Court Rejects Worker’s Comp Death Benefit Claim Based on ‘Abnormal’ Stress

NEW YORK — A New York appellate court has affirmed a Workers’ Compensation Board decision to deny benefits to the widow of a former police lab scientist, saying that depite the worker’s suicide, there was no evidence of abnormal stress and the work evaluation at issue was lawfully conducted.

The New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, Third Department, on Jan. 31 affirmed a ruling denying workers’ compensation death benefits to Donna Veeder, the widow of Gary L. Veeder.

Gary Veeder was a forensic scientist for the state police for 31 years. In April 2008, discrepancies were found in fiber proficiency …