CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

In re the Claim of Schuren v. Wolfson

A 68-year-old private chauffeur collapsed and died after assisting a coemployee in carrying a heavy suitcase to his employer's car. The death certificate attributed the cause to atherosclerosis of coronary arteries. The decedent had a significant history of cardiac issues, with his treating physician stating the death was an 'expected result' of his disease. Expert medical testimony debated the strenuousness of the task in relation to the decedent's pre-existing condition. The court, applying the 'ordinary man' standard, reiterated that a compensable heart attack from overexertion requires work greater than ordinary wear and tear and must be 'unusually hard.' Finding no substantial evidence to support the Board's finding under this standard, the claim for benefits was dismissed.

Workers' CompensationCardiac EventOverexertionDeath BenefitsCausationOrdinary Wear and TearUnusually Hard WorkMedical TestimonyAppellate ReviewClaim Dismissed
References
10
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 06, 1994

Claim of Onody v. County of Oswego D.P.W.

Eugene Onody, a solid waste transfer station attendant, was found unconscious at his workplace and later died due to arrhythmia caused by multifocal coronary atherosclerosis. His widow filed a claim for workers' compensation death benefits, which the self-insured employer disputed, arguing that his death did not arise out of and in the course of his employment. The Workers’ Compensation Board sustained the claim, leading to an appeal by the employer. The appellate court affirmed the Board's decision, applying Workers’ Compensation Law § 21, which establishes a presumption that unwitnessed deaths occurring in the course of employment arise out of that employment. The court concluded that the employer failed to present substantial evidence to overcome this statutory presumption, particularly in light of conflicting medical evidence and varying descriptions of the decedent's job duties.

Unwitnessed deathWorkers' Compensation Law § 21Presumption of compensabilityBurden of proofConflicting medical evidenceStrenuous work activityCause of deathAppellate reviewDeath benefits claimEmployer appeal
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Adams v. Owens Corning Fiberglass

The Special Disability Fund appealed a Workers’ Compensation Board decision from November 23, 1999, which had discharged the Fund from liability under Workers’ Compensation Law § 15 (8). Initially, a WCB panel ruled that the employer’s carrier was entitled to reimbursement for a claimant's preexisting coronary artery disease. Although the Fund's appeal to this Court was dismissed for failure to prosecute, the full Board later rescinded the panel's decision, finding the carrier's reimbursement claim failed to specify coronary artery disease as a preexisting disability. This Court affirmed the full Board's decision, asserting the Board's plenary authority under Workers’ Compensation Law § 123 to modify its decisions, even after an appeal dismissal. The Court emphasized strict adherence to claim form requirements, noting the carrier's form lacked specific mention of the coronary artery disease, thereby denying the reimbursement claim.

Special Disability FundWorkers' Compensation BoardReimbursementPreexisting DisabilityCoronary Artery DiseaseFailure to ProsecuteBoard AuthorityClaim Form ComplianceAppellate ReviewWorkers' Compensation Law
References
5
Case No. ADJ7941925 (VNO 0120392) ADJ2139821 (VNO 0472608)
Regular
Mar 25, 2013

KIM A. ALLEN vs. CITY OF PASADENA

The Workers' Compensation Appeals Board granted reconsideration, rescinded the WCJ's decision, and returned the case to the trial level. The defendant argued that the WCJ erred in finding industrial causation for the applicant's coronary artery disease, citing res judicata and the issue not being properly raised. However, the Board found no substantial medical evidence supported the finding of industrial injury for the current condition, necessitating further proceedings. The applicant had prior stipulated awards for heart conditions, but the coronary artery disease was alleged as a new problem.

Workers' Compensation Appeals BoardCity of PasadenaPermissibly Self-InsuredFindings of FactInjury AOE/COECoronary Artery DiseaseCardiovascular SystemFirefighterCumulative PeriodRes Judicata
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 19, 1969

Claim of Mulholland v. New York State Department of Public Works

The case involves an appeal by a claimant whose husband, an engineer for the New York State Department of Public Works, died from coronary arteriosclerosis after experiencing significant emotional stress. The stress stemmed from an upcoming experimental meeting and a dilemma regarding the falsification of inventory data to prevent dissipation of stockpiled goods. The appellant contended that this emotional strain was a causal factor in his fatal coronary occlusion. However, the Workmen’s Compensation Board denied benefits, a decision affirmed on appeal. The court ruled that the emotional strain described was not greater than the ordinary stress workers occasionally face, thus not qualifying as an accidental injury under the Workmen’s Compensation Law.

Emotional StressCoronary OcclusionWorkers' Compensation BenefitsAccidental Injury ClaimCausationEmployment-Related StressBoard Decision ReviewJudicial ReviewFatal InjuryWork-Related Death
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Vann v. Daniels & West, Inc.

The case involves an appeal from a Workers’ Compensation Board decision, filed February 10, 1977, and amended October 7, 1977, which denied death benefits to a decedent’s widow. The decedent, a driver, veered off the road and struck a tree, but did not suffer significant injuries from the crash itself. An autopsy revealed his death was due to coronary thrombosis, and he had pre-existing arteriosclerotic heart disease. Conflicting medical testimony was presented regarding whether the coronary event preceded and caused the accident, or if the death was from natural causes unrelated to the employment accident. The Board found the death unrelated. The appellate court affirmed the Board’s decision, stating it was supported by substantial medical evidence.

Coronary ThrombosisArteriosclerotic Heart DiseaseDeath BenefitsWorkers' Compensation AppealMedical CausationConflicting Medical TestimonySubstantial EvidenceAccident Unrelated to DeathNatural CausesAutopsy Report
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Leveski v. Dic Underhill Joint Venture

The claimant, employed by Die Underhill Joint Venture as a drill runner, developed pneumoconiosis (silicosis) due to his occupation and also suffered from coronary artery disease. He stopped working in December 1975 and applied for workers' compensation benefits for silicosis. The Workers' Compensation Board initially found him totally disabled by his non-work-related coronary condition, rescinding a referee's award, a decision the claimant did not appeal. In August 1979, the claimant sought to reopen his case, but the Board denied this application in February 1980. The appellate court affirmed the Board's denial, ruling that the claimant failed to demonstrate a change of condition or present newly discovered evidence as required for reopening a case.

Workers' CompensationSilicosisOccupational DiseaseCoronary Artery DiseaseMedical TreatmentReopening CaseAppellate ReviewAbuse of DiscretionChange of ConditionNewly Discovered Evidence
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 05, 1981

Claim of Tienken v. Dancing Waters, Inc.

The claimant appealed a decision from the Workers’ Compensation Board concerning her husband's death in 1976 due to acute thrombosis of the right coronary artery. Medical experts disagreed on whether his death was work-related; the claimant's expert and an impartial specialist found work activities contributory, while the employer's expert attributed it to pre-existing coronary artery disease. The Board ruled that the death resulted from the natural progression of the disease, not work-related causes. The court affirmed the Board's decision, stating that the conflicting medical evidence created a factual issue for the Board to resolve. The court also found no merit in the claimant's argument that the Board applied the wrong test, concluding that the decision was supported by substantial evidence.

Workers' Compensation Boardmedical expertscausal relationcoronary artery diseaseacute thrombosiswork-related deathsubstantial evidencefactual issueBoard decision affirmedAppellate Division
References
2
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 11, 1977

Claim of Maynard v. Industrial Welding Corp.

Claimant suffered a myocardial infarction in April 1972, returning to work in January 1973 with restrictions. Work demands gradually increased, leading to heavy lifting similar to pre-infarction levels by August 1973. On August 29, 1973, claimant experienced multiple onsets of chest pain at work, which the Workers’ Compensation Board found to be an accidental injury aggravating pre-existing heart damage and necessitating coronary artery bypass surgery in September 1974. The appellate court, however, found insufficient evidence to support the board's conclusion that an accidental injury occurred on August 29, 1973, or that the post-August 29 coronary insufficiency was work-related, stating that the work merely exposed a pre-existing disease without causing further damage. The decision of the Workers' Compensation Board was reversed and the matter remitted.

Workers' CompensationMyocardial InfarctionAccidental InjuryCoronary InsufficiencyPre-existing ConditionCausationMedical TestimonySubstantial EvidenceReversalRemittitur
References
3
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Jan 11, 2005

Claim of MacDonald v. Penske Logistics

The claimant appealed a Workers' Compensation Board decision from January 11, 2005, which ruled that her husband's death was not causally related to his employment as a truck driver for Penske Logistics. The decedent was found dead in his truck in May 2000 due to severe coronary heart disease. Initially, a Workers' Compensation Law Judge found the death to be work-related, awarding benefits to the claimant. However, the Board reversed this determination, concluding that the carrier had presented sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption that the death arose out of employment. Medical reports and expert testimony indicated the death was natural due to severe coronary heart disease and unrelated to his job. The claimant failed to provide medical proof to contradict these findings or show a work-related activity that caused the condition. The court affirmed the Board's decision, deferring to its resolution of medical evidence.

Causation of DeathPresumption of CompensabilityCoronary Heart DiseaseMedical Expert TestimonySufficiency of EvidenceAppellate ReviewEmployment-related DeathTrucking IndustryRebuttal of PresumptionWorkers' Compensation Law § 21
References
8
Showing 1-10 of 60 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational