Dr. S. J. Hotte

The worker, a firefighter with 28 years of service, was diagnosed with right vocal cord squamous cell carcinoma (laryngeal cancer) and sought benefits for an occupational disease.

The initial adjudicator denied the claim because laryngeal cancer is not a prescribed cancer for firefighters under the presumptive policy.

On appeal, the Appeals Resolution Officer weighed competing medical opinions.

The Officer preferred the opinions of the worker's treating oncologist and an occupational medicine physician, who both concluded that the cancer was likely caused by occupational exposures given the worker's lack of other risk factors, over the opinion of the Board's medical consultant.

The appeal was allowed and entitlement to benefits was granted.