David Hicks v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri reviews David Hicks’s claims challenging the Commissioner of Social Security’s denial of disability insurance and supplemental security income benefits. The court concludes that the ALJ properly evaluated the medical opinions, subjective complaints, and residual functional capacity, and affirms the Commissioner’s decision.

Holdings

1. The ALJ properly articulated and evaluated the supportability and consistency of the state-agency consultants' opinions and permissibly found those opinions persuasive.
2. The ALJ properly evaluated Hicks's subjective complaints and permissibly found them inconsistent in part with the record as a whole.
3. The ALJ's determination that Hicks could perform a reduced range of light work was supported by substantial evidence.
4. The ALJ was not required to obtain additional medical-source evidence because the existing record provided a sufficient basis for the decision.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated the supportability and consistency of the state-agency medical consultants' opinions under 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520c and 416.920c.
2. Whether the ALJ properly evaluated Hicks's subjective complaints of pain and physical and mental limitations.
3. Whether the ALJ's residual functional capacity determination was supported by substantial evidence.
4. Whether the ALJ was required to obtain additional medical-source evidence.

Disposition

affirmed