Opinion ID: 604133
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 4 Ondecko worked for approximately 31 years in coal mine employment. He was most recently employed by Greenwich Collieries as a pipe man in a coal mine where he worked underground fixing and replacing pipe for five to six years. 5 After considering Ondecko's application for benefits, the Department issued a Preliminary Determination of Non-entitlement, finding that he did not suffer from a disease or disability. Pursuant to Ondecko's request, the ALJ held a hearing, and she subsequently issued a Decision and Order awarding benefits to the claimant. 6 In reaching her decision, the ALJ found that the copious conflicting medical evidence and testimony created a true doubt as to whether Ondecko suffered from pneumoconiosis and whether that condition rendered him totally disabled. In other words, the evidence as to these ultimate facts was equally probative and therefore in equipoise. She thereupon awarded Ondecko benefits by resorting to the true doubt rule, i.e., she resolved the doubt over the presence or absence of pneumoconiosis and disability in favor of the claimant. Thus, it is unclear whether the ALJ ever considered whether the claimant had proved his entitlement to benefits by a preponderance of the evidence.