Joshua J. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

Summary

The United States District Court for the Southern District of California reviews a Social Security disability benefits denial under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The court rejects the plaintiff’s challenges to the ALJ’s residual functional capacity assessment and evaluation of subjective symptom testimony, and affirms the Commissioner’s final decision.

Holdings

1. The ALJ's residual functional capacity determination was supported by substantial evidence and did not contain harmful legal error. The ALJ was not required to obtain or identify a single medical opinion that precisely matched the limitation to simple, routine tasks.
2. The ALJ provided specific, clear, and convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence for discounting Plaintiff's subjective symptom testimony, including evidence that treatment improved his symptoms and that his reported daily activities conflicted with his alleged level of limitation.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the ALJ's residual functional capacity determination, including the limitation to simple, routine tasks.
2. Whether the ALJ provided specific, clear, and convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence for discounting Plaintiff's subjective symptom testimony.

Disposition

affirmed