Alden B. Ryan v. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare of the United States of America

This is an appeal by an unsuccessful applicant for disability insurance benefits provided by Section 223 of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. § 423].

The Secretary denied the application on the sole ground that Ryan, the applicant, did not meet the precondition of “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment”; in essence, the Secretary’s conclusion was that Ryan was mentally and physically able to work and that his plight was wholly due to a complete lack of environmental adaptability.

The record contains…