Opinion ID: 1252614
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dr. Sherman's Report

Text: As we have noted, Dr. Sherman's report does not contradict Dr. Carey's testimony about the impact of a compromised respiratory system. Rather, the ALJ interpreted Dr. Sherman as concluding that there was insufficient [evidence] ... to support a finding that pneumoconiosis contributed significantly to the miner's death. ALJ's Decision at 6. The ALJ's use of the phrase contributed significantly causes us to wonder if he was aware of our discussion in Lukosevicz. Under our precedent, the law does not condition survivor benefits only upon proof that pneumoconiosis was a significant or substantial contribution to the miner's death; rather, the claimant's burden is also satisfied by proving that the underlying pneumoconiosis hastened the miner's death, even if only slightly. Thus, pneumoconiosis need not be the sole or even primary cause of a miner's death; it need only be a contributing factor. The ALJ credited Dr. Sherman's report over Dr. Carey's testimony because of Dr. Sherman's purportedly superior credentials and qualifications, as well as the ALJ's belief that Dr. Carey did not qualify as a treating physician under 20 C.F.R. § 718.104. Though both findings are dubious here, Dr. Sherman's opinion must still be supported by adequate evidence. See e.g., Lango v. Director, OWCP, 104 F.3d 573, 577 (3d Cir.1997) (The mere statement of a conclusion by a physician, without any explanation of the basis for that statement, does not take the place of the required reasoning.); Kertesz v. Crescent Hills Coal Co., 788 F.2d 158, 163 (3d Cir. 1986) (holding that an ALJ should reject any medical opinion that is insufficiently reasoned or reaches a conclusion contrary to objective clinical evidence). Dr. Sherman's report falls short of that standard, and does not merit the determinative weight that the ALJ gave it. Despite the uncontradicted evidence of Hill's history of pneumoconiosis and the uncontradicted evidence of respiratory problems he was experiencing just days before his death, Dr. Sherman stated with certainty that there is no evidence of a contribution by COPD or pneumoconiosis. ALJ's Decision at 5 (emphasis added). That statement is simply inconsistent with the medical records, Hill's medical history, and x-rays showing Mr. Hill's compromised pulmonary system. Every physician who examined Hill within a month of his death, and every medical examination and finding, confirmed his pulmonary disease, decreased breath sounds, and respiratory difficulties. Breathing problems, decreased lung sounds and other complications consistent with COPD were documented during Hill's hospitalization immediately preceding his transfer to Lakeside Nursing Home. [8] It is undisputed that a medical examination on August 5th disclosed decreased breath sounds and chronic rhonchi. [9] It is worth repeating that in Lukosevicz, supra, we held that the miner's death was due to pneumoconiosis even though the actual cause of death was pancreatic cancer rather than pneumoconiosis. We explained that pneumoconiosis need only have some identifiable effect on the miner's ability to live. Despite Dr. Sherman's report, and the ALJ's reliance on it, this record establishes that decreased levels of oxygen in the blood due at least in part to pneumoconiosis, hastened Hill's death.