BEULAH WATSON, APPELLANT,
v.
JOSEPH CALIFANO, JR., SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE, APPELLEE

8th Cir. | 1980-03-04
No. 79-1543
618 F.2d 18 United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1980) Positive Treatment
Cited by 4 cases

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Holding

The court held that the administrative law judge's decision denying Social Security disability benefits was supported by substantial evidence.


Facts & Procedural History

Beulah Watson, with limited education and a history of pain, sought disability benefits. Her claim was based on an inability to work due to pain in he…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

Beulah Watson asks this Court to review the decision of the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare denying her Social Security disability benefits. Although Mrs. Watson has only a fourth grade education, she can read and write and has worked as a waitress, seamstress and stock inventory clerk. Her claim for disability benefits is based on the assertion that, at least since May of 1975, she has been unable to do any kind of work because of pain in her back, hip and legs.

A treating orthopedist concluded in his September 16, 1975, report that Mrs. Watson’s only physical limitations were related to “heavy lifting, excessive stooping, squatting, bending, or prolonged weight bearing.” Approximately one month later, the same orthopedist concluded that he did “not believe [Mrs. Watson] would be able to resume gainful occupation.” This conclusion, however, was found by the administrative law judge to be unsupported by medical findings. Furthermore, a consulting orthopedist concluded in his January 2, 1976, report that although Mrs. Watson should not be required to do heavy lifting, bending or stooping, she “would be able to perform some type of sedentary type work and possibly some light work.”

The administrative law judge reviewed this and other evidence and concluded that Mrs. Watson’s medical problems would not prevent her from performing the work of a stock inventory clerk, the last job she had. That work, the administrative law judge found, did not involve heavy lifting, bending or stooping — the activities that were precluded by Mrs. Watson’s disability. We have reviewed the record and are satisfied that the decision of the administrative law judge is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole.

This case is not free from doubt; because Mrs. Watson is sixty-four years of age and has a limited education and employment record, it will undoubtedly be difficult for her to find work. But this case is unlike other recent eases decided in this Circuit, see, e. g., Stephens v. Secretary of Health, Ed. & Welfare, 603 F. 2d 36 (8th Cir. 1979); Boyer v. Califano, 598 F. 2d 1117 (8th Cir. 1979), since the administrative law judge specifically found that Mrs. Watson could return to her former occupation. If the administrative tribunal had merely concluded that Mrs. Watson could perform some type of light, and sedentary work, without reference to specific employment, we would have a different case.

One further matter needs to be considered. Subsequent to the decision of the administrative law judge, a third doctor examined Mrs. Watson and concluded that she had some disability but that she could engage in “sedentary type work as outlined by the Social Security guidelines.” Mrs. Watson now requests that we remand to the administrative law judge for consideration of this évidence. We decline to do so because the information contained in the additional medical report is essentially cumulative.

Affirmed.


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