Donnie B. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois reviewed the denial of Donnie B.'s application for Social Security benefits. The court reversed and remanded because the ALJ failed to explain how the evidence, particularly the claimant's wrist, arm, and finger impairments, supported an RFC for medium work.

Holdings

1. The ALJ erred by failing to address the claimant's severe impairments involving the left and right wrists, radius, ulnar styloid, and fingers or to explain how the evidence supported the lifting, pushing, and pulling requirements of medium work.
2. The ALJ's omission was not harmless because consideration of the claimant's arm, wrist, and finger impairments could have altered the RFC and the disability determination.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ adequately explained the residual functional capacity finding that Donnie B. could perform medium work despite severe impairments involving his wrists, arms, and fingers.
2. Whether the ALJ's failure to consider and explain the effect of all severe impairments in the RFC analysis was harmless.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded