High Court Upholds Unapportioned Award to Mine Worker; Denies Referral, Expansion

The West Virginia Supreme Court unanimously upheld an unapportioned award of benefits to an injured mine worker but ruled that he was not entitled to expand the scope of his claim or receive a neurosurgery referral. Johnnie Stafford worked for Murray Metallurgical Holdings. He suffered injuries in February 2020 when a piece of coal fell from a mine roof, striking his head, neck and upper body. Stafford filed a workers’ compensation claim, and it was held compensable for head and neck sprains and contusions. Dr. Dominador Lao treated Stafford for neck pain from February through ...