Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC)

Black Lung Decisions at the District Director Level FY 2006-2025
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%
FY 20251895797682,0056912,0824,778199327166,08827.70%

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 Decisions issued where all liability and medical evidence have been developed and considered.

3 Decisions issued where liability and medical evidence have not been fully considered, such as a withdrawal request or abandonment based on procedural deficiencies.

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

5 Approval rate calculated using only merit decisions (approvals and denials) and does not include non-merit denials or survivor entitlements.

6 Survivor Entitlements were reported beginning in FY20.

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