Federal Appellate Court Upholds Award of Black Lung Benefits

A federal appellate court upheld an award of black lung benefits for a longtime coal miner. Case: Consol PA Coal Co. v. OWCP, No. 23-1892, 09/17/2024, unpublished. Facts: Stephen Hela worked as an underground coal miner for more than 13 years. He stopped working in the mines in 2002 when a car accident rendered him unable to work. Hela’s last employer was Consol PA Coal Co. Procedural history: In 2018, Hela applied for disability benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act. An administrative law judge found that Hela was entitled to benefits and ordered Consol to pay. T...