23-1105. Heart-related, perivascular and pulmonary cases; firefighters; presumption; definition

A. A heart-related, perivascular or pulmonary injury, illness or death of a firefighter is presumed to be an occupational disease as defined in section 23-901, paragraph 13, subdivision (c), compensable pursuant to section 23-1043.01 and deemed to arise out of employment if all of the following apply:

1. The firefighter passed a physical examination before employment and the examination did not indicate evidence of heart-related, perivascular or pulmonary injury or illness.

2. The firefighter received a physical examination that is reasonably aligned with the national fire protection association standard on comprehensive occupational medical program for fire departments (NFPA 1582).

3. The firefighter was exposed to a known event and the heart-related, perivascular or pulmonary injury, illness or death occurred within twenty-four hours after the exposure and was reasonably related to the exposure.

B. The presumption provided in subsection A of this section may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence that there is a specific cause of the heart-related, perivascular or pulmonary injury, illness or death other than the employment.

C. Subsection A of this section does not apply if there is evidence that the firefighter's exposure to cigarettes or tobacco products outside the scope of the firefighter's official duties is a substantial contributing cause in the development of the heart-related, perivascular or pulmonary injury, illness or death.

D. For the purposes of this section, "firefighter" means a firefighter or volunteer firefighter as described in section 23-901, paragraph 6, subdivision (d).