Court Upholds Causal Connection Between Coal Worker's Employment, Pneumoconiosis

A federal appellate court upheld a finding that a worker’s coal mine employment caused his pneumoconiosis. Case: Lance Coal Corp. v. OWCP, No. 23-3779, 05/09/2024, unpublished. Facts: Virgil Combs worked for Lance Coal Corp. for six years as a member of a powder crew. His job involved detonating explosives to blast open rock layers. Procedural history: Combs filed a claim under the Black Lung Benefits Act, but an administrative law judge denied it, finding pneumoconiosis didn’t cause Combs’ total disability. Combs filed a request for modification of the denial but di...