Many jobs are known to be bad for your lungs, according to Health.com<\/a>, including the following. Some seem fairly obvious. Others will surprise you.<\/p>\n The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is continually trying to set safety standards to help reduce the risk of developing a lung disorder or other occupational disease.<\/p>\n The symptoms are different depending on the type of lung disease, how long the employee was exposed, and other factors.<\/p>\n According to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>, the main signs and symptoms of interstitial lung disease are:<\/p>\n \u201cInterstitial lung disease describes a large group of disorders, most of which cause progressive scarring of lung tissue. The scarring associated with interstitial lung disease eventually affects your ability to breathe and get enough oxygen into your bloodstream.\u201d<\/p>\n As mentioned, other lung disorders have the same and\/or other symptoms.<\/p>\n According to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>, interstitial lung disease is diagnosed in many ways including:<\/p>\n These and other tests are used for the diagnosis of other types of lung disorders.<\/p>\n According to the Mayo Clinic, \u201cthe lung scarring that occurs in interstitial lung disease can’t be reversed, and treatment will not always be effective in stopping the ultimate progression of the disease.\u201d Treatments are often designed to improve symptoms and\/or slow the progress of the disease.<\/p>\n Doctors \u201cmay\u201d recommend corticosteroid medications, medications such as Esbriet and Ofev to slow the rate of the disease, and medications to reduce stomach acid.<\/p>\n Oxygen therapy can\u2019t stop lung damage but it may help make it easier to breathe, \u201cPrevent or lessen complications from low blood oxygen levels, improve your ability to sleep, and reduce your blood pressure on the right side of your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n Pulmonary rehabilitation helps patients with physical exercise, breathing techniques, and emotional support.<\/p>\n In some cases, lung transplantation may be considered. Chemotherapy may also be considered.<\/p>\n Many occupational disease cases settle based on the employee\u2019s past and future workers compensation payments as well as future medical expenses related to the disease.<\/p>\n Past and future loss of earnings \u2013 up to the limits permitted by North Carolina and Virginia law, which are 2\/3rds of the average weekly wage, in most cases up to 500 weeks. \u00a0There may be federal programs specifically targeted to compensate for certain diseases such as the Black Lung Program<\/a> under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act.<\/p>\n With respect to Black Lung disease, otherwise known as coal miner\u2019s pneumoconiosis, there are also payments available, even if the injured worker is not prevented from working.\u00a0 The level of payment depends on level or classification of the stage of the disease. That level or classification, is, in turn, determined by a qualified pulmonary physician who is certified to read the International Labour Office Classification<\/a> lung-X-rays of the injured worker. This type of doctor is otherwise known as a B-Reader<\/a>.\u00a0 According to the Virginia Code at 65.2-504<\/a>, the amounts a worker who contracts black lung disease are\u00a0 as follows:<\/p>\n If the coal worker also has an \u201cA, B, or C\u201d designation under the B-reading, meaning there is also progressive fibrosis for any stage of the disease, and there is enough pulmonary function loss,\u00a0 and his or her doctor instructs the coal worker not to return to the dusty work environment, then that worker shall be deemed to have a permanent disability for the last 3 years prior to the filing of his or her claim, as well as entitlement to ongoing payments at 2\/3rds of the worker\u2019s average weekly wage, for the remainder of his or her life.<\/p>\n If death results from Coal Worker\u2019s pneumoconiosis, then the claim must be made by the coal worker\u2019s dependents within 3 years of his or her death, and the amount recovered is payable to the extent required by Federal Law, as permitted by Title IV of the 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act (FCMHSA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Payments for asbestosis<\/a> or silicosis,\u00a0 assuming the injured worker is still working, insofar as ongoing payments, are identical to black lung disease in terms of the stages and are set forth in the same statute that lists payments for other permanent partial impairments at VA Code 65.2-503 (17)<\/a>.<\/p>\n At Joe Miller Law Ltd., our firm has been a strong advocate for injured and ill workers for more than 31 years. We fight to ensure your claim is approved and that you receive all the benefits you deserve. To discuss any lung disease claim or any other work injury\/work illness claim, call attorney Joe Miller, Esq., at 888-667-8295. or use my online contact form<\/a>\u00a0to make an appointment.<\/p>\n\n
What are the symptoms of lung diseases?<\/h3>\n
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How is lung disease diagnosed?<\/h3>\n
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What treatments are used for lung disease?<\/h3>\n
What can an employee recover for lung disease contracted at work?<\/h3>\n
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