In Chad T. Braden v. Seminole County and Johns Eastern Company, Inc./Seminole County the Claimant tested positive for Covid-19. Several weeks after testing positive for Covid-19 the Claimant suffered a heart attack. The issue is whether the employer has rebutted the statutory presumption of compensability of Claimant’s heart disease. The authorized physician testified that he believes Covid-19 caused Claimant’s heart disease and heart attack but there was no evidence that Claimant got Covid-19 from the workplace. E/SA has the burden to establish a non-occupational cause of Claimant’s heart disease. It was proven that Claimant’s heart disease was caused by Covid-19 but E/SA failed to show that Claimant contracted Covid-19 outside of work. JCC found that the statutory presumption of compensability prevails and found the Claimant’s heart disease to be compensable. Petition GRANTED.
