Nelson Robinson v. Anthony J. Celebrezze, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare

The question presented by this appeal is whether there was substantial evidence to support the Hearing Examiner’s finding that appellant, whose disability was the loss of an arm, was not entitled to Social Security disability benefits on the ground that he was not totally and permanently disabled from engaging in any substantial gainful occupation.

Appellant, a laborer with an eighth grade education, had his right arm amputated through the shoulder after a tree had fallen on him. The operation was such that there was no support left for an artificial limb. Except for this amputation he is in…