Armes v. Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California reviewed the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of Plaintiff Sherry Lynn Armes’s application for disability insurance benefits. The court denied Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, granted the Commissioner’s cross-motion, and upheld the ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff was not disabled.

Holdings

1. The ALJ adequately considered Armes's relevant impairments and substantial evidence supported the finding that she could perform light work with additional limitations.
2. The ALJ properly discounted Dr. Than's opinion because it was inadequately supported and inconsistent with the record.
3. Substantial evidence supported the ALJ's finding that Armes could perform her past relevant work as a prescription clerk and optical technician.
4. The ALJ provided specific, clear, and convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence for discounting Armes's subjective symptom testimony.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ properly considered the combination of Armes's impairments when determining her residual functional capacity.
2. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated Dr. Swe Than's medical-source opinion under the supportability and consistency requirements of 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520c and 416.920c.
3. Whether substantial evidence supported the ALJ's finding at step four that Armes could perform her past relevant work as a prescription clerk and optical technician.
4. Whether the ALJ provided specific, clear, and convincing reasons for discounting Armes's subjective symptom testimony.

Disposition

other