Paeng See 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 a Social Security appeal. The court granted Plaintiff Paeng See’s motion for summary judgment, denied the Commissioner’s request to affirm the administrative decision, and remanded the matter for further proceedings under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

Holdings

1. The ALJ erred in evaluating the medical evidence supporting Plaintiff's mental residual functional capacity determination, and the administrative decision could not be affirmed on the record reviewed by the court.
2. Sentence-four remand was appropriate for the ALJ to conduct a new hearing, issue a new decision, develop the record as necessary, and conduct further proceedings consistent with the court's findings.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ's mental residual functional capacity determination was supported by substantial evidence in light of the medical-opinion evidence and Plaintiff's later ileostomy.
2. Whether the matter should be remanded under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings.

Disposition

remanded