Court Opinion

ID: 9478704
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 06:55:45.118072+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:46:34.489636
License: Public Domain

*928WELLFORD, Circuit Judge,
concurring in a remand.
Mr. Ahghazali, a Yemen native, schooled in Kuwait, came to this country apparently in 1971 and worked in several jobs for about five years before claiming disability benefits in 1977. At his hearing an Arabic interpreter was present.1 In December of 1980 the AU found after a hearing on Ahghazali’s claim that “the only evidence of a severe impairment consists of the records of the claimant’s psychiatric problem in March 1977 and April 1977,” but “no evidence of any significant physical disorder.” The AU found no “further evidence of a continuing mental problem after April, 1977” following an opportunity to observe Ahghazali and hear his testimony. The original claim filed in 1977 made no reference to any mental problem and indicated that he had worked for over a year until February 1977 at Chrysler as an inspector. His 1979 claim indicated that his “left side” was “partially paralyzed” and reflected an address in Brooklyn, New York, rather than the former Hamtramck, Michigan address.
The medical files in the administrative record support the findings of the AU with regard to the physical findings. The April 1977 discharge summary of the Detroit Psychiatric Institute indicated some paranoia because of a claimed beating by neighbors and indicated an alcohol abuse problem. The doctor giving psychotherapy indicated that Ahghazali desired to go back to Yemen, that his friends were contacted, “and arrangements were made for him to go back to his native country.” Prognosis was deemed fair “once he is back in a familiar environment,” but the summary indicated some confusion to persist: The primary therapist indicated that “he is leaving the country.”
As a part of the history in the record it is indicated that claimant returned to Yemen in 1973 “where an arranged marriage was completed,” and thereafter he returned to the Detroit area. In 1976, after his wife left him to return to Yemen, Ahghazali followed her there and then divorced her. It was after his second return that “overt psychiatric symptoms seemed to appear.”
No mental problem was noted in a Henry Ford hospital discharge summary issued in relation to a perianal abscess which was treated in July of 1977. A residual functional capacity worksheet dated August 11, 1977 indicated that Ahghazali could return to work and could, among other things, “exercise acceptable judgment,” but Dr. Maraba noted “some underlying anxiety or emotional disorder.” Dr. Rauch, a psychiatrist, provided at the request of the Michigan vocational rehabilitation service, examined Ahghazali in October of 1977 and found him “not psychiatrically disabled,” despite difficulties in full communication by reason of language barriers.
A Brooklyn physician two years later could “detect no evidence of mental illness,” and found “an element of malingering” in his physical complaints. A New York State Bureau of Disability determination in October of 1979 found his claimed impairment to be only “mild.” (Dr. Zimmerman indicated after examination no “significant organic findings.”)
Despite the loss of the hearing transcript, the AU made thorough findings, and the medical records indicate that the findings are supported by appropriate medical evidence. Plaintiff left the country without notice to the Secretary and without providing a forwarding address. In addition, he failed timely to respond to an order to show cause as to why the case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute. I believe that dismissal was an appropriate action by the Secretary. I doubt that plaintiff’s administrative and procedural failures did provide him a basis for appeal to the federal courts under the circumstances.
Despite my serious doubts and reservations, I would remand the case to the district court to determine, on this record, whether additional proof is necessary in order to render a judgment as to whether *929claimant has established an entitlement to benefits.

. An interpreter was provided although the AU found that “he can speak some English” and the person issuing the notice of hearing indicated that "he speaks good English.” Others indicate that his knowledge and use of English is limited.