
• D. Copies of medical appointment letters

Answer: (A)

Original medical reports provide the physician’s firsthand medical evidence of the work-related injury, including diagnosis, causal relationship to work, treatment history, and impairment findings. When an applicant proceeds with adjudication without counsel, these original reports are filed with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board because they form the most reliable, direct basis for the board to evaluate medical conditions, causation, and expected recovery. They establish the medical facts the claim rests on and help the board determine medical necessity, permanency, and other issues without relying on summaries or second-hand notes.

Subpoenaed medical records are obtained through a process and may appear later, but they are not the primary medical evidence required for adjudication. Copies of letters to opposing counsel are communications, not medical evidence, and do not provide the clinical basis for the claim. Copies of medical appointment letters are administrative notices and do not substitute for the treating physician’s detailed medical reports.