Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-504 (2026)

Compensation for disability from coal worker's pneumoconiosis; insurance of coal operator

✓ current as of May 2026
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A. An employee eligible for an award for coal worker's pneumoconiosis benefits shall be compensated according to the following schedule:

1. For first stage coal worker's pneumoconiosis medically determined from radiographic evidence and classified under the current International Labour Office Classification of Radiographs of the Pneumoconioses where there is no present impairment for work, 66 2/3 percent of the average weekly wage as defined in § 65.2-101, for fifty weeks, up to 100 percent of the average weekly wage of the Commonwealth as defined in § 65.2-500.

2. For second stage coal worker's pneumoconiosis medically determined from radiographic evidence and classified under the current International Labour Office Classification of Radiographs of the Pneumoconioses where there is no present impairment for work, 66 2/3 percent of the average weekly wage as defined in § 65.2-101 for 100 weeks, up to 100 percent of the average weekly wage of the Commonwealth as defined in § 65.2-500.

3. For third stage coal worker's pneumoconiosis medically determined from radiographic evidence and classified under the current International Labour Office Classification of Radiographs of the Pneumoconioses and involving progressive massive fibrosis or medically classified as being A, B or C under the International Labour Office (hereafter referred to as I.L.O.) classifications but where there is no apparent impairment for work, 66 2/3 percent of the average weekly wage as defined in § 65.2-101, for 300 weeks, up to 100 percent of the average weekly wage of the Commonwealth as defined in § 65.2-500.

4. For coal worker's pneumoconiosis medically determined to be A, B or C under the I.L.O. classifications or which involves progressive massive fibrosis, or for any stage of coal worker's pneumoconiosis when it is accompanied by sufficient pulmonary function loss as shown by approved medical tests and standards to render an employee totally unable to do manual labor in a dusty environment and the employee is instructed by competent medical authority not to attempt to do work in any mine or dusty environment and if he is in fact not working, it shall be deemed that he has a permanent disability and he shall receive 66 2/3 percent of his average weekly wage as defined in § 65.2-101 during the three years prior to the date of filing of the claim, up to 100 percent of the average weekly wage of the Commonwealth as defined in § 65.2-500 for his lifetime without limit as to the total amount.

B. In any case where partial disability as mentioned in subsection A of this section later results in total disability, the employer shall receive credit on any permanent disability payments by being allowed to deduct 25 percent of each weekly payment until payments for partial disability hereunder have been fully accounted for.

C. In any case where there is a question of whether a claimant with pneumoconiosis is suffering from coal worker's pneumoconiosis or from some other type of pneumoconiosis such as silicosis, it shall be conclusively presumed that he is suffering from coal worker's pneumoconiosis if he has had injurious exposure to coal dust.

D. In the event that any coal operator wishes to insure himself under standard workers' compensation insurance rather than be self-insured against the risks and liabilities imposed by this section or by § 65.2-513, any such insurance issued in this Commonwealth covering such risks shall be rated separately for premium purposes and shall not affect workers' compensation rates for any other employers not exposed to such risks.

E. All members of any panel or committee required to interpret or classify a chest roentgenogram for purposes of diagnosing a coal worker's pneumoconiosis shall be B-readers approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

1972, c. 619, § 65.1-56.1; 1973, c. 436; 1974, cc. 201, 560; 1975, c. 447; 1990, c. 610; 1991, c. 355; 2000, cc. 408, 520; 2011, c. 513.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1993–2021 · leading case: Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Brickstreet Mut. Ins. Co. v. Dewey J. McCoy, 819 S.E.2d 831 (Va. Ct. App. 2018).
Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Brickstreet Mut. Ins. Co. v. Dewey J. McCoy, 819 S.E.2d 831 (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 40× “The employer argues that the Commission erred by approving the claimant's request for permanent disability benefits even though he did not present evidence establishing sufficient pulmonary function loss as required by Code § 65.2-504. The medical documents submitted by the…”
Clinchfield Coal Co. v. Reed, 577 S.E.2d 538 (Va. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “1 (now Code § 65.2-504). Penley analyzed the issue whether the disease qualified for disability benefits under Code § 65.”
Perdue Farms, Inc. v. McCutchan, 461 S.E.2d 431 (Va. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 4× “[2] The Act provides for compensation for many "diseases" which are actually passive exposure trauma conditions, e.g. pneumoconiosis, byssinosis, and asbestosis.”
Uninsured Emp.'s Fund v. Wilson, 619 S.E.2d 476 (Va. Ct. App. 2005). “2-503; disability caused by pneumoconiosis, § 65.2-504; and death benefits, § 65.2-512.”
Cox v. Oakwood Mining, Inc., 434 S.E.2d 904 (Va. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “1 [now Code § 65.2-504].” Former Code § 65.1-56.”
Uninsured Emp.'s Fund v. Flanary, 497 S.E.2d 912 (Va. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “See Code § 65.2-504(A)(4). The deputy commissioner found that Flanary had proved a change in condition and awarded him lifetime benefits commencing on September 23, 1995.”
Justus v. Shalala, 817 F. Supp. 29 (W.D. Va. 1993). · cites it 3× “2-503), and disability from coal worker’s pneumoconiosis (Va.Code § 65.2-504). The employer is also required to provide medical care.”
Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Summit Point Ins. Co. v. Carson Vanover (Va. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 21× “]” The deputy commissioner further found that appellee qualified for stage three benefits pursuant to Code § 65.2-504(A)(3). This determination was supported by the findings of the Pulmonary Committee and three other doctors.”
Four \O\" Mining Corp. & Am. Mining Ins. Co. v. Lendy C. Deel" (Va. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 17× “org/wcmsp5/groups/public/--- ed_protect/---protrav/---safework/documents/publication/wcms_168260.”
Dickenson-Russell Coal Co., LLC & Brickstreet Mut. Ins. Co. v. Larry Kiser (Va. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 12× “On appeal, employer contends that the Commission relied on insufficient evidence in finding that claimant was permanently and totally disabled under Code § 65.2-504(A)(4) and that the Commission improperly discredited the opinion of employer’s medical expert.”
Roscoe Chitwood v. E.I. Du Pont De Nemours, 513 S.E.2d 890 (Va. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 6× “We agree with the commission’s conclusion that Code § 65.2-504, the Coal Miner’s Pneumoconiosis Act, has no applicability here and provides no basis for comparison.”
Island Creek Coal Co. v. Larry Miller, 531 S.E.2d 29 (Va. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 7× “, 74 OWC 183 (1995), where there is a question whether the claimant has coal workers’ pneumoconiosis or another type of pneumoconiosis, Code § 65.2-504(0 provides that it shall be conclusively presumed a claimant has coal workers’ pneumoconiosis if a claimant with pneumoconiosis…”
— Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-504(A)(1) — 1 case
— Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-504(A)(3) — 1 case
Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Summit Point Ins. Co. v. Carson Vanover (Va. Ct. App. 2018). “]” The deputy commissioner further found that appellee qualified for stage three benefits pursuant to Code § 65.2-504(A)(3). This determination was supported by the findings of the Pulmonary Committee and three other doctors.”
— Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-504(A)(4) — 6 cases
Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Brickstreet Mut. Ins. Co. v. Dewey J. McCoy, 819 S.E.2d 831 (Va. Ct. App. 2018). “The employer argues that the Commission erred by approving the claimant's request for permanent disability benefits even though he did not present evidence establishing sufficient pulmonary function loss as required by Code § 65.2-504. The medical documents submitted by the…”
Uninsured Emp.'s Fund v. Flanary, 497 S.E.2d 912 (Va. Ct. App. 1998). “See Code § 65.2-504(A)(4). The deputy commissioner found that Flanary had proved a change in condition and awarded him lifetime benefits commencing on September 23, 1995.”
Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Summit Point Ins. Co. v. Carson Vanover (Va. Ct. App. 2018). “]” The deputy commissioner further found that appellee qualified for stage three benefits pursuant to Code § 65.2-504(A)(3). This determination was supported by the findings of the Pulmonary Committee and three other doctors.”
Four \O\" Mining Corp. & Am. Mining Ins. Co. v. Lendy C. Deel" (Va. Ct. App. 2017). “org/wcmsp5/groups/public/--- ed_protect/---protrav/---safework/documents/publication/wcms_168260.”
Dickenson-Russell Coal Co., LLC & Brickstreet Mut. Ins. Co. v. Larry Kiser (Va. Ct. App. 2021). “On appeal, employer contends that the Commission relied on insufficient evidence in finding that claimant was permanently and totally disabled under Code § 65.2-504(A)(4) and that the Commission improperly discredited the opinion of employer’s medical expert.”
— Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-504(B) — 2 cases
Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Brickstreet Mut. Ins. Co. v. Dewey J. McCoy, 819 S.E.2d 831 (Va. Ct. App. 2018). “The employer argues that the Commission erred by approving the claimant's request for permanent disability benefits even though he did not present evidence establishing sufficient pulmonary function loss as required by Code § 65.2-504. The medical documents submitted by the…”
Roscoe Chitwood v. E.I. Du Pont De Nemours, 513 S.E.2d 890 (Va. Ct. App. 1999). “We agree with the commission’s conclusion that Code § 65.2-504, the Coal Miner’s Pneumoconiosis Act, has no applicability here and provides no basis for comparison.”
— Va. Code Ann. § 65.2-504(C) — 2 cases
Paramont Coal Co. Virginia, LLC & Brickstreet Mut. Ins. Co. v. Dewey J. McCoy, 819 S.E.2d 831 (Va. Ct. App. 2018). “The employer argues that the Commission erred by approving the claimant's request for permanent disability benefits even though he did not present evidence establishing sufficient pulmonary function loss as required by Code § 65.2-504. The medical documents submitted by the…”
Island Creek Coal Co. v. Larry Miller, 531 S.E.2d 29 (Va. Ct. App. 2000). “, 74 OWC 183 (1995), where there is a question whether the claimant has coal workers’ pneumoconiosis or another type of pneumoconiosis, Code § 65.2-504(0 provides that it shall be conclusively presumed a claimant has coal workers’ pneumoconiosis if a claimant with pneumoconiosis…”
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