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plaintiffdefendanttestimony

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Eberhart v. U.S.

Facts

At the time of filing the instant complaint, the plaintiff was forty-five years of age and residing in Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The defendant is the Commissioner of Social Security, who is charged with ultimate responsibility for determining eligibility for benefits under the Act. Plaintiff has a ninth grade education. She has a history of back problems and psychiatric disorders. Plaintiff maintains that her dysthymic disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, severe scoliosis, dermatitis, residuals from burns and severe menstrual problems have rendered her totally unable to work.

At the time of filing the instant complaint, the plaintiff was forty-five years of age and residing in Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. The defendant is the Commissioner of Social Security, who is charged with ultimate responsibility for determining eligibility for benefits under the Act. Plaintiff has a ninth grade education. She has a history of back problems and psychiatric disorders. Plaintiff maintains that her dysthymic disorder, anxiety, panic attacks, severe scoliosis, dermatitis, residuals from burns and severe menstrual problems have rendered her totally unable to work.

Issue

Whether the ALJ's decision to deny the claimant's application for disability benefits was supported by substantial evidence.

Whether the ALJ's decision to deny the claimant's application for disability benefits was supported by substantial evidence.

Rule

Disability is defined in the Social Security Act in terms of the effect a physical or mental impairment has on a person's ability to perform in the workplace. In order to receive disability benefits, a claimant must establish that he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Disability is defined in the Social Security Act in terms of the effect a physical or mental impairment has on a person's ability to perform in the workplace. In order to receive disability benefits, a claimant must establish that he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

Analysis

The court found that the ALJ did not identify the relevant listed impairments to the claimant's condition, as required at step three of the 20 C.F.R. 416.920 analysis. The ALJ improperly discredited both the claimant's testimony and her expert's without adequate support in the record, and the ALJ's record included careless errors, indicating he had not seriously considered the claims.

The court found that the ALJ did not identify the relevant listed impairments to the claimant's condition, as required at step three of the 20 C.F.R. 416.920 analysis. The ALJ improperly discredited both the claimant's testimony and her expert's without adequate support in the record, and the ALJ's record included careless errors, indicating he had not seriously considered the claims.

Conclusion

The report and recommendation of the magistrate judge was rejected, and disability benefits were awarded to the claimant.

The report and recommendation of the magistrate judge was rejected, and disability benefits were awarded to the claimant.

Who won?

The claimant prevailed in the case because the court found that the ALJ's decision was not supported by substantial evidence.

The claimant prevailed in the case because the court found that the ALJ's decision was not supported by substantial evidence.

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