Court Opinion

ID: 9475679
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 05:35:42.439558+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:44:52.585982
License: Public Domain

WELLFORD, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
The Administrative Law Judge in this case found that “until recently” before the hearing, claimant had been “driving regularly,” and that his use of a cane, used because of his back condition, did not preclude his driving in some form of “sedentary work,” although it would prevent his continuing work as a “fork lifter.” The Appeals Council found “no basis” under the regulations for granting review and/or reversal of the AU’s decision. Magistrate Carlson, on appeal, recommended that judgment be affirmed for the Secretary since, among other reasons, “Dr. Mondry’s tardy report was properly given little weight as his conclusions were unsupported by any objective clinical test results.” Judge Guy approved the report and recommendation of the magistrate.
In light of the record and the conclusions of those who had previously reviewed it, I was disposed to agree with the initial suggestion of the attorney for the Secretary appearing before this court that in view of some inconsistency in the testimony of the vocational expert at the AU hearing there *508should be a remand. When the attorney for the Secretary conceded at oral argument, however, that claimant may be entitled to benefits based on the present record, I concluded that I would not disagree with the majority view that the decisions should be reversed and that benefits be awarded. The concession by the Assistant United States Attorney was apparently based on Woods’ testimony that he was forced to use a cane and had used it regularly since he “came out of the hospital....”
I would award benefits, not based on Dr. Mondry’s unsupported conclusion dated March, 1983, but rather on Dr. Mahadevan’s opinion dated July 1, 1982, the other evidence bearing upon Woods claims of disabling pain, and, as stated, the concessions made by the Secretary’s representative at oral argument.