Claim of West v. Consolidated Edison

—Lahtinen, J.

Appeal from a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed September 11, 2001, which ruled that claimant voluntarily withdrew from the labor market and denied her claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

Claimant was employed by Consolidated Edison in various capacities including those of custodian, mechanic and mail-room worker. After 24 years, she retired in December 1997 at the age of 62 without any indication to her employer that her retirement was due to a job-related disability. In February 2000, pulmonologist Ira Gould diagnosed claimant as suffering from several…