Margaret Wallschlaeger v. Richard S. Schweiker, Secretary of Health and Human Services

POSNER, Circuit Judge.

We are asked to set aside a district court decision affirming the denial of a claim for Social Security disability benefits. As a young woman Mrs. Wallschlaeger had her thyroid gland removed and in the course of the operation her vocal cords became partially paralyzed. The paralysis did not significantly affect her speech as one might expect but did narrow the airway in the throat and make breathing difficult — how difficult is a question we shall come to in due course. Despite her affliction she continued doing light factory assembly work off and on till sometime in…