Opinion ID: 427235
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Secretary's Burden to Show Improvement

Text: 17 Delamater also contends that he is entitled to the continuation of his benefits because the Secretary failed to carry his burden of showing an improvement in Delamater's condition. This contention need not detain us long. Even if we should assume, arguendo, that the Secretary has the burden in a termination case of producing substantial evidence of a change in the claimant's condition, see, e.g., Cassiday v. Schweiker, 663 F.2d 745, 749 (7th Cir.1981); see also Schauer v. Schweiker, 675 F.2d 55, 57-59 (2d Cir.1982) (discussing cases), and assuming, contrary to what seems to be the prevailing view, that the claimant has no further burden to prove the continued existence of a disability, 5 Delamater's claim must fail because there was substantial evidence to support the finding that Delamater was no longer disabled. 18 The evidence presented to the ALJ of Delamater's condition in and after 1979 showed a marked improvement over the condition described in connection with Dr. Carey's 1976 prognosis that Delamater would be unable to resume gainful employment before October 1976. Thus, the 1979 and 1980 examinations showed that both wrists had healed and were no longer causing him serious problems, and Dr. Webber concluded that Delamater could use his hands for grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulations; Delamater's hip had sufficiently recovered that he was in no apparent distress, and could sleep without waking in pain, could endure physical examinations without complaint of pain, and could stand and walk for substantial periods of time. Dr. Webber concluded that Delamater could sit or stand for up to 4 hours, walk for up to 2 hours, lift up to 50 pounds occasionally, lift and carry 20 pounds frequently, and bend and climb occasionally. 19 We conclude that there was substantial evidence to support the Secretary's finding that Delamater's condition had improved and that as of October 1979 he was not disabled within the meaning of the Act.