Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC)

Black Lung PDO Claim Decisions at the District Director Level FY 2006-2024
YearTotal Approvals TFTotal Approvals ROTotal Approvals1Merit Denials2,4Non-merit Denials TF3, 4Non-merit Denials RO3, 4Total DenialsPart C TF Survivor EntitlementsPart C RO Survivor EntitlementsPart B Survivor EntitlementsTotal DecisionsApproval Rate5
FY 20061185216394,109  4,109   4,74813.46%
FY 20071464626083,739  3,739   4,34713.99%
FY 20081144465602,1864731,1973,856   4,41620.39%
FY 2009953974922,0861139103,109   3,60119.08%
FY 2010774325092,0961269783,200   3,70919.54%
FY 20111106457553,2981671,9615,426   6,18118.63%
FY 2012976327292,5652291,7804,574   5,30322.13%
FY 2013875666532,3611841,5734,118   4,77121.67%
FY 2014925186102,6642241,7194,607   5,21718.63%
FY 20151577288852,2222402,0374,499   5,38428.48%
FY 20162498771,1262,7063642,1505,220   6,34629.38%
FY 20173439151,2583,1535942,0545,801   7,05928.52%
FY 20182851,1131,3982,7615421,9755,278   6,67633.61%
FY 20191811,0141,1952,4584602,1265,044   6,23932.71%
FY 202062257931,0182,2415171,8604,61889335546,11431.24%
FY 20212046848881,8795151,7234,117172352305,55932.09%
FY 20222316548851,8776242,2054,706190333196,13332.04%
FY 20231696388071,6964961,8554,047148341275,37032.24%
FY 20241996158141,7676171,8414,225180300235,54231.54%

TF - Black Lung Disability Trust Fund liability

RO - Responsible coal mine operator liability

1 Approvals do not include conversions of miner to survivor benefits under 422(l) of the Act.

2 Merit denials: claims that received a Proposed Decision & Order (PDO) after all evidence is considered.

3 Non-merit denials: claims that are abandoned or withdrawn prior to a PDO.

4 Merit/non-merit categories were not quantified until FY 2008.

5 Approval rate calculated using approved and denied claims and does not include withdrawn and abandoned claims (non-merit decisions) or survivor entitlements.

6 Beginning in FY2020 Survivor Entitlements are now reported.

Source: US Department of Labor
Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation