Federal Court Rejects Employer's Challenge to Black Lung Award

A federal appellate court denied an employer’s challenge to a worker’s black lung benefits, holding that the judge’s finding of total disability was supported by the worker’s pulmonary evaluation results. Case: Clinchfield Coal Co. v. OWCP, No. 23-1667, 01/15/2026, published. Facts: Vernon Vanderpool worked in underground coal mines for more than 20 years. After retiring, he filed a claim for compensation under the Black Lung Benefits Act. After Vanderpool filed his claim, the Department of Labor sponsored a pulmonary evaluation conducted by Dr. Esther Ajja...