WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD STATE OF CALIFORNIA GARY SCHOLAR, Applicant, vs. CITY OF CHICO, Permissibly Self-Insured, Defendant. Applicant was a Division Chief in the Chico Fire Department, a position he held for over 20 years until his retirement in 2004. Applicant testified at trial that, at some point in 2004, he noticed a lump on the side of his neck. As applicant testified at trial regarding the results of the first fine needle biopsy, "They - they just said they couldn't tell. Dr. Heithecker referred the applicant to another otolaryngologist, James P. Lacey, M. D. Dr. Lacey performed the guided needle biopsy.

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