ROBBIE ROBERTSON, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
MARGARET O. HECKLER, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE

9th Cir. | 1983-09-27
No. 82-3559
Before GOODWIN, WALLACE and REINHARDT, Circuit Judges.
716 F.2d 1284 United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1983) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Holding

The court held that the administrative law judge's determination of residual functional capacity using the Medical-Vocational Guidelines was supported by substantial evidence and consistent with controlling precedent.


Facts & Procedural History

Robbie Robertson appealed the denial of disability benefits, arguing the administrative law judge's findings were unsupported and the grid system unco…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM:

PER CURIAM:

Robbie Robertson appeals the judgment of the district court affirming the decision of an administrative law judge to deny Robertson disability benefits under the Federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 416(i), 423 (1976).

Robertson argues that the administrative law judge’s determination of his “residual functional capacity” was not supported by substantial evidence, that the “grid” system used to determine whether he was disabled is unconstitutional, and that Ninth Circuit law requires the administrative law judge to state specific job alternatives for the claimant rather than simply relying on the grids, as the administrative law judge did here.

Considering Robertson’s age, education, and prior work experience, the administrative law judge applied the Medical-Vocational Guidelines, 20 C.F.R. 404 Subpart P, Appendix 2. While there may have been some doubt, prior to May 16, 1983, about the administrative law judge’s use of the guidelines instead of making specific findings concerning work that the claimant could perform, those doubts have now been resolved in favor of the Secretary. Heckler v. Campbell,-U.S.-, 103 S.Ct. 1952, 76 L.Ed.2d 66 (1983).

The sufficiency of evidence point is also covered by the Campbell decision which approved the Secretary’s use of guidelines. In this case, the medical evidence, as well as other evidence, tended to support a finding that Robertson could perform light, sedentary work for three to five hours at a time. These findings placed him within the group of partially disabled workers who can perform some substantial gainful activity.

The judgment is affirmed.


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