The Department of Labor

United States Department of Labor

The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...

's Benefits Review Board was created in 1972, by the United States Congress

United States Congress

The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....

, to review and issue decisions on appeals of workers’ compensation claims arising under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act

The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, , commonly referred to as the "Longshore Act" or "LHWCA" is the statutory workers' compensation scheme, first enacted in 1927, that covers certain maritime workers, including most dock workers and maritime workers not otherwise covered by the...

 and the Black Lung Benefits amendments to the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969.

Operation

The Board, by statute, consists of five Members appointed by the Secretary of Labor, one of whom is designated as Chairman and Chief Administrative Appeals Judge. The Board’s mission is to issue decisions on the appeals pending before it with expediency, consistency and impartiality, in accordance with its statutory standard of review and applicable law. The Board exercises the appellate review authority formerly exercised by the United States District Courts. Board decisions may be appealed to the U.S. Courts of Appeals and to the U.S. Supreme Court.