Flemming v. Booker
Decision Date | 25 October 1960 |
Docket Number | No. 18269.,18269. |
Parties | Arthur S. FLEMMING, As Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Appellant, v. Hunter Lee BOOKER, Appellee. |
Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit |
Herbert E. Morris, Samuel D. Slade, Dept. of Justice, Washington, D. C., W. L. Longshore, U. S. Atty., Birmingham, Ala., George Cochran Doub, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellant.
Chester Austin, Birmingham, Ala., for appellee.
Before RIVES, Chief Judge, and BROWN and WISDOM, Circuit Judges.
A Referee denied Booker's claim for a period of disability under Section 216(i) (1) of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S. C.A. § 416(i) (1), and for disability insurance benefits under Section 223 of the Act, 42 U.S.C.A. § 423, holding that Booker had not furnished sufficient proof of the existence of his "disability."1 The appellant Secretary, through his Office of Appeals Council, denied Booker's request for review of the Referee's decision, and wrote Booker that "* * * the referee's decision stands as the final administrative decision of your claim."
In a review under Section 205(g),2 the district court reversed the decision of the Secretary, holding that "The evidence supporting the decision of the Secretary is not substantial when viewed in the light that the record in its entirety furnishes." By this appeal we are required to review the judgment of the district court and again to pass upon the identical question of law,3 i. e., whether the findings of the Secretary are supported by substantial evidence.4
Booker appeared as his sole witness before the Referee, and, in addition to his testimony, introduced medical reports from five doctors. We briefly summarize that evidence. Booker was born in 1900. He went to elementary school for eight years, and left school at the age of seventeen or eighteen. When 25 years of age he went to work for the Birmingham Transit Company, and thereafter worked steadily for that Company until he was 56. An examination by his family physician, Dr. C. W. Deaver, then revealed a blood pressure of 220/120, and on January 9, 1957, Dr. Deaver made a detailed report to his employer concluding as follows:
Booker did not work for the Birmingham Transit Company after November of 1956. Since that time, he has not been bedridden or continuously confined to his home, but has driven a car, and has been able to help his wife with the housework to the extent of sweeping the front porch and walk. His wife has been under a doctor's care for 10 or 12 years, and has no earnings. His drug bills run about $20.00 to $30.00 a month. He receives $80.65 as a monthly disability payment from the Transit Company. His children are married and have their own responsibilities, but help their parents to the extent of $10.00 or $12.00 a month. His wife's brother has contributed a total of $500.00, $300.00 of which went to pay for a prostate operation in January of 1956. The only evidence of gainful employment since 1956 was furnished by Booker himself, and since that is important we quote Booker's testimony on that subject:
The five doctors, whose statements were submitted by Booker, all agreed substantially that he suffered from high blood pressure (the readings ranging from 180/120 to 240/130), from psychoneurosis, and from chronic nephritis. Dr. Deaver, his family physician, advised him "not to work." Dr. Young, who operated on him for chronic prostatitis, advised "light work." Dr. Herren, on consultative examination, requested by Alabama's Disability Determination Team, recommended "referral to State Vocational Rehabilitation Service for relocation in non-hazardous work." Dr. Williamson concluded: "In view of the history and findings, it is our opinion that Mr. Booker is totally and permanently disabled." Dr. Gaines' conclusion was: "In view of the Hypertension and Chronic Nephritis, it is my opinion that he is totally and permanently disabled from pursuing any gainful occupation."
The Referee, found that, "the regularity and continuity of claimant's services in the used car lot during this statutory period makes a finding of inability to engage in gainful work wholly untenable." We do not agree. There is no reason why the rules established by the Supreme Court and by this Circuit in connection with other statutes should not be here applicable. In Berry v. United States, 1941, 312 U.S. 450, 455, 456, 61 S.Ct. 637, 639, 85 L.Ed. 945, Mr. Justice Black, speaking for a unanimous Court, said:
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