Liberty Northwest Insurance v. Meeker

The only question that we address in this workers’ compensation review is whether claimant timely filed his occupational disease claim. The Board held that he did, and we affirm.

At the relevant time, ORS 656.807(1) provided, in part, that

“[a]ll occupational disease claims shall be * * * filed * * * within 180 days from the date the claimant becomes disabled or is informed by a physician that he is suffering from an occupational disease whichever is later.” (Emphasis supplied.)

Medical reports have shown since 1984 that claimant suffers from degenerative back disease. In 1986, at a hearing to…