A Florida appeals court Wednesday vacated workers compensation benefits for a firefighter who suffered a thoracic aortic aneurysm he claimed was work-induced.
The Florida District Court of Appeal Wednesday reversed benefits awarded to John Harlem, a firefighter with the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District, who was diagnosed in April 2018 with the aneurysm.
Mr. Harlem underwent surgery that rendered him unable to work and sought comp benefits for wage replacement and medical bills.
The claim revolved around the definition of “heart disease” under the state’s comp statute for firefighters. A workers comp judge found the injury to be work-related, relying on court precedence and the legal definition of heart disease.
The employer appealed, arguing that the injury didn’t rise to the level of heart disease.
The appellate court agreed, saying heart disease in Florida’s comp system only relates to “diseases affecting and weakening the heart muscle through a degradation of the vessels or the valves.” It said the workers comp judge was wrong to broaden the definition to include aortic aneurysm.