Eastern Assoc Coal v. Sullivan ( 1998 )

UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
EASTERN ASSOCIATED COAL
CORPORATION,
Petitioner,
v.
No. 97-2302
GONZELLA SULLIVAN; DIRECTOR,
OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION
PROGRAMS, UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,
Respondents.
On Petition for Review of an Order
of the Benefits Review Board.
(93-1048-BLA)
Submitted: April 14, 1998
Decided: May 4, 1998
Before MURNAGHAN, HAMILTON, and MICHAEL,
Circuit Judges.
_________________________________________________________________
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
_________________________________________________________________
COUNSEL
Mark E. Solomons, Laura Metcoff Klaus, ARTER & HADDEN,
Washington, D.C., for Petitioner. Marvin Krislov, Deputy Solicitor
for National Operations, Donald S. Shire, Associate Solicitor, Patricia
M. Nece, Counsel for Appellate Litigation, UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Washington, D.C., for Respondents.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).
_________________________________________________________________
OPINION
PER CURIAM:
Petitioner Eastern Associated Coal Corporation (employer) appeals
from a decision of the Benefits Review Board (BRB) granting its
motion for reconsideration, but affirming the Administrative Law
Judge's (ALJ) decision to grant Gonzella Sullivan, a former coal
miner, black lung disability benefits pursuant to 30 U.S.C.A. §§ 901-
45 (West 1986 & Supp. 1997). Because we agree with Sullivan and
the Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (Director),
that substantial evidence supports the ALJ's finding that Sullivan
established a totally disabling respiratory or pulmonary impairment
pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 718.204(c) (1997), we affirm the decision of
the BRB.
We review claims for black lung benefits to determine whether
substantial evidence supports the ALJ's findings of fact.1 Substantial
evidence is "more than a mere scintilla," and is "such relevant evi-
dence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a
conclusion."2 In determining whether substantial evidence supports
the ALJ's factual determinations, we consider whether all of the rele-
vant evidence was analyzed and whether the ALJ sufficiently
explained his rationale in crediting evidence.3 Additionally, we
review the ALJ's and the BRB's conclusions of law de novo to deter-
mine whether they are rational and consistent with applicable law.4
The employer first claims that the ALJ erred in finding that Sulli-
van suffered from a total disabling respiratory impairment. We find
_________________________________________________________________
1 See Dehue Coal Co. v. Ballard , 65 F.3d 1189, 1193 (4th Cir. 1995).
2 Consolidated Edison Co. v. NLRB , 305 U.S. 197, 229 (1938).
3 See Sterling Smokeless Coal Co. v. Akers, 131 F.3d 438, 439 (4th Cir.
1997).
4 See Dehue, 65 F.3d at 1193.
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this claim without merit. The ALJ reviewed the two 1980 non-
qualifying pulmonary studies and the 1984 qualifying study before
concluding that the most recent study reflected Sullivan's present
condition. Although we have rejected a "later is better" approach to
contradictory x-ray evidence in black lung cases, 5 the ALJ's decision
was not in error. The ALJ did not dispute the accuracy of the non-
qualifying tests, but credited the last study as more probative because
pneumoconiosis is a progressive disease and earlier non-qualifying
studies are not inconsistent with coal workers' pneumoconiosis.6
Because the ALJ has exclusive power to make credibility determina-
tions and resolve inconsistencies in the evidence, 7 the ALJ's weighing
of the medical evidence must be affirmed because his conclusions are
supported by substantial evidence and are not contrary to law.8
Next, the employer asserts that the ALJ failed, in accordance with
the Administrative Procedures Act (APA),9 to make specific factual
findings on whether Sullivan's disability was causally related to
pneumoconiosis.10 The basic purpose of the APA's duty of explana-
tion is to help the ALJ get it right, but its secondary purpose is to
allow this court to review the decision.11 If this court can understand
what the ALJ did and why he did it, the requirements of the APA are
satisfied.
In this case, the ALJ concluded based upon the record, that pneu-
_________________________________________________________________
5 See Adkins v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs,
958 F.2d 49, 51 (4th Cir. 1992).
6 See Gray v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs,
943 F.2d 513, 520-21 (4th Cir. 1991) (upholding ALJ's decision to credit
later non-qualifying studies because they were "more indicative of claim-
ant's present condition").
7 See Grizzle v. Pickands Mather & Co., 994 F.2d 1093, 1096 (4th Cir.
1993).
8 See Zbosnik v. Badger Coal Co. , 759 F.2d 1187, 1189 (4th Cir. 1985).
9 See 5 U.S.C.A. § 557(c)(3)(A) (West 1997).
10 See Robinson v. Pickands Mather Co., 914 F.2d 35, 38 (4th Cir.
1990).
11 See See v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 36 F.3d
375, 384 (4th Cir. 1994).
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moconiosis was a contributing cause of Sullivan's disability. As the
ALJ noted, Dr. Reynolds diagnosed Sullivan as suffering chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease which was related to Sullivan's forty-
six years in the coal mines. Because Sullivan met the statutory defini-
tion for total disability and the only pulmonary disability in the record
was the one diagnosed by Dr. Reynolds, the ALJ's conclusion that
Sullivan's disability was related to his coal mining employment was
rational, supported by substantial evidence, and reviewable by this
court. Therefore, the employer's claim fails.
Because the ALJ's award of black lung benefits is supported by
substantial evidence and is not contrary to law, we affirm the BRB's
decision. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal
contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court
and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED
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