Verizon Office Worker Granted Benefits for Work-Related Asthma

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania court has affirmed an award of benefits for a Verizon office worker who claimed that exposure to workplace mold led to allergic conjunctivitis and asthma. Verizon Pennsylvania Inc. v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board, 620 C.D. 2009 (Pa. Cmmwlth. Ct.).

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania said in its Sept. 16 unreported opinion that it would affirm benefits for Dawn Hernandez but would modify the award to terminate benefit as of March 6, 2006, when her physician determined that her asthma was "controlled."

Hernandez claimed in a petition filed in October 2005 that she experienced shortness of …