Richard L. WILLS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. SECRETARY, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Defendant-Appellee

KRUPANSKY, Circuit Judge.

The plaintiff-appellant Richard L. Wills (“Wills”) appealed the district court’s summary judgment affirming the Secretary’s decision not to reopen Wills’ first application for social security disability insurance benefits thereby limiting his subsequent award of benefits, pursuant to his second application, to the effective date of the second application.

Wills originally filed his application for disability insurance benefits, pro se, on March 11, 1977. He received notice that the application was denied on May 23, 1977, accompanied by an explanation of his right to…