Opinion ID: 2734153
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Weighing Evidence Together

Text: Antelope first attacks the agency’s finding of pneumoconiosis based solely on x-ray evidence under § 718.202(a)(1). It urges us to join three other circuits in holding that “although section 718.202(a) enumerates four distinct methods of establishing pneumoconiosis, all types of relevant evidence must be weighed together to determine whether the claimant suffers from the disease.” Penn Allegheny Coal Co. v. Williams, 114 F.3d 22, 25 (3d Cir. 1997) (internal quotation marks omitted); accord Dixie Fuel Co., LLC v. Dir., Office of Workers’ Comp. Programs, 700 F.3d 878, 880 (6th Cir. 2012); Island Creek Coal Co. v. Compton, 211 F.3d 203, 209-10 (4th Cir. 2000). We need not decide this issue in this case, however, because the agency arrived at its finding of legal pneumoconiosis through a comprehensive review and weighing of the medical evidence. Therefore, it appears that the agency performed the weighing that Antelope seeks. And in light of the agency’s finding of legal - 12 - pneumoconiosis, even if the agency erred in finding clinical pneumoconiosis based solely on x-ray evidence, it would not be reversible error unless the determination of legal pneumoconiosis also is reversible error. See Antelope Coal Co./Rio Tinto Energy Am., 743 F.3d at 1349 (“Even if the x-ray had been more readable and had shown no clinical pneumoconiosis, the ALJ’s determination of legal pneumoconiosis would stand because legal pneumoconiosis can be found without evidence of clinical pneumoconiosis.”). As discussed below, we do not conclude the finding of legal pneumoconiosis was reversible error, so we need not consider whether the agency erred in finding clinical pneumoconiosis based only on x-ray evidence.