Source: https://openjurist.org/596/f2d/623
Timestamp: 2017-10-17 13:40:08
Document Index: 183918619

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 921', '§ 410', '§ 921', '§ 410', '§ 921', '§ 410', '§ 921', '§ 410', '§ 921', '§ 410', '§ 410', '§ 923']

596 F2d 623 Hubbard v. A Califano a Taylor | OpenJurist
596 F. 2d 623 - Hubbard v. A Califano a Taylor
596 F2d 623 Hubbard v. A Califano a Taylor
596 F.2d 623
George R. HUBBARD, Appellant,
Lawrence A. TAYLOR, Appellant,
Nos. 77-1898, 77-1987.
Hubbard then brought an action in the district court where he contended, as he now does on appeal, that the medical evidence established that he is totally disabled as a result of a chronic respiratory or pulmonary impairment and was thus entitled to the presumption of pneumoconiosis set forth in 30 U.S.C. § 921(c)(4) and 20 C.F.R. § 410.414(b)(1). He further contended that the Secretary had not rebutted the presumption in the manner provided for in § 921(c)(4) and 20 C.F.R. § 410.414(b)(2). The district court affirmed the Secretary's denial of benefits.
Taylor then brought an action in the district court to obtain judicial review of the final decision of the Secretary denying him black lung benefits. Like Hubbard, he contended, as he now does on appeal, that the medical evidence of record established that he is totally disabled as a result of a chronic respiratory or pulmonary impairment and was thus entitled to the presumption of pneumoconiosis set forth in 30 U.S.C. § 921(c)(4) and 20 C.F.R. § 410.414(b) (1). Taylor further contended that the Secretary had not rebutted the presumption in the manner provided for in § 921(c)(4) and 20 C.F.R. § 410.414(b)(2). The district court affirmed the Secretary's denial of benefits.
In determining that Hubbard and Taylor do not suffer from a totally disabling chronic respiratory or pulmonary impairment and, consequently, are not entitled to the presumption of total disability due to pneumoconiosis contained in 30 U.S.C. § 921(c)(4) and 20 C.F.R. § 410.414(b)(1), the Secretary clearly relied, in part, upon Social Security Ruling 73-37.1 That Ruling provides:"Where X-ray or ventilatory function test results submitted by a claimant for black lung benefits fail to establish total disability under interim regulatory criteria in Regulations No. 10, sections 410.490 ff., Held, there is an inference that the minor is not totally disabled. Further held, where other relevant evidence is submitted, total disability may be determined to exist only when the evidence in file establishes the level of severity contemplated in § 410.426."
We begin by noting that Social Security Ruling 73-37 represents the Secretary's interpretation of his own regulations and the statute he is responsible for administering and, consequently, must be sustained unless determined to be unreasonable. See, e. g., Northern Indiana Public Service Co. v. Porter County Chapter of Izaak Walton League, 423 U.S. 12, 14-15, 96 S.Ct. 172, 46 L.Ed.2d 156 (1975); Ehlert v. United States, 402 U.S. 99, 105, 91 S.Ct. 1319, 28 L.Ed.2d 625 (1971).
The Ruling also sets up an inference that conflicts with the legislative purpose of Congress in enacting the 1972 amendments to the Act. Bozwich v. Mathews, 558 F.2d 475 (8th Cir. 1977). The effect of the Ruling is to require a claimant to produce enough evidence to overcome an inference of non-disability that is drawn from the fact that X-ray or ventilatory function tests results submitted by the claimant failed to establish total disability under the interim regulatory criteria. This additional hurdle placed in the path of a claimant before he can show total disability is inapposite to the 1972 amendments. The Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare specifically stated that "(b)ecause of the continuing recognition of the fact that X-ray evidence is not always satisfactory, the Committee retained a provision of the House bill which prohibits the denial of a claim solely on the basis of the results of a chest roentgenogram. . . . Testimony has . . . indicated that a negative X-ray is not proof positive of the absence of pneumoconiosis." S.Rep. No. 92-743, 92d Cong., 2d Sess., Reprinted in (1972) U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News, pp. 2305, 2314. The Committee further stated that "(t)he art of medical diagnosis of coal miners' respiratory impairments is not so precise that a miner's benefit should stand or fall on the basis of a single test. Every available medical tool should be used to assist a miner in successfully pursuing his claim for benefits. This provision (of § 923(c)(4)) seeks to expand the number of tools available for that purpose." (1972) U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News at 2319. The practical effect of Social Security Ruling 73-37 is to do precisely what Congress sought to prohibit, to deny benefits based on only two medical tests.3 See Bozwich, p. 480. See also Gober v. Mathews, 574 F.2d 772, 778 (3d Cir. 1978), which holds that, at least where there is medical testimony that a disabling respiratory disease is present, under the 1972 amendments the Secretary may not infer, merely from a failure to submit qualifying X-rays and ventilatory studies, that a miner is unlikely to be totally disabled because of respiratory or pulmonary disease.