TWCA reviews whether a widow met the burden of proof in her request for death benefits

MARINE ACCESSORIES CORPORATION v. EDWINA WOODS (TWCA May 3, 2012)

In this workers’ compensation case, the employee sustained a compensable back injury for which he was prescribed medication. Approximately five weeks after his injury, the employee died from gastrointestinal bleeding. His widow sought workers’ compensation benefits, claiming that his death was compensable because it was caused by the medication he was prescribed for his work injury. The employer denied her claim, contending that the employee’s death was not caused by the medication, but was instead the result of esophageal varices caused by alcoholism and cirrhosis of the liver. The trial court held that the widow did not sustain her burden of proof, and she appeals. We affirm.

Opinion available at:
https://www.tba.org/sites/default/files/marineaccessories_050312.pdf