Opinion ID: 370284
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the substantial evidence test

Text: 22 In Baerga v. Richardson, 500 F.2d 309 (3d Cir. 1974), Cert. denied, 420 U.S. 931, 95 S.Ct. 1133, 43 L.Ed.2d 403 (1975), this Court reluctantly affirmed a denial of benefits, but criticized the hearing examiner for submitting a four-page summary of the evidence followed by cursory findings of fact without explicit statements as to what portions of the evidence he accepted or rejected. Id. at 312. We are aware of the large volume of disability cases that the agency must adjudicate. 18 Nevertheless, each case represents a citizen's claim of serious disability, and this factor imposes on the agency and the courts the responsibilities set out in Baerga: 23 (A)n examiner's findings should be as comprehensive and analytical as feasible and, where appropriate, should include a statement of subordinate factual foundations on which ultimate factual conclusions are based, so that a reviewing court may know the basis for the decision. This is necessary so that the court may properly exercise its responsibility under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) to determine if the Secretary's decision is supported by substantial evidence. It is incumbent upon the examiner to make specific findings the court may not speculate as to his findings. 24 Id. 25 Testimony of subjective pain and inability to perform even light work is entitled to great weight, particularly when, as here, it is supported by competent medical evidence. See Nanny v. Mathews, 423 F.Supp. 548, 552 (E.D.Va.1976) (citing cases). Moreover, when the claimant has a work record like Dobrowolsky's twenty-nine years of continuous work, fifteen with the same employer his testimony as to his capabilities is entitled to substantial credibility. 26 It was not enough for the ALJ to allow a vocational expert to make conclusory statements as to Dobrowolsky's physical abilities statements that contained no explanation and then to point to the vocational expert's conclusory statements as a reason for denying benefits without the ALJ's furnishing any explanation regarding the relative weight and credibility of the evidence before him. Moreover, we are reluctant to regard the vocational expert's testimony as substantial evidence, inasmuch as it is apparent from the record that he was asked to interpret medical evidence and to reach conclusions on the ultimate issue before the agency. 19 Indeed, such an inquiry violated HEW's own directives regarding the use of vocational experts. In its notice to prospective vocational expert witnesses, the Social Security Administration states: You will not be expected to testify as to whether or not the claimant is under a disability, since you do not have the responsibility for deciding this ultimate legal issue. You should not express any opinion regarding the impairments involved and their effect on functional capacity, since these are medical matters. 20 At the hearing, however, the vocational expert was asked to reach conclusions based, Inter alia, on technical medical evidence about the claimant's physical abilities to perform sedentary or light work. 27 The ALJ's finding that Dobrowolsky could perform sedentary work, based in turn on the vocational expert's bare conclusions on this ultimate issue, is not founded on substantial evidence and thus may not be affirmed by a reviewing court. As Judge Rubin held in DeMandre v. Weinberger, 414 F.Supp. 784, 787 (E.D.La.1976) (emphasis added): 28 It is not enough for the judge to point vaguely to a narrow area of possible employment and assert that such work is suitable as long as the claimant does not stand, bend, climb any stairs or walk for more than several paces. . . . It must be shown By competent medical testimony that the claimant is capable of performing the physical activities that the jobs available to him require. 29 It is not necessary to have a degree in vocational counseling to observe that virtually any job, except one designed for a handicapped person, is like to require walking to and from the employee's post, occasional bending, standing while waiting, and possibly some climbing (of) stairs. 30 Although the claimant has vigorously urged that we reverse the district court and grant summary judgment for him, and although there is authority for such a procedure, 21 we believe that the course more consistent with our reasoning particularly our reluctance to require strict burdens of proof in these cases is to return the matter to the agency for a further hearing. Such a procedure will enable the agency to remedy its processes so as to ensure that all relevant evidence pertaining to these matters will be considered. 22 31 The district court's order of summary judgment will be vacated and the matter remanded to the agency for a further hearing.