42 U.S.C. § 7385s–4 — Determinations regarding contraction of covered illnesses

A determination under part B that a Department of Energy contractor employee^* is entitled to compensation under that part for an occupational illness^* shall be treated for purposes of this part as a determination that the employee contracted that illness through exposure at a Department of Energy facility^*.

In the case of a covered illness^* of an employee with respect to which a panel has made a positive determination under section 7385o(d) of this title and the Secretary^* of Energy has accepted that determination under section 7385o(e)(2) of this title, or with respect to which a panel has made a negative determination under section 7385o(d) of this title and the Secretary of Energy has found significant evidence to the contrary under section 7385o(e)(2) of this title, that determination shall be treated for purposes of this part as a determination that the employee contracted the covered illness through exposure at a Department of Energy^* facility.

If a spouse or child of a Department of Energy contractor employee applies for benefits under this part, the Secretary shall make a determination under this section with respect to that employee without regard to whether the spouse is a “covered spouse”, or the child is a “covered child”, under this part.