Federal Court Upholds Black Lung Award for Coal Miner

A federal appellate court upheld a black lung benefits award, finding a coal miner's employment caused legal pneumoconiosis that substantially contributed to his being totally disabled. Richard Estudillo worked as an electrician in underground coal mines from 1973 until 1985. He first experienced breathing problems in 1985 and a doctor diagnosed him with a 25% pulmonary impairment. Estudillo filed a claim for black lung benefits in 2020. An administrative law judge determined Estudillo had legal pneumoconiosis rather than clinical pneumoconiosis because his chest X-ray evidence did not...