Consolidation Coal Co. v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

FLAUM, Circuit Judge.

Donald Beeler is a 76-year-old ex-smoker who spent a substantial portion of his career working in mines. After being diagnosed with lung disease, he applied for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act. An Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) reversed an earlier decision by the Department of Labor and awarded Beeler benefits under the Act. The ALJ weighed conflicting medical evidence and concluded that Beeler’s lung disease arose, in part, from his coal mine employment. Because the ALJ’s decision was supported by substantial evidence, we affirm.

I. Background

Beeler was an…