Federal Court Upholds Award of Black Lung Benefits to Miner With COPD

The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an award under the Black Lung Benefits Act to a longtime coal mine worker with chronic lung disease. Cecil Bristow suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He filed a claim for compensation under the Black Lung Benefits Act, asserting his condition was caused by his exposure to coal mine dust from his years of work. An administrative law judge found Bristow had "legal pneumoconiosis.” Clinical pneumoconiosis is a lung disease the medical community refers to as pneumoconiosis. Legal pneumoconiosis encompasses a bro...