| JCC Anderson (Orlando)(Rex Hurley) (3-22-24)– Denied compensability of heart claim. The claimant sought compensability of heart disease pursuant to the presumption under 112.18(1)(a). For the presumption to apply, the claimant had to pass a preemployment physical exam upon entering his employment as a full-time law enforcement officer. The claimant passed a preemployment physical in 1999 when he first began to work as a full-time law enforcement officer. He voluntarily switched to a part-time, non-covered law enforcement position. He returned to work as a full-time law enforcement officer in 2002. The JCC found that the claimant did not qualify for the presumption under 112.18(1)(a) as he did not pass a physical exam upon entering into service as a full-time law enforcement officer. The JCC focused on the fact that there was a gap of over 28 months between the preemployment physical and his returning to full-time law enforcement. Click here to view Order |