Appeal from a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, filed April 12, 2001, which ruled that the death of claimant’s decedent was causally related to a prior work-related injury and awarded claimant workers’ compensation death benefits.
The employer and its workers’ compensation carrier (hereinafter collectively referred to as the employer) first contend that there is insufficient evidence in the record to support the Board’s causation finding. We disagree. Daniel Burdick, the carrier’s medical consultant, stated in an initial report that had decedent been taking anticoagulant medication in the summer before his death, “it may very well have been a precipitating factor [in causing the] intracerebral hemorrhage.” In a subsequent report, Burdick further stated that “patients on anticoagulant therapy may have a hemorrhage at any time and often these are intracerebral.” Recognizing that Porcari directed decedent to continue taking the anticoagulant medication three months before his death, which was followed by a direction to “continue regimen” just two months before his death, it was reasonable for the Board to find a causal relationship between decedent’s death and the anticoagulant medication (see Matter of Johnson v New York City Bd. of Educ., 169 AD2d 1003). Accordingly, we conclude that the Board’s determination should not be disturbed as it is supported by substantial evidence in the record (see Matter of Keeley v Jamestown City School Dist., 295 AD2d 876, 877; Matter of Jean-Lubin v Home Care Servs. for Ind. Living, 295 AD2d 825, 826).
With respect to the employer’s contention that Porcari’s December 15, 1997 letter was improperly relied upon by the
Crew III, J.P., Spain, Carpinello and Kane, JJ., concur. Ordered that the decision is affirmed, without costs.
