James W. Voyles v. Patricia Harris, Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare

Appellant James W. Voyles challenges the Department of Health, Education and Welfare Secretary’s order denying him Social Security disability benefits. The district court affirmed the administrative decision; we reverse.

The appellant was initially injured in 1970 when a car body fell on him while he was working for General Motors Corporation as an assembly line worker. The accident seriously injured his lower back. A few months later, he underwent a transabdominal spinal fusion which failed to relieve his symptoms. In 1974, he had a second spinal operation involving a posterior fusion. On…