Court Opinion

ID: 724393
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-17 08:44:47+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:39:18.008828
License: Public Domain

92 F.3d 1184
NOTICE: Fourth Circuit Local Rule 36(c) states that citation of unpublished dispositions is disfavored except for establishing res judicata, estoppel, or the law of the case and requires service of copies of cited unpublished dispositions of the Fourth Circuit.James F. WELLS, Petitioner,v.BUFFALO MINING COMPANY;  Director, Office of Workers'Compensation Programs, United States Department ofLabor, Respondents.
No. 95-1847.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted:  December 26, 1995.Decided:  August 6, 1996.

On Petition for Review of an Order of the Benefits Review Board.  (94-3842-BLA)
Roger D. Forman, FORMAN & CRANE, L.C., Charleston, WV, for Petitioner.  Douglas A. Smoot, JACKSON & KELLY, Charleston, WV, for Respondents.
Ben.Rev.Bd.
AFFIRMED.
Before WILKINSON, Chief Judge, and MURNAGHAN and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.
OPINION
PER CURIAM:

1
James Wells seeks review of the Benefits Review Board's (Board) decision and order affirming the administrative law judge's (ALJ) denial of his application for black lung benefits pursuant to 30 U.S.C.A. §§ 901-45 (West 1986 & Supp.1995).  The ALJ found the evidence of record sufficient to establish the presence of pneumoconiosis arising out of coal mine employment, but benefits were denied in this case based on Wells's inability to establish the presence of a totally disabling respiratory or pulmonary impairment under 20 C.F.R. § 718.204(c) (1995).

2
We have reviewed the briefs and the record and find that Wells identifies no reversible error.  While he avers that the ALJ should have accorded greater weight to his qualifying exercise blood gas study, the ALJ acted within his discretion by finding this study outweighed by the conflicting, non-qualifying blood gas evidence of record.   See Gray v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 943 F.2d 513, 521 (4th Cir.1991).  Similarly, while Wells contends that the ALJ erred by crediting the opinions of Drs. Zaldivar, Fino, and Hippensteel over the opinions of Drs. Rasmussen and Gaziano, he identifies no legal error committed by the ALJ in weighing the evidence.  Moreover, we note that, particularly since he properly rejected the only objective study tending to support Wells's burden, the ALJ reasonably accorded greater weight to the medical opinions which were best supported by the objective evidence of record.   See Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs v. Siwiec, 894 F.2d 635, 639 (3d Cir.1990).

3
Because the ALJ's conclusions are supported by substantial evidence and are not contrary to law, they must be affirmed.   See Zbosnik v. Badger Coal Co., 759 F.2d 1187, 1189 (4th Cir.1985).  Accordingly, the decision of the Board is affirmed.  We deny Wells's motion for oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED