Weller v. Union Carbide Corp.

This is a worker’s compensation occupational disease claim. The dispositive issue is whether the claim is compensable. The referee and Workers’ Compensation Board ruled that it was not. The circuit court ruled that it was. We agree with the referee and Board, and therefore reverse the circuit court.

There is little dispute about the facts. Claimant began working as a crane operator in 1952. He injured his low back in a nonindustrial accident in 1968. He continued in the same employment, but had recurrent episodes of low back and leg pain. Claimant quit working in 1975. Several doctors made a…