Opinion ID: 486637
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Classification of Past Work

Text: 14 The Secretary found that Schnorr was not disabled because he had the residual functional capacity to perform a wide range of light work, except where the work involved the bending of his knees, and therefore could return to his past work as owner-operator of a service station. The Secretary's classification of Schnorr's past work as light work was improper because he failed to develop a detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of an owner-operator of a service station. 4 15 Although a claimant bears the burden of demonstrating an inability to return to his past relevant work, the Secretary has an obligation to develop a full and fair record. Nelms v. Bowen, 803 F.2d 1164, 1165 (11th Cir.1986); Cowart v. Schweiker, 662 F.2d 731, 735 (11th Cir.1981). Where there is no evidence of the physical requirements and demands of the claimant's past work and no detailed description of the required duties was solicited or proffered, the Secretary cannot properly determine whether the claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform his past relevant work. Nelms, 803 F.2d at 1164. It is unclear whether the Secretary here found that Schnorr could return to his normal duties as an owner-operator or to his limited bookkeeping duties. We therefore remand this action to the Secretary for a further hearing with regard to the physical demands of Schnorr's past work and his ability to perform this work in view of his impairments. 16