Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303 (2026)
Compensation and benefits
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a)
- (1) When the employer and employee are subject to this chapter, the partial or total incapacity for work or the death of an employee resulting from an occupational disease as defined in [former] § 50-6-301 [Applicable only to injuries occurring prior to July 1, 2014. See the Compiler's Notes.], shall be treated as the happening of an injury by accident or death by accident, and the employee, or in case of the employee's death, the employee's dependents, shall be entitled to compensation as provided in this chapter.
- (2) An employee who has an occupational disease shall be entitled to the same hospital, medical and miscellaneous benefits as an employee who has a compensable injury by accident, and, in the event of death, the same funeral benefit shall be paid as in the case of death from a compensable accident.
- (b)
- (1) An employee totally disabled due to coal workers' pneumoconiosis shall be paid benefits during disability as provided for by the federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (30 U.S.C. § 901 et seq.).
- (2) In accordance with the federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, if the employee has one (1) or more dependents, the payments shall be increased fifty percent (50%) of such payments for the first dependent, seventy-five percent (75%) for two (2) dependents, and one hundred percent (100%) for three (3) or more dependents.
- (3) In case of death of an employee receiving benefits under this chapter, benefits shall be paid to that employee's surviving spouse and any dependents in the same manner provided in the federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as applicable to employees suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
- (4) Benefits paid under this subsection (b) shall not be subject to the maximum compensation limitations set forth in §§ 50-6-205, 50-6-207(1), (3) and (4), 50-6-209, 50-6-210(e)(10) or any other sections of this chapter, but the maximum compensation limitations shall be controlled exclusively by the maximum compensation benefits and limitations established under the federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, as applicable to employees suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis.
- (5) The minimum compensation limitations for employees suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis shall be no less than those set forth in the federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.
Acts 1947, ch. 139, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, § 6852; Acts 1971, ch. 300, § 5; 1972, ch. 699, § 6; 1975, ch. 210, § 1; 1977, ch. 339, § 3; impl. am. Acts 1980, ch. 534, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 50-1105; Acts 1985, ch. 325, § 1.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14
cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1990–2023 · leading case: Ingram v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 876 S.W.2d 91 (Tenn. 1994).
Ingram v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 876 S.W.2d 91 (Tenn. 1994). “There is no good reason nor statutory authority why the issue should not be addressed when it is tendered so long as it comes within the limitations fixed by T.C.A. § 50-6-303. The cause is remanded for a determination of medical benefits due to the plaintiff by the employer in…”
Cody, Dan v. G.UB.MK Constructors, 2021 TN WC App. 79 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303 (a)(1). A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is used by defendants to test the sufficiency of the allegations in a petition, not the strength of a petitioner’s proof.”
Helton v. State, 800 S.W.2d 823 (Tenn. 1990). “[T.C.A. § 50-6-303] [Citations omitted] By using this definition of “accident or injury” in connection with occupational diseases, the legislature has provided a certain, determinable date at which the afflicted employee’s cause of action accrues, a matter of some importance in…”
Brewer, Jeffrey v. G.UB.MK Constructors, 2018 TN WC 50 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2018). “Applying these standards, the Court considers Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-303(a)(1), which governs occupational diseases and provides in pertinent part: When the employee and employer are subject to this chapter, the partial or total incapacity for work or the death of…”
Nickerson, Angela Varner v. Knox Cnty. Gov't, 2020 TN WC App. 30 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2020). “Notably, section 50-6-303 provides that “the partial or total incapacity for work or the death of an employee resulting from an occupational disease .”
Burnette, Sr., DeWayne v. Westrock Co., 2017 TN WC 138 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2017). “In its place, the reform act enacted the following language codified at Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-303(a)(1) (2016): . . . the partial or total incapacity for work or the death of an employee resulting from an occupational disease .”
Morgan, Jr., Otto v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 2019 TN WC App. 53 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2019). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303 (a)(1) (2019).”
Johnson, Robert E. v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 93 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Adkisson, Greg v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 94 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Crick, Phillip v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 96 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Watkins, Michael v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 97 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Turner, Timothy D. v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2021 TN WC 146 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2021). “A § 50-6-102(14) (2019) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303(a): 5 cases
Johnson, Robert E. v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 93 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Adkisson, Greg v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 94 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Crick, Phillip v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 96 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Watkins, Michael v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2020 TN WC 97 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2020). “A § 50-6-102(14) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Turner, Timothy D. v. G.UB.MK Constructors, Inc., 2021 TN WC 146 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2021). “A § 50-6-102(14) (2019) and T.C.A. § 50-6-303(a). The Court taxes the filing fee of $150.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303(a)(1): 3 cases
Cody, Dan v. G.UB.MK Constructors, 2021 TN WC App. 79 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303 (a)(1). A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is used by defendants to test the sufficiency of the allegations in a petition, not the strength of a petitioner’s proof.”
Brewer, Jeffrey v. G.UB.MK Constructors, 2018 TN WC 50 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2018). “Applying these standards, the Court considers Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-303(a)(1), which governs occupational diseases and provides in pertinent part: When the employee and employer are subject to this chapter, the partial or total incapacity for work or the death of…”
Burnette, Sr., DeWayne v. Westrock Co., 2017 TN WC 138 (Tenn. Ct. Work. Comp. Cl. 2017). “In its place, the reform act enacted the following language codified at Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-303(a)(1) (2016): . . . the partial or total incapacity for work or the death of an employee resulting from an occupational disease .”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303(a)(2): 2 cases
Ingram v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 876 S.W.2d 91 (Tenn. 1994). “There is no good reason nor statutory authority why the issue should not be addressed when it is tendered so long as it comes within the limitations fixed by T.C.A. § 50-6-303. The cause is remanded for a determination of medical benefits due to the plaintiff by the employer in…”
Cody, Dan v. G.UB.MK Constructors, 2021 TN WC App. 79 (Tenn. Work. Comp. App. Bd. 2021). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303 (a)(1). A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is used by defendants to test the sufficiency of the allegations in a petition, not the strength of a petitioner’s proof.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-303(b): 1 case
Caudill v. Consolidation Coal Co., 910 S.W.2d 417 (Tenn. 1995).
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