Opinion ID: 1953569
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mental Injury as a Disease.

Text: Moon argues that he met the legal requirement for a mental/mental injury because, in any event, his condition qualifies for accidental disability benefits as a disease within the meaning of Iowa Code section 411.6(5). That section includes disease, as well as injury, if it is incurred in or aggravated by the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place.... Disease is defined by Iowa Code section 411.6(5)(c): Disease under this section shall mean heart disease or any disease of the lungs or respiratory tract and shall be presumed to have been contracted while on active duty as a result of strain or the inhalation of noxious fumes, poison or gases. We held in Benson that this definition is exclusive. 312 N.W.2d at 551. We did not suggest in Benson, as Moon argues, that the statutory definition was intended only to create a presumption of causation as to the diseases specifically listed while allowing for other illnesses to be covered if causation could be proven. Moon's mental condition is not a disease under section 411.6(5) because it is not listed in the definition of disease. We again state that the list of diseases in section 411.6(5)(c) is exclusive.