Clark v. Director of Workers' Compensation Programs

ROSS, Senior Circuit Judge.

Ethyel Clark (Petitioner) appeals a decision made by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and affirmed by the Benefits Review Board, which denied her benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act (the Act) for the disability of her deceased husband, Walter Clark (miner). The ALJ denied her benefits on the ground that the medical testimony offered to establish a disability due to black lung disease, pneumoconiosis,1 was not based on “reasoned medical judgment.” We affirm.

Walter Clark filed an application for benefits under the Act on February 14, 1980. The Department of…