High Court Denies Coal Worker's Occupational Pneumoconiosis Claim

The West Virginia Supreme Court unanimously upheld the denial of benefits to a coal miner for his occupational pneumoconiosis claim. Case: Raynes v. Kingston Mining Inc., No. 22-0073, 10/19/2023, published. Facts: Steven R. Raynes worked for Kingston Mining Inc. as a coal miner. Raynes completed a report of occupational injury in November 2018, alleging that he was exposed to the hazards of occupational pneumoconiosis from May 2001 through June 2002 and from June 2005 to the present. A November 2018, a spirometry report showed an acceptable and reproducible study with mild obstructions pre-...