Dean v. Heckler

Summary

The court reviewed the denial of the plaintiff's application for Supplemental Security Income under the Social Security Act. It held that the Secretary's decision was not supported by substantial evidence because the vocational evidence and the plaintiff's combined medical impairments were inadequately evaluated. The court reversed the Secretary's decision.

Holdings

1. The Secretary's decision was not supported by substantial evidence because the only identified light-duty job was eliminated by the vocational expert's later assessment and the medical evidence did not support the residual-functional-capacity finding.
2. The ALJ was required to evaluate Dean's impairments and supporting evidence cumulatively rather than isolating individual findings.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the Secretary's determination that Dean retained the residual functional capacity to perform light work.
2. Whether the ALJ improperly evaluated Dean's medical evidence and subjective complaints by failing to consider his impairments cumulatively and by relying on incomplete or nondiagnostic treadmill tests.
3. Whether the vocational evidence established that Dean could perform other substantial gainful work existing in the national economy.

Disposition

reversed