6 Soc.sec.rep.ser. 223, Unempl.ins.rep. Cch 15,540ted W. Wolfe, Appellant, v. Margaret Heckler, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Appellee, 741 F.2d 1084 (8th Cir. 1984)

Ted W. Wolfe is a 46 year old physician whose specialty is radiology. His condition has been diagnosed as "probable manic depressive psychosis." He practiced his specialty and taught until 1976. In 1973, he suffered "acute depression with suicidal and paranoid ideas," but was able to return to work. He suffered an "acute schizophrenic" episode in 1976 and has not worked at his profession since that date. He has adopted an alternative life style that includes meditation, work in the garden, housekeeping, visiting friends and family, music and occasional lectures for money.

Wolfe filed an application for disability income benefits on October 22, 1980 alleging that he became disabled in April, 1976 because of "mental breakdown--schizophrenia depression." Benefits were ultimately denied by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Wolfe then sought judicial review of the Secretary's final decision in the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas. That court granted the Secretary's motion for summary judgment. We affirm.

It is clear from the record that Wolfe is unable to return to his work as a physician;¹  thus, the burden shifted to the Secretary to show that Wolfe had the sustained capability to perform other work. Allred v. Heckler, 729 F.2d 529 at 531 (8th Cir. 1984); Jackson v. Schweiker, 696 F.2d 630, 631 n. 1 (8th Cir. 1983); Tucker v. Schweiker, 689 F.2d 777, 779 (8th Cir. 1982); McCoy v. Schweiker, 683 F.2d 1138, 1146-1147 (8th Cir. 1982) (en banc). Neither the Appeals Council nor the Secretary recognized that the burden of proof had shifted. In fact, the Secretary takes the position that in this case the burden remained with Wolfe. She is in error in so doing.

Despite the failure to shift the burden to the Secretary, the overwhelming evidence in the record suggests that Wolfe can perform other work. Wolfe testified before the ALJ that he could "do pretty well with light work." His psychiatric examination report by Dr. Ball, on December 5, 1980, notes that he conducts group therapy sessions for groups of ten people. He also spends time gardening, practicing yoga, and consulting with his investment broker. We thus conclude that notwithstanding the misallocation of the burden of proof, denial of disability was proper as a matter of law on the basis that Wolfe could perform light work.² 

Affirmed.