Daniel James Castillo v. Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California reviewed the Commissioner's denial of Daniel James Castillo's application for supplemental security income. The court held that the administrative law judge's residual functional capacity assessment properly accounted for the consultative examiner's findings and was supported by substantial evidence. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment was denied, the Commissioner's cross-motion was granted, and the case was closed.

Holdings

1. The ALJ adequately accounted for Dr. Hickman's assessed limitations by restricting Castillo to simple work-related decisions, goal-oriented work without production-rate pacing, and limited interactions with supervisors, coworkers, and the public. The RFC was not inconsistent with the ability to perform simple one- or two-step instructions or mildly impaired detailed but uncomplicated instructions.
2. The Commissioner's decision denying SSI was supported by substantial evidence and was not based on reversible legal error.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ's residual functional capacity assessment failed to account for limitations assessed by consultative examiner Dr. Hickman.
2. Whether the ALJ's decision denying SSI was supported by substantial evidence and applied the correct legal standards.

Disposition

affirmed