Beau Harlen, o/b/o Brandson B. McCusker, (deceased) v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Summary

The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas reviewed a denial of Disability Insurance Benefits under the Social Security Act. The court held that the Administrative Law Judge's residual functional capacity determination and evaluation of the claimant's impairments were supported by substantial evidence, summarily affirmed the administrative decision, and dismissed the complaint with prejudice.

Holdings

1. The ALJ's residual functional capacity determination was supported by substantial evidence, and the plaintiff failed to demonstrate greater limitations.
2. The ALJ did not commit reversible error because the record contained no objective evidence that the prior MRSA infection contributed to McCusker's death from aspiration pneumonia.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the ALJ's residual functional capacity determination.
2. Whether the ALJ erred by failing to evaluate whether McCusker's prior MRSA infection contributed to his cause of death.

Disposition

affirmed