Kuldip Singh v. Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California adopted the magistrate judge’s Findings and Recommendations in full. The court denied Kuldip Singh’s motion for summary judgment, affirmed the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of supplemental security income, directed entry of judgment for the Commissioner, and closed the case.

Holdings

1. The ALJ complied with the prior stipulated remand order by reevaluating the medical evidence, including the relevant medical-source opinion evidence; neither the Appeals Council nor the ALJ violated the law of the case or the rule of the mandate.
2. The ALJ properly considered the medical records and multiple medical opinions, found the record contradicted Dr. Alam's assessment, and explained the reasons for that finding.
3. The Commissioner's decision was supported by substantial evidence, and the denial of supplemental security income was affirmed.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ complied with the prior stipulated remand order and the law-of-the-case and rule-of-the-mandate doctrines.
2. Whether the ALJ properly considered and explained the rejection of Dr. Alam's medical opinion.
3. Whether substantial evidence supported the Commissioner's denial of supplemental security income.

Disposition

affirmed