Kenneth Torres A. v. Leland Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Central District of California reviewed the denial of Kenneth Torres A.'s applications for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income benefits. The court upheld the finding that his seizure disorder did not meet or equal Listing 11.02(B), but found that the Administrative Law Judge inadequately evaluated his hand impairments and residual functional capacity. The court reversed the agency decision and remanded for further administrative proceedings on an open record.

Holdings

1. The ALJ did not err in finding that Plaintiff's seizure disorder did not meet or medically equal Listing 11.02(B) because Plaintiff failed to establish the required frequency and duration of dyscognitive seizures despite adherence to prescribed treatment.
2. The ALJ erred by finding Plaintiff's carpal-tunnel syndrome nonsevere while simultaneously imposing manipulative and lifting restrictions in the RFC and failing to explain how the significant hand-related medical evidence supported the RFC.
3. The court declined to resolve the remaining challenges because the ALJ must first reevaluate Plaintiff's hand impairment, RFC, mental-health evidence, and subjective symptom statements on remand.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ erred in finding that Plaintiff's seizure disorder did not meet or medically equal Listing 11.02(B).
2. Whether the ALJ properly considered the medical evidence and hand limitations when formulating Plaintiff's residual functional capacity.
3. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated the mental-health evidence and Plaintiff's subjective symptom statements and testimony.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded