The date of disablement of a participant in World Trade Center rescue, recovery and clean-up operations resulting from a qualifying condition that is causally related to such participant shall be treated as the happening of an accident within the meaning of this chapter and the procedure and practice provided in this chapter shall apply to all proceedings under this article, except where otherwise specifically provided herein. The board shall determine the date of disablement that is most beneficial to the claimant.
N.Y. Work. Comp. Law § 164