Arlington County Fire Department v. Stebbins

OVERTON, Judge.

In this appeal we consider whether a claimant who has been voluntarily retired and unemployed for the preceding fifty-two weeks may be awarded compensation for lost wages while recovering from a work-related disease. We hold that he may not, and we reverse the decision of the commission.

David Stebbins was employed as a firefighter and a paramedic for the Arlington County Fire Department until his voluntary retirement in February, 1992. Since that time, he has not worked full-time in any position; he has only worked as a part-time doorman at a local bar and as a volunteer at a…