Gillock v. Richardson

322 F. Supp. 354, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9193
CourtDistrict Court, D. Kansas
DecidedDecember 14, 1970
DocketCiv. A. No. W-4345
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 322 F. Supp. 354 (Gillock v. Richardson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gillock v. Richardson, 322 F. Supp. 354, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9193 (D. Kan. 1970).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGENT

WESLEY E. BROWN, District Judge.

Plaintiff Goldie M. Gillock brings this action to review the final decision of the Appeals Council of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, denying her widow’s disability benefits under Sections 202(e) and 223 of the Social Security Act as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 402(e), 423. The decision of the Appeals Council reversed a decision of the Hearing Examiner who determined that Mrs. Gillock was entitled to such benefits.

Both parties have filed motions for summary judgment based upon a transcript of the entire record of proceedings relating to Mrs. Gillock’s claim.

The record reveals that Mrs. Gillock filed application for disabled widow’s benefits from September 23, 1968, alleging that she became disabled as of September, 1967 due to cancer of the cervix. This application was initially denied by the Social Security Administration on [355]*355the ground that her impairments were not of such severity as to meet the disability requirements of the law. A request for hearing was granted, and hearing was had on September 4, 1969, at which time the Examiner heard testimony from Mrs. Gillock and received in evidence numerous medical reports relating to her condition. This evidence indicates that Mrs. Gillock is a 55-year old widow, who lives in her own 6-room house with a young niece who assists her with housework. She has an eighth grade education and has had no specialized training or schooling. For short times between 1945 and 1959 she did some waitress work and worked in an alteration department in a local store. Since 1959 she has had no regular employment. For the past ten years she has helped at a recreation center teaching young children to sew. The first eight years was volunteer work, while the last two years she was paid $1.25 per hour for four hours a day. In 1967 she had cancer surgery and has not worked at the recreation center since that time because standing and bending over low tables at the center causes pain in her back and hips.

The medical evidence indicates that Mrs. Gillock has been periodically treated for syphillis since 1948. Hospital records indicated treatment in December 1951 for left ovarian abscess; a salpingooophorectomy in December 1951; D & C surgery in October 1955; treatment for duodenal ulcers, March, 1961; removal of all teeth in January, 1963; cancer in cervix and vaginal hysterectomy, Sepember, 1967.

X-rays of the lumbosacral spine revealed that Mrs. Gillock has some degree of diminished density of the bones with several opacifications in the gluteal regions bilaterally, consistent with heavy metal medication in the past. X-rays showed loss of the interspace between L-2 and L-3 with some deformity of L-2. The report of Dr. Burger stated that she has chronic bronchitis with pulmonary emphysema, osteoporosis of the lumbosacral spine with some arthritis, old compression fracture of L-2, and latent lues. It was his opinion that she is unable to perform any work that requires bendng, stooping, twisting, or prolonged or strenuous activity.

Dr. John Fulton submitted a report of ventilation function studies made on February 4, 1969, finding that tests indicated a mild restrictive and obstructive defect compatible with mild chronic obstructive lung disease. He stated that she did not establish a good rhythm on the maximum breathing capacity, and he believed that she is capable of better values.

Dr. Wilbur Neal examined Mrs. Gil-lock on November IS, 1968, and reported that she has some diminished hearing, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, osteoporosis lumbosacral spine, compression fracture of L-2 vertebra, and latent lues. It was his opinion that her major disability at the present time is chronic bronchitis resulting from excessive use of cigarettes, and it was his view that she is capable of performing “light work that does not require lifting.” All of the medical reports indicate that Mrs. Gillock has successfully recovered from cancer surgery.

Upon the basis of this evidence, the Examiner concluded that Mrs. Gillock’s physical condition precluded her from working as a waitress or seamstress, that she was not qualified by experience or training to work at any job not requiring stooping, bending, or lifting, that it was difficult to visualize her as obtaining and following any type of gainful employment, and that under these circumstances he found that the combination of her impairments since September, 1967 were of such severity as to preclude her from engaging in any gainful activity and that she has been under a disability as defined by the Act since that date.

On December 17, 1969 Mrs. Gillock was informed that the Appeals Council, on its own motion, had decided to review the Examiner’s decision, that additional evidence was necessary to fully evaluate [356]*356her condition, that such additional evidence from medical officers in the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals had been secured and included in the record. Copies of these two additional medical reports were submitted to Mrs. Gillock for examination and comment. In notes attached to copies of these reports, she corrected dates relating to surgery, contended that she was not a heavy smoker and that the bronchial condition was not a result of cigarettes. She also reiterated her contention that she is simply not able to work at any gainful activity.

On February 10, 1970, the Appeals Council reversed the decision of the Hearing Examiner, and found that Mrs. Gillock was not entitled to widow’s disability benefits. In so ruling the Council noted that the Examiner had made no statement or findings as to whether Mrs. Gilloek’s impairments met or equaled severity requirements set out in Regulations applicable to widows’ claims, that additional medical evidence procured by the Council indicated that such impairments were not within the definitions supplied by regulations, Regulations No. 4, §§ 404.1504, 404.1505, 20 C. F.R., and therefore she was not entitled to insurance benefits.

In order to determine whether or not the Secretary’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, it should be noted that Congress has provided standards for widow’s benefits which are different from those applicable to other persons applying for disability benefits. Thus, 42 U.S.C.A. § 423(d) (2) (B) defines the term “disability” for purposes of widow’s benefits as follows:

“A widow, surviving divorced wife, or widower shall not be determined to be under a disability (for purposes of section 402(e) or (f) of this title) unless his or her physical or mental impairment or impairments are of a level of severity which under regulations prescribed by the Secretary is deemed to be sufficient to preclude an individual from engaging in any gainful activity.” [Emphasis supplied.]

Section 423(d) (3) of Title 42 provides:

“For purposes of this subsection, a ‘physical or mental impairment’ is an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques."

And § 423(d) (5) provides:

“An individual shall not be considered to be under a disability unless he furnishes such medical and other evidence of the existence thereof as the Secretary may require.”

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Bluebook (online)
322 F. Supp. 354, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9193, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gillock-v-richardson-ksd-1970.