Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Benefits to Coal Miner

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld a denial of permanent partial disability benefits to a former miner on his occupational pneumoconiosis claim. Case: Wright v. West Virginia Office of Insurance Commissioner, No. 22-581, 02/20/2024, published. Facts and procedural history: Garrett E. Wright worked as a coal miner. He filed a claim in January 2020 alleging that he sustained permanent impairment as a result of occupational pneumoconiosis. In support of his claim, Wright submitted a physician's report of occupational pneumoconiosis completed by Dr. Abdul Mizra, who diagnosed Wrigh...