Island Creek Coal Co. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board

DOYLE, Judge.1

Before the Court is the appeal of Island Creek Coal Company (Employer) from an order of the Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board which affirmed a referee’s order reinstating the total disability benefits of Joseph Shenego (Claimant).

Claimant worked for approximately twenty-nine years in coal mines where he was exposed to coal dust beginning in 1939 until his last day of work for Employer on February 2, 1980. Thereafter, he filed a petition for total disability benefits alleging that he was disabled as a result of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis as of September 18, 1980. The referee,…