Nana Ramsey, Widow of Dennis Ramsey v. West Virginia Office of Insurance Commissioner/Consolidation Coal Company

Summary

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia affirmed the denial of dependent's workers' compensation benefits to Nana Ramsey following her husband's death. The court held that the evidence supported the finding that occupational pneumoconiosis did not materially contribute to his death, which was attributed to severe cardiac dysfunction.

Holdings

1. The evidence supported the finding that occupational pneumoconiosis did not materially contribute to Dennis Ramsey's death; his death resulted from severe cardiac dysfunction unrelated to coal-dust exposure.
2. The Board of Review's decision did not clearly violate a constitutional or statutory provision, result from an erroneous conclusion of law, or rely on a material misstatement or mischaracterization of the evidentiary record.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the determination that occupational pneumoconiosis did not materially contribute to Dennis Ramsey's death.
2. Whether the Workers' Compensation Board of Review's decision affirming the denial of dependent's benefits violated a constitutional or statutory provision, resulted from an erroneous conclusion of law, or rested on a material misstatement or mischaracterization of the evidentiary record.

Disposition

affirmed