320 F. Supp. 931 | W.D. Va. | 1970
OPINION and JUDGMENT
The plaintiff, Mrs. Daisy E. Wright, brought the action necessitating this opinion in order to recover social security widow’s disability benefits. She claims that she became disabled in March 1956. The period during which she must prove that she was under a disability ended on June 30,1959.
Mrs. Wright submitted documentary evidence to the hearing examiner but waived the opportunity to appear personally before him. By written decision dated January 21, 1970 the hearing examiner found that she was not entitled to benefits. The Appeals Council refused to disturb this decision by its letter of February 24,1970.
The standard of disability for the widow or widower of a wage earner is significantly higher than that for the wage earner himself. The pertinent standard is quoted in the margin.
Since that time she was again hospitalized from May 24 to June 14, 1962 for treatment of post-operative adhesions and cystocele and rectole. She was treated for gastric ulcer when she was again hospitalized from November 7 to November 28, 1967. Finally, Mrs. Wright was rehospitalized from January 17 to January 29, 1969. Dr. Brookins Taylor stated that, “Physical examination revealed an obese, white female, appearing in fair health.” The patient was discharged improved and Dr. Taylor’s final diagnoses were, “Acute gastritis, adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder joint, and hiatus hernia.”
The evidence reveals that the claimant has had an unfortunate medical history in that she has had to undergo a number of operations which have required moderate hospitalization. This is to be regretted but the claimant has presented no evidence that these operations affected her capacity for gainful activity. In fact the reports of her return visits indicate that she did well. The burden is on the claimant to prove disability and not on the Secretary to prove the absence of disability.
On the basis of the foregoing discussion, summary judgment is granted in favor of the defendant.
The clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this opinion and judgment to the plaintiff and to the defendant.
. 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. 42 U.S. C. § 423(d) (2) (B).
. 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. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d) (5).