Task: songer_othappth

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals. You will be asked a question pertaining to some threshold issue at the appeals court level. That is, it is conceded that the trial court properly reached the merits, but the issue is whether, in spite of that concession, the appellant has a right to an appeals court decision on the merits (e.g., the issue became moot after the trial).  The issue is: "Did the court refuse to rule on the merits of the appeal because of some threshhold issue other than timeliness or frivolousness that was relevant on appeal but not at the original trial? (e.g., the case became moot after the original trial)" Answer the question based on the directionality of the appeals court decision. If the court discussed the issue in its opinion and answered the related question in the affirmative, answer "Yes". If the issue was discussed and the opinion answered the question negatively, answer "No". If the opinion considered the question but gave a mixed answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part, answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion does not discuss the issue, or notes that a particular issue was raised by one of the litigants but the court dismissed the issue as frivolous or trivial or not worthy of discussion for some other reason, answer "Issue not discussed". If the opinion considered the question but gave a "mixed" answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part (or if two issues treated separately by the court both fell within the area covered by one question and the court answered one question affirmatively and one negatively), answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion either did not consider or discuss the issue at all or if the opinion indicates that this issue was not worthy of consideration by the court of appeals even though it was discussed by the lower court or was raised in one of the briefs, answer "Issue not discussed".

PER CURIAM:
Guy N. Haynes appeals from an order denying his claim for relief under the Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. § 901, et seq. Because Haynes did not receive the presumption of 20 C.F.R. § 727.203(a)(1) to which he is entitled under Stapleton v. Westmoreland Coal Company, 785 F.2d 424 (4th Cir.1986) (en banc), we remand the case to the Secretary for reconsideration.
Haynes worked in the coal mining industry from April 1935 until his retirement at age 65 in August 1978. In a hearing in December 1981 before an Administrative Law Judge, Haynes testified that he had believed that continued work would injure his health and that he could no longer give his employer a satisfactory performance. Specifically, he reported a shortness of breath, a tightness in his chest, and an inability to climb stairs.
In a decision and order issued in January 1983, the AU considered Haynes’ account together with the results of three pulmonary function studies and three blood gas studies, the opinions of three physicians, and the interpretations advanced in eleven analyses of three conformed X-ray films. The AU first found, correctly, that the pulmonary function studies and the blood gas studies did not justify invocation of the presumptions described at § 727.203(a)(2) or § 727.203(a)(3). Turning to the X-ray evidence, the AU weighed the two positive readings of one film against the six negative readings of the same film and the unanimously negative readings of an earlier film and a later film. On the basis of that comparison, the AU concluded that Haynes was also not entitled to the presumption described at § 727.203(a)(1). On the final preliminary issue, however, the AU reasoned that one of the physician’s reports did satisfy the requirement for the presumption set forth at § 727.203(a)(4). Evaluating all of the evidence presented by the parties, the AU determined that the employer had failed to refute the presumption and accordingly ordered the award of benefits to Haynes.
The Benefits Review Board reversed this judgment in a decision and order issued in September 1985. The Board could not find substantial evidence to support the AU’s reading of the physician’s opinion and the resulting invocation of the presumption under § 727.203(a)(4), but the Board did not examine the AU’s analysis of the X-ray readings and decision not to invoke the presumption under § 727.203(a)(1). This court has recently established in Stapleton v. Westmoreland Coal Company that that analysis and that conclusion were incorrect. If a single reading of a qualifying X-ray indicates the presence of pneumoconiosis, the (a)(1) presumption is triggered. Conflicting interpretations of the same or different X-rays and distinctions among “A” and “B” readers do not enter into this stage of the proceedings, although those factors — like all relevant evidence — may play a part in determining whether the interim presumption has been rebutted.
Here the Secretary has not yet reviewed the attempted rebuttal. We therefore remand the case for further consideration, in which Haynes will receive the benefit of the presumption at § 727.203(a)(1) and the Secretary will decide whether the presumption has been rebutted by other evidence in the record. Cf. Lagamba v. Consolidation Coal Co., 787 F.2d 172 (4th Cir.1986).
REMANDED.

Question: Did the court refuse to rule on the merits of the appeal because of some threshhold issue other than timeliness or frivolousness that was relevant on appeal but not at the original trial?
A. No
B. Yes
C. Mixed answer
D. Issue not discussed
Answer:

Answer: D