Alijah J. B. v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Summary

The United States District Court for the District of Oregon affirmed the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of the plaintiff’s applications for Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income. The court held that the Administrative Law Judge properly evaluated the plaintiff’s subjective symptom testimony and supported the residual functional capacity determination with substantial evidence.

Holdings

1. The ALJ properly discounted Plaintiff's testimony concerning more severe limitations in understanding instructions because the testimony was inconsistent with the objective medical evidence and the medical opinions addressing his intellectual functioning.
2. The RFC assessment was supported by substantial evidence and did not require reversal because the ALJ reasonably translated the supported moderate cognitive limitations into restrictions to simple, routine, and repetitive tasks, along with the stated environmental and social restrictions.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ provided legally sufficient reasons for discounting Plaintiff's subjective symptom testimony concerning his ability to understand written instructions.
2. Whether the ALJ's residual functional capacity assessment was supported by substantial evidence.

Disposition

affirmed