Peirce, Brad

Brad Peirce, a Correctional Sergeant, had accepted industrial conditions of hypertension and coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) arising from a cumulative trauma period through 2/22/12. He died on March 10, 2021, and his surviving spouse claimed death benefits, contending the industrial heart conditions contributed to his death. The WCJ found the death non-industrial and ordered applicant take nothing, deferring dependency and statute of limitations as moot. On reconsideration, the Appeals Board rescinded the F&O and substituted a finding that the death was industrial, relying on PQME/AME Dr. Ng's testimony that the industrial cardiac conditions made applicant more susceptible to arrhythmia and harder to resuscitate. All other issues, including dependency, were deferred to the trial level.