Cecil Greer v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, United States Department of Labor

OPINION

K.K. HALL, Circuit Judge:

Cecil Greer appeals the denial of his claim under the Black Lung Benefits Act, 30 U.S.C. §§ 901-945. We reverse and direct an award of benefits.

I

Cecil Greer was born in 1919 and worked in coal mines from 1937 to 1974 as a hand loader, brakeman, and truck driver. He filed a black lung claim on January 21, 1981. This claim was evaluated under the permanent Department of Labor regulations at 20 C.F.R. Part 718.

The medical evidence is conflicting. One blood gas study was non-qualifying. A 1974 X-ray was positive, but another in 1981 was negative. On June 23, 1981,…