Opinion ID: 3152012
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Use of Pulmonary-Function-Test Results

Text: As a prerequisite to relying upon pulmonary-function-test results to establish total disability in black lung cases, a claimant must be able to point to results showing FEV1 values equal to or less than base values listed in a Code of Federal Regulations table for individuals “of the miner’s age, sex, and height.” 20 C.F.R. § 718.204(b)(2)(i). For a male of Ruby’s age and height, the FEV1 value of any pulmonary function test must not exceed a level of 1.91 liters if the test if to qualify as a method of showing total disability. See 20 C.F.R. Pt. 718, App. B (Table B1). Ruby easy met this threshold requirement. In fact, the highest FEV1 values for the trials deemed acceptable from Knight’s 2009 test were 1.54 liters (pre-bronchodilator) and
In addition, however, in order to establish total disability, a claimant must submit test results that meet one of three other benchmarks: (1) values equal to or less than those listed in 6 Rosenberg recorded FEV1 values in his 2011 test of 2.27 liters (pre-bronchodilator) and 1.55 liters (postbronchodilator). -16- No. 14-4263 Simco Peabody Coal Co. v. Dir. OWCP, et al. the appropriate table “for an individual of the miner’s age, sex, and height for the FVC test” 7; (2) values equal to or less than those listed in the appropriate table “for an individual of the miner’s age, sex, and height for the MVV test”8; or (3) “[a] percentage of 55 or less when the results of the FEV1 test are divided by the results of the FVC test.” 20 C.F.R. § 718.204(b)(2)(i)(A), (B), and (C). The evidence presented to the administrative law judge indicates that Ruby failed to establish total disability by any of these three methods.