Opinion ID: 6935739
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The ALJ’s First Decision

Text: According to 20 C.F.R. § 727.208(a)(1), “[a] miner who engaged in coal mine employment for at least 10 years will be presumed to be totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis [if] ... [a] chest roentgenogram (X-ray), biopsy, or autopsy establishes the existence of pneumoconiosis.” 20 C.F.R. § 727.203(a)(1) (1995). In her first decision, issued on May 20, 1985, the ALJ found that Greer was entitled to the benefit of the interim presumption of total disability under (a)(1) because Greer had over twenty-five years of coal mine employment and the x-ray evidence established that he had pneumoco-niosis. The ALJ also found, however, that Greer was not entitled to the interim presumption under §§ 727.203(a)(2)-(4). For her analysis under (a)(1), the ALJ provided an exhaustive interpretation of the eight x-rays in the record. For the ten x-ray readings performed by B-readers, the ALJ noted that five readings were positive and five were negative. The ALJ invoked the now-obsolete “true doubt rule” to resolve the conflict in favor of Greer. The ALJ also found that for the eight x-ray readings performed by Board-certified radiologists, six readings were positive and two readings were negative. The ALJ ultimately held, however, that Peabody had successfully rebutted the interim presumption under § 727.203(b)(2), which provides for rebuttal if “[i]n light of all relevant evidence it is established that the individual is able to do his usual coal mine work or comparable and gainful work.” 20 C.F.R. § 727.203(b)(2) (1995). The ALJ applied Sykes v. Itmann Coed Co., 2 B.L.R. 1-1089 (Ben.Rev.Bd.1980), which held that a party met its burden under (b)(2) if the evidence established that the respiratory impairment was not totally disabling. The ALJ referred to the analysis of the medical opinion reports contained in her discussion of the (a)(4) interim presumption and found that Greer’s respiratory impairment was not totally disabling. The ALJ also reviewed the medical opinions under § 727.203(b)(3), which provides that the presumption is rebutted if “[t]he evidence establishes that the total disability or death of the miner did not arise in whole or in part out of coal mine employment.” 20 C.F.R. § 727.203(b)(3) (1995). The ALJ concluded, however, that the medical opinions failed to establish that Greer’s total disability did not arise in whole or in part out of coal mine employment. The ALJ further held that Peabody did not rebut under §§ 727.203(b)(1) or (b)(4).