Legal Question in Workers Comp in California

You can set up a reasonable date yourself but the could petition the WCAB if they feel you are taking too long. While you are recovering from the surgery you are entitled to receive temporary total disability benefits. There probably is no economic benefit to you to delay the surgery unless you are still on TTD. If you need surgery then you are probably in a lot of pain and it is to your advantage to try to improve your condition as quickly as you reasonably can.