CAUSATION, IMPAIRMENT, DISABILITY - AN ANALYSIS OF COAL-WORKERS PNEUMOCONIOSIS EVALUATIONS

The relation of exposure, impairment, and awarded disability in coal d ust disease cases is often unclear. Surveillance data from large minin g populations has demonstrated a decline in pulmonary function associa ted with coal dust exposure, even in miners with normal roentgenograph s, though the frequency with which this results in impairment is not w ell defined. This study examines a more specific group, 374 disability claimants, for whom evaluation data is less extensive. In this group, several pulmonary function variables declined in association with yea rs mining, even after controlling for roentgenograph status and smokin g. This was particularly seen among underground miners, although the d eclines were small and of marginal statistical significance. Awards we re evaluated for 203 resolved cases. Among 59 with completely normal r oentgenographs and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), 38 (64%) received some disability award. These findings support development of a more ra tional impairment/disability system for those with potential coal dust disease.