STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA 

SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS 

FILED 

March 30, 2017 

RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK 

ELIZABETH FOSTER, WIDOW OF VIRGIL L. FOSTER, 

Claimant Below, Petitioner SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS 

OF WEST VIRGINIA 

vs.) No. 16-0416 (BOR Appeal No. 2050940) 

(Claim No. 2014007355) 

WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF 

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER, 

Commissioner Below, Respondent 

AND 

GLASSWARE ACQUISITION, INC., 

Employer Below, Respondent 

MEMORANDUM DECISION 

Petitioner Elizabeth Foster, widow of Virgil L. Foster by Robert L. Stultz, her attorney, 

appeals the decision of the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. West 

Virginia Office of Insurance Commissioner by Noah A. Barnes, its attorney, filed a timely 

response. 

This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated March 28, 2016, in 

which the Board affirmed the October 29, 2015, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of 

Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s October 17, 2014, 

decision denying Mrs. Foster’s request for dependent’s benefits. The Court has carefully 

reviewed the records, written arguments, and appendices contained in the briefs, and the case is 

mature for consideration. 

This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal 

arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided 

by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record 

presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these 

reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate 

Procedure. 

Virgil L. Foster, the deceased, worked in various glass plants for forty-six years. He 

stopped working in August of 2002. Mr. Foster passed away on February 4, 2013. Elizabeth 

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Foster, his widow, submitted a claim for dependent’s benefits on September 11, 2013. On 

October 17, 2014, the claims administrator denied Mrs. Foster’s request for dependent’s benefits 

based on the decision of the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board. 

Mr. Foster was seen by Ronald Mudry, M.D., on May 2, 2012, for a persistent cough and 

shortness of breath. Dr. Mudry noted he had a history of occupational inhalation. Dr. Mudry 

diagnosed asbestosis, cough, hypoxemia, and chest pain. A May 9, 2012, CT scan of the chest 

revealed diffuse interstitial thickening and bronchiectatic changes, most prominent in the lung 

bases. After the CT scan, Mr. Foster was seen by Dr. Mudry who noted the symptoms began ten 

years ago. Dr. Mudry diagnosed asbestosis, respiratory failure, and cough. 

On June 27, 2012, A. Sabbagh, M.D., performed an echocardiogram which revealed 

inferior lateral moderate hypokinesis, mild mitral regurgitation, moderate to severe tricuspid 

regurgitation, and trace to mild aortic insufficiency. Mr. Foster returned to see Dr. Mudry for a 

pulmonary fibrosis reassessment on August 8, 2012. Dr. Mudry changed his medication and 

diagnosed chronic asbestosis, chronic respiratory failure, chronic cough, and chronic hypoxemia. 

On November 7, 2012, Dr. Mudry noted the asbestosis symptoms had been incapacitating. The 

diagnoses continued to be chronic asbestosis and chronic respiratory failure. 

Mr. Foster returned to see Dr. Mudry on January 30, 2013, due to increased symptoms. 

He reported severe shortness of breath and constant, incapacitating symptoms. The diagnoses 

remained the same. Dr. Mudry referred him for Hospice Care. St. Joseph’s Hospital records 

show the decedent passed away due to cardiac arrest on February 4, 2013. The Certificate of 

Death completed by Dr. Mudry on February 28, 2013 states that Mr. Foster died due to 

asbestosis. 

On August 26, 2014, the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board reviewed the medical 

evidence as well as the death certificate. It noted that no death summary or autopsy report was 

available. Additionally, no radiographs were available for interpretation. The Occupational 

Pneumoconiosis Board determined that occupational pneumoconiosis was not a material 

contributing factor in Mr. Foster’s death. 

In its October 29, 2015, Order, the Office of Judges determined that the Occupational 

Pneumoconiosis Board did not find evidence of pleural plaque and concluded there was 

insufficient evidence to diagnosis asbestosis. The Office of Judges noted that Mr. Foster had a 

chronic lung disease but that the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board was unable to say his 

occupational exposure was a material factor in his death as they saw no evidence of asbestos 

disease. The Office of Judges saw no evidence that would demonstrate the Occupational 

Pneumoconiosis Board’s decision was clearly wrong and affirmed the claims administrator’s 

October 17, 2014, denial of dependent’s benefits. 

The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the Office of 

Judges and affirmed its Order on March 28, 2016. After review, we agree with the Board of 

Review. While there is evidence that Mr. Foster had a lung condition, the Occupational 

Pneumoconiosis Board was not willing to state he had asbestosis based upon the evidence 

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submitted. Therefore, the Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board was not able to state that 

occupational pneumoconiosis was a material contributing factor in Mr. Foster’s death. The 

Occupational Pneumoconiosis Board’s analysis was supported by medical evidence. The Office 

of Judges and Board of Review relied on the findings and conclusions of the Occupational 

Pneumoconiosis Board. The request for dependent’s benefits was properly denied. 

For the foregoing reasons, we find that the decision of the Board of Review is not in clear 

violation of any constitutional or statutory provision, nor is it clearly the result of erroneous 

conclusions of law, nor is it based upon a material misstatement or mischaracterization of the 

evidentiary record. Therefore, the decision of the Board of Review is affirmed. 

Affirmed. 

ISSUED: March 30, 2017 

CONCURRED IN BY: 

Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II 

Justice Robin J. Davis 

Justice Margaret L. Workman 

Justice Menis E. Ketchum 

Justice Elizabeth D. Walker 

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