Janet B. v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security Administration

Summary

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana overruled Janet B.'s objections and adopted the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation affirming the denial of her Social Security disability benefits claims. The court held that the ALJ's residual functional capacity assessment, evaluation of subjective symptoms, and treatment of a consultative physician's opinion were supported by substantial evidence.

Holdings

1. The ALJ's evaluation of Janet B.'s allegations regarding pain and functional limitations was not patently wrong because the ALJ considered evidence of improved or stable symptoms, hearing testimony, examinations, and the broader medical record, and adequately connected that evidence to the RFC determination.
2. The ALJ did not improperly rely solely on objective medical evidence in discounting Janet B.'s subjective symptom allegations.
3. The ALJ's decision to find Dr. Banks's opinion unpersuasive was supported by substantial evidence.
4. The ALJ's determination that Janet B. was not disabled was supported by substantial evidence and was affirmed.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the ALJ's evaluation of Janet B.'s subjective symptom and credibility allegations was patently wrong or failed to build an accurate and logical bridge from the evidence to the conclusion.
2. Whether the ALJ improperly relied exclusively on objective medical evidence when evaluating Janet B.'s subjective symptoms.
3. Whether the ALJ's rejection of examining physician Dr. Joe Edward Banks II's medical-source opinion was supported by substantial evidence.
4. Whether the ALJ's decision that Janet B. was not disabled was supported by substantial evidence and the correct legal standards.

Disposition

affirmed