McDonough's Case

Joseph V. McDonough (employee) worked for the Boston Edison Company from 1961 until his voluntary retirement in 1991. He was diagnosed with a metastatic adenocarcinoma and asbestosis four and one-half years after he retired from the company, and died soon afterward. His widow, the claimant, made a claim for benefits under § 31 of the Workers’ Compensation Act, G. L. c. 152, which provides for compensation to certain survivors of workers who die because of an injury suffered in the course of their employment. An administrative judge of the Department of Industrial Accidents (department)…