Opinion ID: 296627
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Application of Principles to the Record

Text: 19 The case before us is unique in terms of the facts and state of the record. Plaintiff was a resident of the Philippines. When he inquired about a hearing on his claim he was informed by an H.E.W. official that 'since no provision has been made for hearings to be held outside the United States, you would have to come into the United States at your own expense.   ' (Tr. 98). 14 he could not afford such a journey, so we do not have the kind of record often available in such cases. 20 This case is unique also in that plaintiff's former employment was with the Army, rather than any of the almost infinite variety of civilian employments usually involved in benefit cases. Congress provided that service in the Army during and after World War II gave rise to Social Security benefits. 15 Plaintiff went into the Army as a Philippine Scout before finishing high school and stayed in until his 1947 heart attack. On his Discharge Certificate, the Board of Medical Officers found that his heart disease was 'aggravated by active service' and deemed him to be 'incapacitated for further duty.' This is a sufficient showing of inability to return to former employment to shift to the Secretary the burden of coming forward with evidence that plaintiff's condition left him gainfully employable. 21 The Hearing Examiner referred to plaintiff's training, in 1951-52, as a radio technician at Feati University, concluding that plaintiff 'presumably could have performed the tasks of a radio technician since it is common knowledge that this is light work performed at a bench where one can work seated.' Assuming that it is common knowledge that there are jobs available in the national economy for high school graduates with radio technology credits, we do not think it is subject to judicial notice, and the record is devoid of evidence on whether or to what extent there are significant numbers of jobs in the national economy which could be filled by a person with plaintiff's limited training and suffering from his sort of Class III heart condition. The record shows he was the kind of person who was at least willing to try his hand at jobs that in the event proved too much for his physical condition. One of these, bartending, would not seem to involve 'strenuous' activity, but it was beyond his powers at a time when he was designated at Class III. 22 No evidence whatever was adduced by the Secretary, neither testimony of a vocational expert such as he often provides, nor deposition or interrogatories. Since the Secretary had the burden of coming forward on this point, his failure to adduce evidence leaves his findings without the support of substantial evidence as required by 42 U.S.C. 405(g). Cf. Mitchell v. Gardner, 123 U.S.App.D.C. 195, 197-198, 358 F.2d 826, 828-829 (1966). Accordingly, we reverse and remand for entry of a judgment directing that plaintiff be granted the disability insurance benefits to which he would have been entitled had his application been approved, and to which he was entitled on the record as made. 23 So ordered.